Health Guidance

Dental & Doctor’s visits — What a pain

Now being disabled and wheelchair bound brings its own challenges but my latest visit to my dentist and my doctor proved to be a work of transportation and manoeuvring par excellence. Firstly let me explain that for the past year all transferring from wheelchair to toilet or bed has been carried out with the aid of a mobile hoist. As a result of my last fall I haven’t walked for a year.

Now, the doctor’s visit was the easiest as we arranged for him to carry out his investigation into my state of health at my home. So I was duly hoisted onto my bed for the inspection. Blood pressure, ears, nose and throat were all inspected and found to be in working order. This was done with the doctor and my wife scrambling all over me and the bed to get access to the selected orifice. Continue reading ‘At war with dentists and doctors’ »

Liposuction and medical tourism in Asia

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that sculpts your body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, such as your buttocks, thighs and upper arms. Liposuction (or lipoplasty) is a plastic surgery procedure that uses a combination of a vacuum and suction to remove fat in problem areas Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty (“fat modeling”), liposculpture or suction lipectomy (“suction-assisted fat removal”) is a cosmetic surgery operation that removes fat from many different sites on the human body. Areas affected can range from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, to the neck, backs of the arms and elsewhere. The fat is usually removed via a cannula (a hollow tube) and aspirator (a suction device). singapore liposuction surgeryThe magnitude of fat removed varies by doctor, method, and patient, but the average amount is typically less than 10 pounds (5 kg). There are several factors that limit the amount of fat that can be safely removed in one session. The most important surgical challenges of any liposuction procedure is: Continue reading ‘Liposuction and medical tourism in Asia’ »

If you are a drug user and you are considering drug detox from your home, there are a few issues that you must consider.

The first thing I would ask is that you must visit your doctor. You cannot, under any circumstances, consider a home detox for drug use, if you are a heavy drug user without telling your doctor what you plan to do. There are so many things that can go wrong because of the nature of withdrawal symptoms, that you will need help every step of the way.

So, you should only really consider home detox if you have a drug addiction that does not have serious withdrawal symptoms. If you are in many any doubt, you should consult your doctor.

Continue reading ‘Drug Detox at Home – Safety Advice’ »

If you have just been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your doctor may have given you a choice of treatment options. But what to choose and how?

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men, with over 200,000 cases diagnosed each year in the United States. It occurs when cells in the prostate, a gland located under the bladder that is necessary for proper sexual function in men, becomes cancerous due to a flux in testosterone. Most cases don’t occur until after 50 years of age, but in recent years the percentage of men in their 30s and 40s diagnosed with this disease and other prostate problems has been steadily rising.

Conventional treatments include surgery to remove the prostate gland or radiotherapy. These are aggressive options and complications including impotence and urinary incontinence can result from surgery, and the risk of secondary cancers is a concern since science already knows radiation exposure causes cancer.

The PSA blood test is another area of confusion. A report published in the June 2009 issue of “A Cancer Journal for Clinicians” shows routine PSA blood tests often result in over diagnosis of prostate cancer, which then results in unnecessary treatments. The PSA test can be deceptive and elevated PSA levels can also be due to benign prostate enlargement, inflammation, infection, age and race.

Continue reading ‘Natural Tips to Fight Prostate Cancer’ »

Medical tests are important tools, but they have limits. Some people think that the more tests they have, the better off they’ll be. Wise consumers know medical tests have costs and risks as well as benefits. To help your doctor make good choices about tests for you, you need to:

Learn the basics.

• What is the name of the test and why do I need it?

• If the test is positive, what will the doctor do differently?

• What could happen if I don’t have the test?

Consider the risks and benefits.

• How accurate is the test? How often does it indicate a problem exists when there is none (false positive)? How often does it say there is no problem when there is one (false negative)?

• Is the test painful? What can go wrong?

How will I feel afterward? Are there less risky alternatives? Continue reading ‘Shared Decisions About Medical Tests’ »

IVF Doctors Abroad

IVF Doctors

IVF was the first procedure used to fertilize eggs outside a woman’s body. In 1978, the first “test tube baby,” was conceived through IVF. Most assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are derived from the IVF procedure.

In an In Vitro Fertilization( IVF) Procedure, the doctor : -

• Prescribes hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries.
• Gathers the eggs.
• Fertilizes the eggs in vitro (outside the body).
• Transfers the resulting embryos through the cervix into the uterus.. Continue reading ‘IVF Doctors Abroad At Affordable Cost – Abroad IVF Doctors At Low Cost’ »

If you don’t have a family doctor (primary care physician), now is the time to get one. Everyone needs a regular doctor. A host of specialists working on separate health problems may not see the whole picture. In choosing a doctor there are lots of questions to ask, but these three matter the most:

- Is this doctor well-trained and experienced?

- Is this doctor available when needed?

- Will this doctor work in partnership with me?

Training and Experience

For most people, a good choice for a family doctor is a board-certified family practice doctor or internist. For children and teens, a pediatrician is a good choice. These doctors have broad knowledge about medical problems.

Availability

Because health problems rarely develop when it’s convenient, it helps to have a doctor who can see you when needed. Call or visit the office. Tell the clinic receptionist that you are looking for a new doctor.Ask these questions: Continue reading ‘How to Finding the Right Doctor’ »

Sciatica is a very common condition, but one that can change the lives of those that suffer from it. It usually occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes trapped or comes under pressure from a nearby disc. Depending on the severity of the pain, walking or just getting up can become painful and difficult. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back, through the buttocks and down to the back of the thigh, therefore pain can be felt anywhere throughout this region. Pain is generally felt on one side of the body, and can often be felt constantly as an ache, or sometimes as a burning or tingling. Inflammation around the area can also result in difficulty standing up and moving around.

There are many forms of sciatica pain relief, and the best way to find one to suit your circumstances is to discuss the various options with your doctor. Depending on the severity of your condition, simple at-home methods may be suitable. However, if the pain is more severe or constant, your practitioner may suggest pain relief medication or even surgery. These methods can vary, and the medication or surgery required will be dependant on your condition and personal health.

Many people are reluctant to rely on regular medication and do not wish to have surgery, and therefore favour easy methods of sciatica pain relief that they can practice day to day. Firstly, your posture and support when sitting or lying down is an important consideration. Soft surfaces can aggravate sciatica, as the lower back is not well supported and excess pressure can be formed there. A firm chair that tilts back slightly can transfer the weight off of the lower back, easing any discomfort than can occur. Similarly, a saggy mattress will have the same effect, so try to invest in a good quality chair and mattress to use daily. To maintain your chosen method of sciatica pain relief, ensure that you do not spend long periods of time sitting or standing in one position. This can aggravate your lower back which is supporting the majority of the body weight. Movement is essential for staying supple. Continue reading ‘How to Cope With Sciatica Pain’ »

You are having symptoms you have never had before. You think it might be becoming serious and worry is setting in. You seek help and receive a diagnosis. What does this diagnosis mean for you? What treatment(s) will you receive? How will it affect your life? The questions go on…consciously and sub conscientiously.

Do you leave it up to the doctor to tell you everything he thinks you need to know, recommend a treatment plan and hope for the best? Or, do you get involved and make sure the way you proceed is right for you? Your doctor will base his recommendation on his knowledge bank about the illness and what he remembers about you, the new information you provide and what works best for most people… unless you give him reason to do otherwise. Here are six steps you can take as you make decisions in partnership with your doctor:

1. Seek to understand your illness. Become as aware as you can of your symptoms and how you feel. Document your symptoms as they occur, actions you’ve taken and the results of each action.
2. Be as clear as possible in the descriptions you give your healthcare providers. Learn the most effective language you can to communicate your symptoms and concerns. Doing research can often help you find the right words.
3. Research and understand how the body works, your medical condition / illness and your treatment options. Use reliable resources. Continue reading ‘6 Steps to Take When Confronting a New Medical Condition’ »