Breast engorgement is painful if not treated. Engorgement of breasts occurs when they are overfilled with milk due to the imbalance between your baby's feeding and your milk production. Your breasts will become warm and firm. You might also have flu-like symptoms due to breast engorgement.
Instructions
1. Make sure that at least one of your breasts is empty after each feeding. Use a machine pump or hand expression to extract the residual milk after each feeding.
2. When you have breast engorgement, the nipples are flattened and it is difficult for your baby to latch on correctly. A proper latch-on will help your baby to get enough milk and reduce the risk of nipple soreness.
3. Gently massage your breasts when feeding your baby. Massage during a shower also helps. Wear a comfortable nursing bra.
4. After feeding, apply ice packs to your breast to reduce swelling. Take a warm bath or use a warm cloth to apply on the areola. Warm showers also help to release milk from your breasts.
5. Take pain medications if necessary. Both Tylenol and Advil are safe for breast feeding.
Tags: your baby, your breasts, after each, after each feeding, breast engorgement, each feeding
There are two kinds of blunt trauma: minor blunt trauma and severe or major blunt trauma. Both have effects on consciousness, with severe blunt trauma being the worst. Usually minor blunt trauma can be treated at home, but for maximum safety, it is advisable to take the person who has suffered the injury to the hospital to be sure that there is no further injuries involved. Blunt trauma to the head can also turn into more serious complications such as an intraventricular hemorrhage or a subdural hematoma. Both of these must be treated by a medical professional and can be life-threatening.
Minor Blunt Head Injuries
Minor blunt head injuries may have the effects of simply being dazed or a small lapse in consciousness. The result may be headaches, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting. There may be subtle long-lasting effects, such as irritability, difficulty in concentration, insomnia and sensitivity to bright light and loud sounds. These are post-concussion symptoms and may last for a long time.
Severe Blunt Head Trauma
Severe blunt head trauma involves loss of consciousness from minutes to days. Seizures may occur in this state. Serious neurological deficits may occur and be permanent. Death may also ensue from the injury. Trauma may resemble that seen in a stroke and may include paralysis, difficulty seeing, hearing, walking or understanding and comprehension.
Intraventricular hemorrhage
Intraventricular hemorrhage, or IVH, can occur as an effect of blunt head trauma. IVH is bleeding inside or around the ventricles. The ventricles contain cerebral spinal fluid. According to a 2009 article entitled "Intraventricular Hemorrhage" on the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Website, intraventricular means "within the ventricles" and "hemorrhage" means "excessive bleeding." Bleeding in the brain damages nerve vessels by putting pressure on them. Severe damage can lead to brain damage. There are four grades of IVH used to describe the amount of bleeding: grade one indicates that the bleeding is occurring in a small area in the ventricles; grade two indicates that bleeding is occurring outside and inside the ventricles; grade three indicates that the ventricles are engorged with blood; and grade four indicates that bleeding is occurring around the ventricles and into brain tissue.
Subdural hematoma
A subdural hematoma is bleeding into the space between the brain cover, the dura, and the brain itself. The space is called the subdural area. The hematoma is capable of putting pressure on the brain, adverse side effects can occur such as slurred speech, dizziness, change in gait, coma and even death. Subdural hematomas can occur as a result of minor injury, major trauma or an aneurysm.
The treatment is to drill through the skull to drain excess blood in the area.
Conclusion
Minor head trauma may be treated at home by application of ice for 20 to 40 minutes at a time with ice or a frozen vegetable bag wrapped in a towel. More serious injuries should be treated at the hospital. Injuries may also be incurred by falls. As a rule of thumb, if the person falls a distance less than his height then he should be treated for minor blunt injuries. If the fall is from a greater height than his own height, he should be treated for major blunt trauma at a hospital. If you have any doubts about an incurred head wound, please seek medical advice and treatment immediately.
Tags: blunt trauma, indicates that, bleeding occurring, indicates that bleeding, should treated, that bleeding, that bleeding occurring
South Carolina offers a state insurance plan that employers can participate in. If you are a retiree who was employed with one of these providers, then you may be eligible for coverage during retirement.
Time Frame
In order to be eligible for this coverage during retirement, you must have worked for an eligible employer for a minimum of five years. These five years must have been immediately before you retired and you must have been employed in a permanent and full-time position.
Types
You must have qualified for one of three types of retirement through the employer: retirement due to age, retirement due to length of employment, or retirement due to an approved disability.
Considerations
If you are considered a "nonfunded" retiree, then you are still eligible for this health insurance program, but you are responsible for paying the full premium. This means you must pay the employee portion of the premium, as well as the employer portion of the premium.
Tags: must have, coverage during, coverage during retirement, during retirement, eligible this, five years
The leading cause of cancer death in the United States is lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there are as many as 170,000 new cases every year, and lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostrate, and colon cancer combined. Nodules in the lung are small, brownish, round spots and are fairly common. Most are benign, but a few might represent the early stages of lung cancer.
Symptoms
There are few symptoms of lung nodules. Often they're spotted on an X-ray as an incidental finding, or something not related to the reason for the X-ray. If they are malignant or cancerous, they will expand and grow over time and may start to cause symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy consists of high-energy X-ray beams aimed at the nodule. The goal is to shrink the tumor and alleviate the symptoms. Effectiveness relates to the type of delivery and the other treatments performed in conjunction with the radiation.
Side Effects
Side effects of radiation include the tendency to tire easily, loss of hair on the chest, loss of appetite, skin irritation and inflammation in the lungs.
External Beam Radiation Therapy
With the external beam technique, a beam of X-rays is directed at the tumor but must go through skin and muscle to get to it. This treatment takes place over approximately six weeks, with good results and fewer side effects than with other methods, according to Radiology Info.org.
Conformal Radiation Therapy
Conformal radiation uses a 3-D image of the nodule, taken by CT scan, as a target. The radiation beam then conforms to the shape of the tumor, blankets it, and shrinks it. This type of radiation causes fewer problems for healthy lung tissue than external beam radiation. It is most effective on patients whose cancer is not advanced.
Brachytherapy
In brachytherapy, a radioactive seed or seeds, planted with a thin tube, are placed directly at the site of the nodule. This may relieve symptoms but does not cure the cancer. According to RadiologyInfo.org, brachytherapy is the least effective form of radiation therapy.
Tags: lung cancer, cancer According, external beam, Radiation Therapy
Organ donation is the removal of internal organs from either a recently deceased or living donor. This is usually done with the intention of transplanting the organ. Anyone can become a donor; age, race or gender is immaterial.
Facts
According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an average of 68 organ transplants are performed in the United States daily. Medical experts believe organ donations save and improve the quality of life of the recipients. According to statistics from the National Health Service, over 1,000 people die every year in the U.K. from issues that could have been prevented if more organs were available for donation.
Donations
It is fairly straightforward to become an organ donor. Those interested should make their wishes known to family members. It is also necessary to sign up at the local state donor registry. Individuals also can declare their wish to become donors by stating this on their drivers' licenses; this can be done when a license is obtained or renewed. A potential donor can also print off, sign and carry a donor card.
Risks
Not all organ donations succeed immediately. There is a risk that the body of person that received the organ may reject it. This can be prevented by taking medications that suppress the immune system. However, these have to be taken for the rest of the recipient's life.
Electronic databases have made medical record keeping more organized and efficient.
The complexity and volume of required health-care documentation has overloaded physicians, who need more medical data recorded than they have the time to record. As a result, medical transcribers are hired to use cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned editing skills to transcribe and move medical data into electronic databases. The demand for this work will only continue to grow as the Baby Boomers continue to age.
Function
Medical transcribers are responsible for listening to medical information dictated and recorded by doctors, and typing his words into reports, which are then archived in electronic databases. These draft reports are then returned to physicians where they are approved or corrected. As transcribers become more experienced, they are able to spot more mistakes in transcription, which speeds along the medical transcribing process. Many hospitals are now streamlining transcriptions using voice recognition software. The transcriber is responsible for reviewing these transcriptions for accuracy and formatting these transcriptions.
Education
Vocational schools, community colleges and distance-learning programs train transcribers for 1 to 2 years before they receive a certification from the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity. Medical transcribers are taught medical terminology in order to be able to understand the dictations of the physicians. These transcribers must also be aware of standards regarding how medical information is transcribed. They need excellent grammar and spelling abilities, a proficiency with word processing technology and good hearing.
Conditions
Some transcribers work in clinics, but more and more medical transcriptionists are finding work online, where they can work from home and send transcribed information back to hospital databases. Those who work in clinics enjoy clean and comfortable offices. Transcribers spend a lot of time sitting, staring at monitors and performing repetitive actions. These actions can lead to injuries like eye strain, carpal tunnel syndrome and lower back strain. These transcribers usually work 40 hours a week.
Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 105,200 transcribers held work in 2008. The need for medical transcribers is expected to grow by 11 percent between 2008 and 2018. However, the need for transcribers is somewhat reduced by voice recognition software that allows more rapid transcription. As voice recognition software becomes more accurate, fewer mistakes will increase the speed in which information can be transcribed. However, advancements in voice recognition software have been slow.
Earnings
The BLS reports that the median hourly earnings for medical transcribers was $15.41. The upper 10 percent of medical transcribers earned $21.81 or more, while the lower 10 percent of medical transcribers earned $10.76. The highest-paid medical transcribers were employed at diagnostic libraries, medical and surgical hospitals. The lowest-paid transcribers were employed at private businesses and physician's offices.
Tags: medical transcribers, recognition software, voice recognition, voice recognition software, information transcribed
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a highly powerful magnet and radio waves to take images of the body. Contrast or dye is used during an MRI to enhance the visibility of the final MRI images.
Why use contrast?
Typically the doctor will request an MRI with contrast if the candidate has a history of tumors, cancers or surgery, if he's looking for inflammation or evaluating the blood vessels, or to further research something found on a pre-contrast MRI result.
Contrast material
MRIs with contrast use a chemical element named Gadolinium, which accumulates in the abnormal tissues of the body, providing a greater image contrast between abnormal and normal tissue.
Side Effects
Some common side effects of MRIs with contrast include dizziness, shortness of breath, allergic reaction and blood clots.
Injecting the Contrast
Normally a patient receives contrast after a normal MRI evaluation. The health-care provider injects 10 to 20mm of contrast solution into the patient's vein.
Risks
Individuals with severe kidney disorders have experienced nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) and nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD). This disease causes fibrosis of the skin and connective tissue.
Tags: MRIs with, MRIs with contrast, What With, What With Contrast
There are several paths you can take in pursuing the proper education to become an ultrasound technologist. You can receive education and training through a college, university, hospital program or technical school. Whatever route you take, be sure the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Sanford-Brown College
Sanford-Brown College (SBC) is accredited by the CAAHEP, making SBC graduates eligible to take the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) exam and receive certification. This exam is not mandatory but it is highly recommended because the credential improves employment opportunities.
The SBC program prepares students to perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations of a pregnant female pelvis, an abdomen, a pelvis and many other body structures. Students will study various subjects such as anatomy and physiology. They will learn distinguish sonographic patterns of the organs and provide accurate, technical impressions. This program has an on-campus imaging laboratory and includes an off-campus clinical component. The final portion of the curriculum includes supervised clinical tests that require logs,competencies and evaluations to be completed by the student. Each graduate receives a certification of completion after he successfully completes the program.
Sanford-Brown College - Houston
10500 Forum Place Drive, Suite 200
Houston, TX, 77036
(888) 734-1333
sbchouston.com
The College of Health Care Professions
The College of Health Care Professions is also accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). This career school has been in business since 1988. The school's Diagnostics Medical Ultrasound program includes training in ultrasound sciences such as medical terminology, ultrasound physics and pathophysiology, among other subjects. Obstetric, gynecologic and pediatric abdomen sonography are some of the examination techniques taught by AHCP. Students also practice these examination skills in a supervised real-world setting. Each graduate receives a certification of completion after successfully completing the program. There are multiple locations.
The College of Health Care Professions - Austin
6505 Airport Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78752
(800) 487-6728
chcp.edu
The College of Health Care Professions - Houston Southwest
8313 Southwest Freeway
Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77074
(800) 487-6728
chcp.edu
The College of Health Care Professions - Houston Northwest
240 Northwest Mall Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77092
(800) 487-6728
chcp.edu
The College of Health Care Professions - San Antonio
4738 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, Texas 78229
(800) 487-6728
chcp.edu
The College of Health Care Professions - Fort Worth
4248 North Freeway
Fort Worth, Texas
(817) 632-5900
chcp.edu
The College of Health Care Professions - Dallas
8390 Lyndon B. Johnson Frwy, Suite 300
Dallas, Texas
(214) 420-3400
chcp.edu
Austin Community College
Austin Community College offers two Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree plan programs in the study of sonography. The AAS for Diagnostic Medical Sonography specializes in ultrasound imaging of the abdomen and a pregnant pelvis. The AAS for Diagnostics Cardiac Sonography, also known as Echocardiography, specializes in ultrasound imaging and evaluation of the heart. Each program requires six semesters (72 credits) of clinical experience, classroom instruction and laboratory experience.
Austin Community College
3401 Webberville Road
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 223-5700
austincc.edu
Tags: Care Professions, College Health, College Health Care, Health Care, Health Care Professions, chcp College
Advertise a free health care clinic by making your own flyers.
If your health care clinic or hospital is hosting a free event offering cancer screening, blood pressure checks or the opportunity to talk with a physician, you will want to customize a flyer on your computer using Microsoft Word. To minimize costs so that the flyer is free, print the flyer using your personal printer, ink and computer paper.
Instructions
1. Open a new Microsoft Word document.
2. Click on the button at the top left-hand side of the screen, called the Office Button. It turns yellow when you hover your cursor over it. Click New.
3. Double-click Flyers. You will be given a list of flyer options. Double-click either Event Flyers or Marketing Flyers. Find a flyer template that fits your health care event. Double-click it, and the template will appear in your word document.
4. Customize the text by clicking on the text boxes. Replace the filler text with your own. Include the date, time and location of your event.
5. Print your flyers, and post them.
Tags: health care, care clinic, health care clinic, Microsoft Word, your flyers, your health, your health care
The GE PSI23 line of refrigerators includes the GE Profile Arctica side-by-side refrigerator with dispenser. The line features GE's ClimateKeeper temperature management system, upfront electronic digital display, and in-door beverage system. Although the various components of the refrigerator are warrantied between one and 10 years, you may find it necessary to troubleshoot the more minor issues that arise with your GE PSI23 refrigerator. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Plug the refrigerator into a working power outlet if it doesn't run at all. Replace the fuse, if blown, or reset the circuit breaker, if tripped. Allow the refrigerator to sit about 30 minutes in case it's just undergoing an automatic defrost cycle, and check the temperature setting. If the refrigerator is set to "Off," select a different setting.
2. Open the refrigerator and freezer and check both compartments to verify that no food packaging is preventing the doors from closing completely if the motor runs excessively, one compartment isn't adequately cooling, ice crystals have formed on frozen items, or the ice maker isn't freezing ice.
3. Check the temperature setting of the refrigerator or freezer if either is too warm or too cold. Push the "Warmer" or "Colder" button for the correct compartment and tap the button until the display shows the proper temperature. Wait 24 hours for the new temperature to be reached.
4. Turn the ice maker's power switch to "On" if the ice maker isn't functioning properly or the dispenser isn't working. Check the water supply line behind the refrigerator, and fully open the valve. Level any cubes that have piled high in the bin, and remove cubes that have become stuck in the ice maker. Look into the dispenser chute, and remove any stuck cubes in that compartment.
5. Dump all ice from the bin and wash it if the ice dispensed tastes or smells bad. Look at the interior of the freezer to verify all foods are wrapped properly, as improper wrapping can cause food smells and tastes to transmit to ice.
6. Push the water dispenser arm and hold it for two minutes if water doesn't dispense. This will release any trapped air that prevents water from exiting the unit. Check the control pad, and push the "Lock Control" button for three seconds to unlock the dispenser.
7. Clean the interior of the refrigerator or freezer if either smells bad. Wrap all foods securely to prevent future odor transmission, and place an opened box of baking soda in the back of the refrigerator to absorb odors. Discard and replace the baking soda after three months.
8. Close the refrigerator door if the refrigerator begins beeping. This is an open-door indicator.
9. Push the "Beverage Center" button if the feature shuts itself off approximately six months after it's been used continuously.
Alcohol abuse is an epidemic that causes people to lose their livelihoods, loved ones and sometimes their lives. There are a number of public and private campaigns that seek to prevent alcoholism, aid alcoholics and their families and friends. Some seek to stop the loss of life that occurs of roadways across the world because of drunk drivers. To develop ways to help shine a spotlight on alcohol awareness month, there are several approaches you can take.
Walk-A-Thon
A walk-a-thon is one way to engage your community in raising funds which will be donated to an organization like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) that work to help prevent deaths due to alcohol abuse or an organization like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) that help people on a path to long-term sobriety. Create signs, flyers and posters in a graphics program and then place/hand out your signs in stores, public places and schools.
Rally/Event
Host a rally or event that highlights themes like "Take the Keys" or "Have Designated Drivers," which ask people to use common sense when planning a party or attending a party where alcohol will be served. An event could include speakers that have lost a love one or has dealt with the negative effects of alcohol abuse has caused him. Alternately, hold a entertainment driven event that you don't need alcohol to have a good time.
Website/Video
Create a website, blog or video that provides personal stories, data and a place where people can talk about ways to prevent alcohol abuse. Use a tool like Google's Blogger where you can create a blog (personal or community) that speaks to the issues that Alcohol Awareness month aims to highlight. For a website, Tripid's "SiteBuilder" can be useful if you don't have the skills to create a website with web design software.
Tags: alcohol abuse, Alcohol Awareness, event that, organization like
As of 2010, 69 percent of radiologic technicians are women.
A radiographic technician, more commonly known as radiologic technician or technologist, prepares a patient for an X-ray, CAT scan or mammogram, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. He instructs the patient on the removal of jewelry and position herself for the exam so the images are precise. Radiologic technicians earn an hourly rate plus overtime, bonuses and even profit sharing are available, according to Payscale.
National Average Salary
As of 2010, radiologic technicians earn between $15 and $21 an hour, according to Payscale. Overtime, usually considered anything more than 40 hours a week, averages between $20 and $35 an hour. Bonuses can add up to between $200 and $2,000 annually, and profit sharing can add another $500 to $3,500 yearly. Payscale averages these figures to an annual salary of between $31,000 to nearly $50,000.
Medical Benefits
Nearly all radiologic technicians report earning medical benefits, says Payscale. As of 2010, 63 percent also report receiving dental benefits and another 47 percent are getting vision benefits. Only 18 percent of radiologic technicians report not receiving any benefits at all.
Advancement Opportunities
A radiologic technician who specializes in a certain field, such as mammography, has the ability to advance his career, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With additional education and training, including becoming certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, ARRT, he can advance to the position of radiologist assistant or be promoted to supervisory positions.
Job Outlook
Employment opportunities for radiologic technicians are predicted to grow "faster than average," according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a job increase of 17 percent expected for the 2008 to 2018 decade. As the baby boom generation becomes older, and with age comes brittle bones, the need for imaging and radiologic technicians is expected to increase.
Tags: radiologic technicians, Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, 2010 percent, according Bureau
Medicare is a nationwide health insurance program for senior citizens and those with special health circumstances such as a disability. Medicare is broken down into four distinct parts: A, B, C and D. Medicare Part A is a form of hospital coverage that is guaranteed without charging a monthly premium to most senior citizens who meet certain tax paying requirements.
Part A Coverage
Medicare Part A covers hospital visits including inpatient care should your illness or injuries require you to be formally admitted to the hospital, nursing facilities should your health reduce your ability to function without professional supervision -- and access to skilled nursing facilities and critical care in the emergency room should you be seriously injured or suddenly take ill. Medicare Part A coverage is guaranteed in most cases when you turn 65 and are a citizen of the United States or an eligible resident of the country.
Medicare Part A Costs
In most cases you do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A coverage because you paid Medicare taxes throughout your working life. These tax payments go toward the cost of paying for this part of Medicare for all eligible Americans. If you are not eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A you may still be able to purchase coverage if you are 65 years old or older and you meet U.S. citizenship or residency requirements. You may also be eligible to purchase Part A coverage if you are under 65, disabled and your premium-free coverage ended because you returned to work.
How Coverage is Handled
According to the Medicare Consumer Guide website, Medicare coverage is handled by private insurance companies who process Medicare claims for the federal government and receive payments for your medical procedures from them. These insurance companies are referred to as fiscal intermediaries. When you or your health care provider submits a health claim to Medicare using your Part A coverage, a private insurance company processes the claim and approves your coverage -- not the federal government.
Applying for Coverage
If you are already receiving social security retirement payments, railroad retirement payments or disability benefits the Social Security Administration automatically contacts you within a few months of you reaching your age eligibility for Medicare Part A. If you live in one of the 50 states or Washington D.C. you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A by the Social Security Administration. You don't have to formally apply on your own as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. Residents of Puerto Rico do not receive certain parts of Medicare automatically and are required to apply separately for coverage.
Tags: Medicare Part, federal government, insurance companies, Medicare Part coverage, most cases, nursing facilities, Part coverage
Without well-defined personal goals, what you want from life will most likely not be what you get. Even with the best of intentions, life has a funny way of getting in the way, and time can pass quickly while you accomplish little. The forward-thinking process you follow while setting personal goals takes the focus off today and forces you to consider tomorrow. It requires that you not only define your dreams and expectations, but also create a plan to achieve them. Although personal goal-setting takes time, the investment you make today can have a big payoff tomorrow.
Be Honest
Set personal goals that represent you rather than the expectations of others. The effort and action steps you put into achieving each goal require not only ability, but also willingness and determination. It will be difficult to impossible to resist the temptation of short-term distractions or navigate roadblocks that threaten your progress if your goals do not come from your heart.
Avoid Overload
Because the life plan you create when setting personal goals typically includes a variety of topics, it can become rather large. Although each goal is important, avoid overwhelming yourself by tackling them all at once. Define and prioritize goal categories, such as career, family, faith, finance, special interests or others you decide are important. Then, work through the process of defining specific goals and steps to take for achieving each, one goal at a time.
Set a Time Frame
Establish a time frame far enough in the future for each goal to significantly affect your life, keeping in mind that each will have its own time frame for completion. For example, if you set a career goal of becoming a board-certified surgeon, a period of 10 years is not long enough, while if you choose to become a nurse or teacher the same time frame is more than sufficient.
Be Specific
Vague generalizations make creating action steps difficult and achieving goals less likely. Using a system developed by author Paul J. Meyer and cited on the University of Kansas Office of Multicultural Affairs website, goal-setters address six "W" questions that can help them avoid generalizations and create goals with as much definition as possible. Define each specific personal goal by addressing the who, what, where, when, which and why of each. As described by Meyer, "who" refers to who the goal involves, "what" refers to what you expect to accomplish, "where" refers to location, "when" establishes a time frame, "which" identifies steps and potential issues and "why" is a statement of your purpose or reasons for including the goal, as well as benefits achieving this goal will provide.
Track Your Progress
Develop a system for tracking progress you make toward achieving each goal by combining action steps into shorter time lines. For example, if your time frame for a particular goal is 10 years, set a time frame for every two years and include action steps you expect to accomplish within this time. This will create checkpoints that help you stay on track as well as motivate you to keep going.
Tags: each goal, time frame, action steps, personal goals, achieving each, achieving each goal
Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) normally include abdominal pain with a significant change in bowel health and movements. Suspected IBD patients may experience blood or mucous in their stools. These stools along with blood, urine and tissue samples can be tested for the symptoms of particular inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Instructions
Test for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
1. Read "Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: Everything You Need to Know" by Fred Saibil (see Resources below). This book includes a guide to symptoms and over 200 pages of information about IBD.
2. Get your blood and urine tested by a gastroenterologist. Gastroenterologists are digestive disorder specialists who can do routine tests for intestinal inflammation, infection, malnutrition and anemia.
3. Get easy to read information about inflammatory bowel disease in "Understanding Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis" (see Resources below). This book is written by a patient and his gastroenterologist, making it a useful guide for doctors and patients alike.
4. Ask your doctor to analyze a stool sample. Stool analysis can indicate whether or not patients have inflammatory bowel symptoms like blood in the stool, infection, parasites and altered white blood cells.
5. Take an abdominal x-ray. An abdominal x-ray can test for inflammation and sores in the abdominal area and organs.
6. Examine your colon and rectum with a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a test that analyzes the rectum and large intestine with a long scope. The scope takes pictures with a small camera located at the end and can also take tissue samples to test.
7. Test intestinal tissue samples or biopsies. Intestinal biopsies can be used to diagnose ulcerative colitis and to determine whether or not a patient has tumors or polyps in the intestine.
8. Look at your organs through magnetic resonance imaging, more commonly known as MRI. Radio waves and magnetic pulses give doctors images of internal structures for further analysis.
Tags: inflammatory bowel, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Test Inflammatory, Test Inflammatory Bowel, tissue samples, abdominal x-ray, below This
Radiology technicians are the professionals who run the equipment like X-ray and magnetic resonance machines, taking pictures of the interior structures of the human body for use in diagnosing medical conditions. In Nevada, the need for radiology technicians will increase by nearly 13 percent from 2008 through 2018, according to the Nevada Workforce Informer.
Statewide
Radiology technicians working in Nevada made an average of $31.04 per hour as of 2009, explains the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Based on a 40-hour work week, technicians earned $64,563 per year. The lowest-paid 10 percent of radiology technicians in Nevada earned $22.28 per hour and $46,342 per year or less, while the highest-paid 10 percent received wages of $42.64 per hour and $88,691 per year or more.
Las Vegas and Paradise
In Las Vegas and Paradise, radiology technicians earned an average of $31.88 per hour and $66,310 per year as of 2009, estimates the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Wages in the cities exceeded the statewide average by nearly 3 percent. Wages for the lowest-paid 10 percent of radiology technicians in Paradise and Las Vegas were a maximum of $22.42 per hour and $46,633 per year. The highest-paid 10 percent of technicians earned a minimum of $44.43 per hour and $92,414 per year.
Reno and Sparks
As of 2009, radiology technicians in Reno and Sparks received average wages of $29.43 per year and $61,214 per year, reports the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Salaries in the cities were more than 5 percent below the Nevada statewide average. The lowest-paid 10 percent of radiology technicians in Reno and Sparks earned $21.87 per hour and $45,490 per year or less. For the highest-paid 10 percent, wages were $40.24 per hour and $83,699 per year or more.
Education
Most employers prefer to hire radiology technicians who have completed formal post-secondary training in the field. As of April 2011, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists had accredited radiologic technology programs at four post-secondary schools in Nevada. These schools were Great Basin College in Elko, Pima Medical Institute in Las Vegas, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno. The program at UNLV culminates in a certificate of completion, while the remaining schools grant associate's degrees.
Tags: hour year, radiology technicians, Department Employment, Department Employment Training, Employment Training, Employment Training Rehabilitation
Your body is made up of trillions of cells. These cells multiply, divide and expire constantly. In healthy individuals, cells complete life cycles and follow distinct patterns. Normal cells have their own identity and obey the rules of contact inhibition. They will self-destruct if genetic abnormalities are found. Normal cells adhere to each other and expire at the end of their life cycles.
Cancer Cells
Cancer cells are not typical or normal. They do not follow the rules of contact inhibition, adherence or self-destruction. They contain faulty DNA, propagate rapidly and secrete special chemicals in order to establish new blood supplies that will feed growing tumors.
Contact Inhibition
Contact inhibition causes normal cells to stop growing, or proliferating, when a cell makes contact with another cell. This response ensures that there is no overgrowth produced by replicating cells. In this way, contact inhibition controls cell growth by allowing cells to replicate as old cells die but keeps unnecessary tissues from forming in their place.
Cancer Cell Growth and Angiogenesis
Cancer cells do not operate under this principle and quickly take over the area in which they are growing. In fact, cancer cells grow until entire organ systems are overtaken. To do this, cancer cells secrete angiogenesis growth factor, which causes new blood vessels to form and surround the cancer cells. This gives the cancerous tissue its own nutrition supply. The blood vessels will encircle existing organs, rendering them unable to function.
Inability to Adhere
Another characteristic of cancer cells is that all cells are exact replicas of each other. There is no differentiation or cell specialization. Cancer cells also lack the ability to adhere to each other. This lack of adherence enables cells to move around your body and take up residence in different areas.
Metastasis
When the abnormal tissue moves to another area of the body, the process is called metastasis. Cancer cells spread through the body via the lymphatic and circulatory systems. Cells will also move through various cavities as they grow, such as the sinuses, lungs and abdomen. The lymphatic system is the typical route cancer chooses because it is very easy for the cells to travel through the system's vast network. Once cancerous cells get into the lymphatic system and lymph nodes, it is considered to be systemic. This is typically fatal as the cancer is impossible to remove completely. Cancer will also move through your circulatory system, or bloodstream. With the plethora of veins to choose from, cancer can quickly spread.
Prevention
After the cells are in a new location, they begin to divide rapidly. The same process occurs as in the original location. Blood supplies are established so the cells can thrive and grow. Metastasis explains how cancer is found in several areas of the body and yet the patient did not realize what occurred until it was too late. Prevention is the key in controlling cancer. There are no cures but there are things you can do to minimize your risk. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and see your doctor for regular checkups. If the cancer is found while in its early stages, the chance of a good outcome is greatly improved.
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Doctors evaluate tumors on how abnormal they look and how they will likely grow and spread. They use a scale of grades 1 to 4 to establish the danger of the tumor. Grade 1 tumors still resemble normal cells and are the least aggressive, while on grade 4 tumors are the most severe. This system of grading helps doctors determine the manner in which they will treat breasts cancer patients.
Considerations
Grade 2 breast cancer is considered an intermediate level. Although tumor grade is an important factor, doctors will also look into other considerations before they specifically determine the best way to treat the cancer. Other factors that affect a doctor's decision are whether the patient has gone through menopause, the type of breast cancer present, whether the cancer is stimulated by hormones, the size of the tumor, stage of the cancer and the patient's general health. Therefore, generalizations for treatment are never made and evaluation is performed on a case-by-case basis.
Hormone Therapy
Some types of breast cancer cells may be stimulated by natural female hormones called oestrogen. Lab tests are performed on sample cancer cells to determine such results. In such cases, hormone therapy may be considered. This treatment will apply an inhibiting drug that will prevent cancer cells from receiving the hormones, thus possibly stopping their growth and leading to the tumor shrinking.
Biological Therapy
This type of treatment is similar in concept to hormone therapy. Cancer cells can also be receptive to a natural protein called Her2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). If a patient's cancer cells are determined to be thus, biological therapy using the drug called herceptin might be applied. This drug is only effective for this particular circumstance. This treatment is also typically recommended for patients who showed symptoms of breast cancer at an early age (before the onset of menopause).
Surgery
There are two types of breast cancer surgery: lumpectomy, where only the tumor is removed, and mastectomy, where the whole breast is removed. Lumpectomy is done if the tumor is still small and not located in a critical area. In this procedure a thin layer of normal tissue surrounding the tumor is also removed. If the tumor is already considerable in size and is located in the center of the breast, a mastectomy may be the only surgical option.
Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy uses radiation to destroy cancer cells. It is often recommended in conjunction with surgery after the removal procedure and is often applied only to the breast area. The purpose of this particular approach is to prevent the recurrence of cancer. Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to destroy the cancer cells. This treatment may be recommended before surgery to shrink the tumor or afterwards to prevent the cancer from coming back. One situation where either treatment is inevitable is when the cancer has spread well beyond the breasts.
Tags: cancer cells, breast cancer, This treatment, breast cancer, cancer cells
Doctors and nurses can be found in hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities designed to diagnose and treat the sick and the injured. Doctors and nurses share many similar skills but function differently. A doctor examines a patient's health and finds a cause and solution for the illness while the nurse assists in the records, equipment and application of medicines. There are many types of doctors and nurses, but all help treat the sick and injured in some way.
Doctor
A doctor is a medical professional who examines the sick and tries to find a way to help them. Doctors can prescribe medicines, different treatments, and can give health advice. A doctor will usually make observations first, then make a list of possible causes and perform tests to find the right treatment. Most doctors have a doctor of medicine, or an M.D.
Role of Doctors
Family doctors or general practitioners are often the doctors we would go see when we are sick. These doctors treat common problems and perform general checkups. When a more serious problem is present, these doctors can send their patient to other doctors who are specialists. Specialists include pediatricians, neurologists and gynecologists, among others. Doctors often work long hours and may have to rush to a hospital in cases of emergencies.
Nurse
Nurses, or registered nurses, help doctors and specialist take care of ill and injured people. Good nurses not only treat wounds and handle medicine, but also provide emotional support to their patients. Because nurses handle many sick people on a daily basis, they have to avoid the risk of infection.
Role of Nurses
Nurses usually assist doctors when dealing with patients. Nurses are usually in charge of handling information and records pertaining to patients and help with testing and lab work. Nurses can also teach patients care for themselves. Some nurses can specialize like doctors, and focus on children, surgery or intensive care. Some nurses do office work. Nurses may also work long hours like doctors, and may work more irregular hours. Office nurses usually have regular hours while part-time nurses work selected shifts.
Education
To become a doctor, four years of college, four years of medical school and four years of hospital work are often required. Doctors study physics, chemistry and math, as well as biological sciences. Nurses can take two, three or four years of college depending on the field they want to train for. Nurses also take tests to obtain licenses and to keep their skills up-to-date. Nurses take many biology and science classes like anatomy, chemistry, psychology and nursing theory.
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The technology may be new, but so far cell phones seem safe.
The link between cell-phone radiation and cancer is unproven, at least in the short time that cell phones have become commonplace. However, cell phones release some RF (radio frequency) waves, and analog models produce more radiation than newer digital models.
Phone Radiation
Older analog models require more power than digital models, and produce more radiation as a result. An average analog phone produces as much as 1.3 watts, while an average digital phone produces a mere 0.7 watts.
Overall Radiation
Neither digital or analog phones produce a dangerous level of radiation, with an analog phone producing much less than a hundredth of an average microwave's radiation.
Conclusion
While any danger inherent to cell phones is not proven for either digital or analog, the long-term influence of the devices is still unknown. Anyone concerned about the potential risks should either get a hands-free set to reduce exposure or use speakerphone rather than holding the phone to his head.
Tags: cell phones, analog models, analog phone, digital models, models produce
Company health fairs can teach employees about health issues in a manner that is both effective and inexpensive. Health fairs are special, company-wide events that provide employees with ways to learn more about health issues while on the job. Select activities that can be interactive and hands-on for employees. Offer door prizes and contests during the company health fair to encourage participation. This article outlines some strategies for organizing, conducting, and funding such health fairs.
Health Screening
Health screening is one type of health fair that can be done any time of the year. Contact a local physician's office, which has on-site lab services, to set up a health screening area at your company. The physician can conduct blood tests, weigh employees, take blood pressures, and have employees fill out medical questionnaires. Employees can then meet with the healthcare provider to go over the health screening results. Educational brochures for various common health problems can be given out during the screening, as can small items aimed at improving employee health (such as pedometers or food pyramid refrigerator magnets).
Healthy Back Seminar
Back problems are a leading cause of workplace injury. To encourage employees to take better care of their backs, have a local chiropractor come in to give tips on have a healthy back. This type of health fair would be especially good for companies that have many sit-down positions or employees who regularly lift heavy items. Ask the chiropractor to bring a 3-D model of a spinal column that employees can hold and touch. Schedule small blocks of time for a discussion of proper ways to protect and take care of the back. Don't rush employees back to work -- give them ample time to ask questions at the end of the discussion.
CPR Workshop
The skills for properly applying CPR can save lives, and having employees with CPR training makes sense in any type of business. Call your local fire department or hospital to set up an on-site CPR demonstration at your company. Ask the EMS or EMT worker to demonstrate CPR techniques. Encourage employees to register for CPR Red Cross certification, or provide incentives for employees t get certified.
Foot Care
Many employees stand for hours on their feet in improper or worn-out shoes. Some companies have working environments in which proper footwear can result in fewer employee accidents and injuries (examples include manufacturing plants and hospitals, where employees spend a lot of time on their feet). Have a local podiatrist come in to discuss proper foot care, to discuss the best shoes for your type of work, and so forth. Ask them to bring 3-D models of the feet and ankles that employees can interact with.
Health Booth Scavenger Hunt
A health booth scavenger hunt, with prizes, is a great way to encourage participation when your company has a health fair with multiple health-care providers in-house at a given time (for example, if all four of the above-mentioned ideas were implemented on the same day). Make a list of specific questions that can only be solved by visiting the different health fair stations. At the end of the day, have employees turn in their booth scavenger hunt sheets. Have someone check the sheets for correct answers. The following day, award prizes and gifts to employees for participation and correct solutions to the health fair booth scavenger questions.
Funding options
Investing in employee health is its own reward, but some companies may need to figure out ways to help defray the costs of health fairs. Allow local healthcare providers and agencies to advertise their business with business cards, magnets, pens and so forth in exchange for setting up a booth for your employees.
Tags: health fair, your company, about health, about health issues, booth scavenger, company health fair, employee health
Each insurance company, no matter whether they offer health, dental, auto or life insurance has ways to verify your insurance eligibility and coverage. Using the internet or a telephone you can quickly check your status with the insurance company to ensure you are covered.
Instructions
Checking Online
1. Go to your insurance company's website. Check the back of your insurance card for the web information. If it does not list a website you must call.
2. Find the "Members" section of the insurance website. Follow the link to the "Members" section.
3. Register for an account. You will need your insurance ID or social security number, and other personal information such as name, phone number, address, etc.
4. Log-in to your account after you complete the registration process. Your personal profile should be available for viewing. In the profile you will see your personal information, insurance ID, and eligibility span dates.
Checking Over the Phone
5. Call the insurance company's phone number printed on the back of your insurance card, usually listed as the number to check "Eligibility and Claim Status."
6. Follow the phone prompts to verify eligibility. Companies vary, but most likely there will be an automated system to retrieve your eligibility information. Some companies connect you directly with a customer service representative. Either way, you will be asked a series of security questions.
7. Provide your insurance ID number or social security number and any other information requested. You will then be able to confirm insurance eligibility.
Tags: your insurance, insurance company, insurance eligibility, back your, back your insurance, Check Insurance
Women commonly experience some anxiety before undergoing their first pap smear, and some even go so far as to cancel the exam. Pap smear anxiety largely stems from a lack of information about the test and worries over the pain some women believe they'll experience. Luckily, most of these fears can be alleviated with a little education beforehand.
Instructions
1. Educate yourself about the pap smear by logging onto reliable websites that explain the reasons behind this routine screening, as well as how it's conducted. A 1993 study by Journal Watch found that women who were more informed about the pap smear experienced less anxiety than those who were not.
2. Remind yourself that the pap smear is a routine exam used to prevent cancer and that every woman aged 18 or older should have one.
3. Keep in mind that a pap smear is not painful but that the pelvic exam may be a bit uncomfortable. Knowing this, there's no need to brace yourself for a painful process that simply won't occur.
4. Talk to your gynecologist about your concerns, and ask her to explain what will happen during the procedure. Many doctors already do this, especially for first-time pap smear patients.
5. Ask your female family members and friends who have already had a pap smear about their experiences. They can give you a firsthand perspective on what it's like to get this screening and will likely confirm that although it may not be their favorite activity, it's nonetheless a simple, painless procedure that every woman needs to stay healthy.
6. On the day of your pap smear, try some deep breathing exercises to ease any anxiety you may still have. Push your stomach outward and take a deep breath through your nose, filling your lungs completely. Hold your breath for a beat and then exhale slowly to keep yourself calm and remind yourself that you are in control of your body's reactions to a potentially nerve-wracking situation.
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The five-year survival rate for cervical cancer in Stage 2B is about 75 to 78 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. This rate is a significantly better than the 47- to 50-percent survival rate for Stage 3 cervical cancer but not as good as that of Stage 1 cervical cancer, which ranges from 80 to 95 percent.
Definition
Stage 2 cervical cancer is distinguished from Stage 1 depending on whether the cancer has spread beyond the cervix. If the cancer has not spread beyond the cervix, the cancer is considered Stage 1. If it has spread, it's considered Stage 2.
Within Stage 2, two further classifications are made: Stage 2A and Stage 2B. The cancer is considered to be at Stage 2A if it has spread to the upper two-thirds of the vagina but not to tissues surrounding the uterus. The cancer is classified as Stage 2B when it has affected tissues around the uterus.
Treatment
Standard treatment for Stage 2B cervical cancer is usually a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may include external radiation from a machine that aims radiation at the cancer-affected area and internal radiation therapy, in which radioactive material is placed inside the body near the cancer.
Side Effects
Radiation and chemotherapy treatments for Stage 2B cervical cancer may cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Chemotherapy may cause hair loss. It can also lead to an increased chance of infection and abnormal bleeding or bruising. Sometimes it may cause infertility or premature menopause.
Radiation therapy can cause scar tissue in the vagina, resulting in painful sexual intercourse. Other side effects include premature menopause, sunburn-like skin damage, hip fractures, low white or red blood cell counts and bladder problems.
Clinical Trials
Patients may want to consider a clinical trial. Such a trial may provide access to cutting-edge cancer therapies that may or may not work better than the standard treatment. Participating in a clinical trial may include receiving either the experimental treatment being tested in the trial or the standard (control) treatment. You can find clinical trials by checking the National Cancer Institute's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry (see Additional Resources).
After Treatment
Your doctor will probably conduct further testing once your treatment is complete to determine its effectiveness and to monitor your condition. If at some point, tests determine the cancer has recurred, your doctor may recommend other treatment options that may include surgery, further radiation and chemotherapy or a clinical trial.
Tags: cervical cancer, Stage cervical cancer, clinical trial, considered Stage, Stage cervical, better than
A lump in the breast is any swelled or raised bump that appears on a person's breast tissue, according to MedlinePlus. Although they are most common among women, breast lumps can affect both males and females.
Breast Cancer
A breast lump may signal that a person has a malignant tumor. Breast cancer is most common among women, especially among those who are 55 years old and older, according to the American Cancer Society. A small minority of men, especially those around 60 and 70 years old, get breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Non-Cancerous Lumps
Some women, especially those who are childbearing age, develop benign lumps in their breasts. These lumps include fibrocystic breast changes, dense and bumpy-textured lumps; cysts, soft and fluid-filled sac-like protrusions, and fibroademas, tumors with a rubber-like texture. Lipoma and hamartoma are conditions that can cause fatty tumors to appear on the breasts.
Puberty
During puberty, girls develop "breast bumps," which are protrusions that appear before they develop breasts. Many boys develop temporary lumps in their breast tissue during puberty, according to MedlinePlus.
Infections and Injuries
Mastitis is an infection that affects the breast tissue, sometimes causing it to become swollen. Sometimes an injury to the breast, caused by a car accident or an object hitting the breast, can cause it to become swollen.
Other Causes
Intraductal papilloma causes non-cancerous tumors to appear in the milk ducts of the breasts of women who are between 35 and 55 years old, according to MedlinePlus. Sometimes babies develop temporary lumps in their breast tissue because estrogen is transferred from their mother to them, according to MedlinePlus.
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Radiation therapists work in oncology and deliver radiation treatments to patients.
Radiation therapists work in an oncology team in hospitals or cancer treatment centers. They run computer tomography scans to observe the presence or location of a tumor in a cancer patient. They also operate linear accelerators to deliver a certain amount of radiation to the patient's tumor with high-energy X rays, gamma rays, or electrons. Radiation therapists typically work forty hours a week. They interact directly with the patients and must act caring and empathetic. The job requires both psychological and physical strengths to interface with ill patients and to lift the disabled ones on and off treatment tables.
Hiring Requirements
Hospitals will typically ask for an associate or bachelor's degree in radiation therapy or in radiography, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For applicants with a radiography degree, they need to complete a twelve-month certificate program in radiation therapy. In addition, 33 of the U.S. states and employers request a license from a state accredited board. Typically, this requires that therapists pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification, which needs to be renewed each year.
Education
Radiation therapy courses for an associate of bachelor's degree include the fundamentals of radiation therapy procedures, human anatomy and physiology. Mathematical classes and computer science broadens the coursework. Public speaking courses develop communication skills necessary in the interactions with patients. As of 2009, the United States offer 112 ARRT accredited radiation therapy programs.
Admission Requirements
The radiation therapy schools welcome students who graduate from high school with typically a minimum GPA of 2.0. At the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Center, students must have taken college-level algebra or pre-calculus as well as college-level anatomy and physiology. Gwynedd-Mercy College requires in addition, biology, physics or chemistry and highly recommends trigonometry.
Certification
ARRT certification involves finishing the classes of an accredited radiation therapy school, commitment to follow the code of ethics from ARRT, and passing an examination. ARRT explains that typical questions asked at the exam test knowledge in radiation protection, all aspects of oncology treatments, and quality assurance. To renew the certification each year, therapists must repeat their commitment to the code of ethics, take a 24-course credit refresher every two years, and pay the annual certification fee.
Earnings
BLS reports that the 2008 salaries for radiation therapists had a median of $72,910 with some of the highest compensations above $104,000. The number of opportunities for this profession grows fast. With 15,200 radiation therapists in 2008, BLS expects a 27 percent growth by 2018. Management of programs in radiation centers represents a natural path of advancement. Other options include branching out into teaching, research, or sales of technical equipment.
Corresponding with prisoners is never easy. Many convicts have trouble adjusting to life in an institution, and the stress of living under lock and key can make even the healthiest person break down. The situation is even harder for prisoners with a serious illness, including breast cancer. Writing these prisoners, however, can be a kind thing to do. Reaching out through the mail could give the prisoner the hope she needs to beat cancer.
Instructions
1. Make contact with a prisoner. If you don't have one specifically in mind, you can meet one through web sites dedicated to connecting convicts with the outside world. (One of these is called Write a Prisoner.) If you are looking specifically to comfort someone with breast cancer, consider contacting the warden of the facility with your request.
2. Consider which details you are going to share with the prisoner. Prisoner Life advises you to begin correspondence with background about yourself, including hobbies, music preferences, favorite books and so on. If you have survived cancer, that might also be a good thing to disclose. You should be careful, however, about sharing too much personal information. While being in prison doesn't necessarily mean someone will be dangerous, it's still good to be cautious.
3. Lay down ground rules for your correspondence in the beginning of your first letter. Some of these will be dictated by the specific prison. Friends of the Earth emphasizes that some prisons allow you to include self-addressed, stamped envelopes, and some do not. (Include stamps when possible, as a prisoner's income is limited.) Some prisons read all the letters you send, and some don't. Other ground rules will come from you. Be realistic in letting the prisoner know how often you will write her.
4. Allow the prisoner to dictate how much you talk about breast cancer. Lori Hope, a writer who has focused on dealing with cancer, advises you to recognize that patients make decisions about their own care after long deliberation. Support the prisoner in whatever she decides to do.
5. Understand that corresponding with an inmate begins a kind of relationship. Paper Dolls, a site that lists prison pen pals, emphasizes that if you write an inmate who lives in your state, they may want to meet you. Further, a long relationship might mean the inmate will ask you for your number or money. You must be wary of these requests and follow your conscience, as well as all applicable laws.
Tags: breast cancer, emphasizes that, ground rules, with prisoner
Treating migraines holistically means treating the mind, body and spirit together. Some use holistic treatment synonymously with natural or alternative therapies. The common idea is to maintain a balanced health and lifestyle to avoid migraines.
Prevention
Learn what triggers your migraine headaches, be it a type of food, certain lighting, environmental causes, stress or lack of sleep. Pay attention and keep a journal if you must to keep track of patterns. Knowing these triggers, avoid them or minimize them as much as possible.
Gentle Yoga
A small study done by researchers in India noted that migraine sufferers benefited from doing gentle yoga exercises, yoga breathing and yogic meditation. The study was done comparing a group of people practicing yoga for prevention of migraines and another group receiving education on lifestyle changes as treatment and prevention of migraines. The group practicing yoga claimed migraine attacks occurred less frequently and with less intensity within a few months, whereas the other group claimed their migraines remained the same. Doing yoga during acute attacks may not help minimize pain.
Acupressure
Acupressure, the stimulation of acupuncture points, is used to stimulate points to relieve tension and reduce pain. For a simple treatment, massage areas with the pads of your finger including LI-4, the fleshy portion between your thumb and index finger, GB-20, the depression at the base of the skull midway between the earlobe attachment and the spine, and GB-7 through GB-12, the area above and around the ear. Use the tip of your thumb to apply hard pressure to LV-3, the depression on top of your foot between the tendons of the big toe and second toe and GB-41, the depression 1 to 2 finger-breadths proximal from the knuckle of the little toe on top of the foot. End the session by twirling the little toe and tug on it to release some energy.
Acupuncture
The insertion of hair-thin needles along meridians and assorted places on the body can help balance the body. Oftentimes, it relieves the headache or reduces the pain dramatically by redirecting the energy flow, increasing or decreasing blood flow to certain areas, and--as some medical experts believe--stimulating the release of endorphins to relieve the pain. The use of needles for migraine treatment should be left to a professional.
Herbs
For a natural alternative to taking synthetic drugs, try herbal remedies. Many toot the effectiveness of Feverfew, a plant from the daisy family, as a great anti-inflammatory and preventative herb for migraines. Some believe Feverfew can relieve the blood vessel constriction that causes migraines. Take white willow bark in addition as this herb helps relieve pain and is known as "natural aspirin."
Energy Healing
Pranic healing and Reiki focus on healing the auric body, or the energetic levels of a being. Migraine pain can show as excess energy, blocked energy, even low energy. By using one of these energy-healing techniques, you can re-balance the energy level, clear away excess or stagnated energy, and minimize the migraine pain. Try this basic pranic technique: spread the fingers slightly and sweep them 2 to 5 inches away from the painful area on the head in a downwards direction with intentions of clearing away the pain. With every five sweeps, flick the hands with the intention of dissipating the energy that you have cleared. Do about 100 to 200 of the sweeping motions. For better results, learn about the rules and techniques for pranic healing through the resources provided below.
With humor skills, you can make your friends laugh.
Comedy writing is a great way to entertain people while making a bit of extra money on the side. It could also lead to a career in comedy writing. While not everyone who tries to break into comedy writing is successful, most people with a passion for comedy can have a great time writing it. The common thread to all such writing is the element of surprise, which can manifest itself in the form of wordplay, irony or twist endings.
Instructions
1. Write a list of topics. Pick topics that you like to talk about. Most any topic can be funny if done properly, but no topic is funny if executed poorly. You are most likely to be funny when writing about topics you know.
2. Select one topic for your first bit. Choose an experience in your life, a topic in the news or popular culture that relates to this topic. Write a title for the bit that helps you remember it.
3. Write an initial set up for your first bit. The set up is the part of the story that comes before the surprise. A set up, on its own, is not meant to be funny. An example of a set up in an office humor story would be you try to locate the origin of a funny smell in your office.
4. Write a punchline. A punchline is a surprising twist that makes your story funny. For example, in the story about a funny smell in your office, a good twist is to have the story end with you being overwhelmed by a bad smell near the garbage can before your boss says, "Oh, sorry Dave, we accidentally dropped your performance review in the trash, hope you don't mind." The twist here is that the speaker's review stunk so badly it literally stunk.
5. Write tag ons. Tag ons are additional punchlines that come after the first punchline. For example, in the smelly office story, a tag on is a line like, "Oh, and Dave, your supervisor is in the hospital sick this week, if your performance doesn't improve, we're going to have to declare a public health hazard." Write this type of tag ons if you think you can stretch the punchline out with different scenarios.
6. Pepper your act with references to current events. People are more likely to laugh at a joke if it involves people and situations they know about. Check the news for stories about controversial celebrities and politicians, and incorporate these individuals if the stories can be related to the topics you find interesting.
Tags: comedy writing, funny example, funny smell, funny smell your, smell your, smell your office
Good communications between patient and doctor require that the patient come armed with medical history and questions.
Obtaining the best, patient-centered health care depends as much on the patient as it does on the physician. Patients should arrive at their doctor's appointments fully armed with list of medications and their dosages, family history, and personal medical history so that the physician is fully informed of where they're currently at from a physical aspect. Patients should also come prepared with a list of any new symptoms and concerns as well as a list of related questions that they may have.
Instructions
1. Write questions down whenever they come to mind between appointments. Call the doctor for urgent questions that need to be addressed immediately; otherwise, take the list to the next appointment and ask the questions beginning with the most important.
2. Make a list of current symptoms, noting whether these are new or continuing, whether they have worsened or eased up and what combination of drugs and treatments affect the symptoms in any way. Ask questions about possible changes in medications or treatments, possible causes of the symptoms and whether further tests are warranted.
3. Ask the physician for a diagnosis and listen to any general information given. Ask for more details when necessary to clarify any issues. Ask what tests may need to be run in order to verify the diagnosis and what needs to be done to prepare for these tests. Ask when the results will be ready. Look up the diagnosis on the Internet and in medical books and journals. Ask the doctor if any of the recommended treatments will work in this case.
4. Ask if the doctor recommends new medications or treatments, changing medications or treatments or dropping medications or treatments that aren't working or are no longer necessary. Ask what these medications and treatments are for and how they will affect the course of care. Ask if there are other treatment options that might be tried or that might be better than the ones currently being used. Ask about the expected outcome of new medications and treatments. Ask why medications are being added, dropped or changed.
5. Ask about risks, benefits and side effects of any new or changed medication and treatments. Ask what can be done to prevent or lessen the severity of risks and side effects. Ask if there are safer treatments. Ask about long-term side effects and potential problems with current or future health conditions, such as heart disease or pregnancies. Ask how the current disease or treatment will affect work or home life and the ability to care for family. Ask about the need for surgery and surgical risks and complications.
6. Whenever the information seems confusing, ask for clarification. Keep asking questions until the information becomes clear. Don't be afraid to let the doctor know when too much information is being provided, since being overwhelmed with information can become just as confusing as too little information. Let the physician know that if further details are needed later on, questions will be forthcoming.
Tags: medications treatments, side effects, armed with, medical history, Patients should, questions that, that might
Lymphoma is a form of cancer that arises from the lymphocytes. There are various types of lymphoma, and lymphoma is often categorized into stages. Stage II typically involves two or more affected lymph nodes in either the thorax or the abdomen.
History
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes (these are a type of white blood cell). Lymphomas are similar to lymphocytic leukemias, except for the fact that leukemia cells do not form tumors. There are multiple types of lymphomas, and lymphomas are also part of a larger set of cancers called hematological neoplasms, which are all cancers involving blood cells.
Types
There are many different types of lymphomas, depending on the type of cell that is causing the cancer. The most common types of lymphoma are those involving the B cells, the T cells, and natural killer cells, all of which are part of the body's immune response. The staging system, used to classify the extent to which the cancer has spread, is typically used for Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the latter being a blanket term for various lymphoma types.
Identification
Hodgkin's lymphoma is normally identified because it tends to follow a very orderly and linear path of spreading, from one lymph node to the next. Also, in advanced cases, it can cause symptoms that affect the entire body, not just the locally affected areas. In addition, Hodgkin's lymphoma can be identified by a unique cell present within the tumor, called a Reed-Sternberg cell. When detected early, it has a very high cure rate of up to 98%, especially when treated with combination chemotherapy.
Considerations
Non-hodgkin's lymphoma is a term used for a variety of lymphomas. Because there are many subtypes, they tend to be classified according to aggressiveness. Subtypes that are not aggressive can be mroe of a chronic condition and may go unnoticed for years. On the other hand, very aggressive subtypes can quickly be fatal if not treated immediately.
Expert Insight
The process of staging involves a series of examination, including a CT or MRI scan, blood tests, and a physical exam to determine how far the cancer has spread. Stage I signifies the involvment of just one lymph node. If multiple lymph nodes are involved but they are all on the same side of the diaphragm, the lymphoma is said to be at stage II. Stage III involves lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm, sometimes including the spleen. If the cancer spreads to other organs that are not a part of the lymph system, the lymphoma is said to be at stage IV.
Tags: Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes, cancer spread, cancer that, lymph node, lymphoma said, lymphoma said stage
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for nuclear medicine technologists will increase by 16 percent from 2008 through 2018, resulting in the creation of 3,600 new jobs in the field for those with the right education. A number of traditional and community or junior colleges throughout the United States offer programs to train nuclear medicine technologists. Carrying the accreditation of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, these schools allow students to qualify for voluntary certification after graduation.
University of Alabama at Birmnigham
Established in 1969, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public institution with more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The college's school of health professions offers a Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear medicine technology. Students spend the first three years of the program taking classes in English, literature, fine arts, mathematics, history, physiology, medical terminology, anatomy, statistics and physics. Then, students enter the clinical phase of the program, studying for five additional semesters and taking classes directly relating to the profession, such as radiation physics, research, communication, radiopharmacy and computed tomography. Three clinical rotations are required to graduate from the program. Around 42 percent of incoming freshmen and 49 percent of continuing students receive some type of financial aid, reports the 2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1530 Third Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35294
205-934-8221
http://www.uab.edu/
Weber State University
Located in Ogden, Utah, Weber State University is a public institution with more than 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university offers a three-semester certificate program in nuclear medicine technology that is open only to individuals who are certified in radiography or radiologic science with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Students spend 24 hours per week in clinical settings working with patients and take classes in radiopharmaceuticals, radiation physics, medical ethics and law, cardiology, managing medical information and medical regulations. After completing the program, students have the option to earn a bachelor's degree from the university by completing the requirements for one of the university's majors such as chemistry or biology and the general education policies of the university as well as taking classes toward a minor and writing a bachelor's thesis. Those with associate degrees may be able to transfer some previous coursework toward the baccalaureate degree. Approximately half of all students at Weber receive financial aid, according to the 2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges.
Weber State University
1103 University Circle
Ogden, UT 84408
801-626-6744
http://www.weber.edu/
Delaware Technical & Community College
Delaware Technical & Community College is a public, two-year school with more than 20,000 students spread over its four campuses. The college's Wilmington campus is home to approximately 4,600 students and the school's diploma program in nuclear medicine technology. Admission to the program is competitive and requires students to have a history of high school or college-level coursework in chemistry, algebra and biology. The program requires six semesters of full-time study to complete and features classes in cardiovascular monitoring, nuclear physics, English composition, biomedical statistics, psychology and computer science. Three clinical rotations are included in the curriculum. In addition to federal and state financial aid and veterans benefits programs, the college grants a limited number of institutional scholarships.
Delaware Technical & Community College
333 Shipley St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-888-5288
http://www.dtcc.edu/
Tags: Community College, Delaware Technical, Delaware Technical Community, medicine technology, more than, nuclear medicine
While standard medicine is by far the most effective means of treating advance colon cancer--stages III and IV--the way you eat can often complement both your treatment plan and your road to recovery. However, there isn't just one food that you should incorporate into your diet when facing cancer; it's more a complete eating regimen. Our Western diets predominantly consist of things like animal fat, refined sugars and highly-processed grains, all of which do nothing to improve our health.
Diet in Advanced Colon Cancer
According to "The Journal of the American Medical Association" there appears to be a link between a primarily Western diet and an increased mortality rate in colon cancer. Even in advanced stages of the disease, steering away from this type of diet can actually increase your survival rate and also reduce your chances of recurrence if the cancer goes into remission.
As you go through treatment, whether surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, you need to try to modify what you eat. Though you're looking for a healthier, more well-balanced diet, restrict (or eliminate) foods that are high in animal fat, such as red meats and whole-fat dairy. It's believed that animal fat causes a reaction in the colon, triggering the formation of the abnormal cells linked to colon cancer. If you're currently dealing with colon cancer, especially in the more advanced stages of the disease, you don't want to create this sort of environment within your intestinal tract. Instead, increase your intake of fish, poultry and legumes to fulfill your dietary need of protein.
From there, limit the amount of refined sugars and highly-processed grains in your diet. These substances are found in (among other products) sweetened cereals, pastas, cookies, chips, candy, breads and prepackaged meals (both frozen and shelf-stable). Refined sugars have a negative effect on the white blood cells which help control your body's immune response, and this is a time when you really want your immune system at its best. Diets high in refined sugars decrease the ability of the immune cells to not only fight off infection, but also their ability to destroy cancerous tissue.
As you regulate or remove these types of foods from your diet, incorporate more fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains into your eating regimen. These types of items are rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, such as antioxidants and fiber, which can actually go a long way to boosting your immune response and your overall health. Eat a wide array of these foods, as each piece of produce or grain contains a multitude of benefits. Colorful fruits and vegetables, like those in red, yellow and green, are some of the best, but any fresh food of these types should be helpful.
Diet with a Stoma
In some cases of advanced colon cancer it may be necessary that, after a portion of your colon is removed during surgery, you be fitted with a stoma. A stoma is a bypass created from the inside to the outside of the body. It enables waste to be removed when the colon is no longer connected to your rectum; waste is collected in a pouch attached to the exterior of the abdomen. Luckily, a stoma doesn't necessitate the need to modify your diet all that much. However, continue to eliminate the animal fats, refined sugars and highly-processed grains while you eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and legumes.
At the very beginning of life with a stoma, you'll probably need to change how much you eat during a given meal. Smaller portions eaten a number of times throughout the day is your best bet. But as your body becomes more accustomed to the stoma, your meals can grow in size. And since each person is different, you may find that certain foods, even healthy ones, can pose some problems. The most common are those products that don't digest as well as others, such as corn, apples, spinach, celery and nuts. Foods that aren't easily digestible can cause a blockage.
You may also find odor problems with other foods, like some fish, eggs, beans and green vegetables. Yet these items shouldn't disrupt the process of elimination, so feel free to continue eating these foods if they're part of your diet.
Fluid intake is very important in a diet with a stoma. You really want to make sure that you're getting enough water or juice so that your stool doesn't become too hard to pass through the stoma. A good goal is at least 64 ounces each day, but you may want to shoot for more to ensure your stool remains moist.