Tips and Suggestions for Alleviating Snoring

Almost everyone snores on occasion, and though they may joke or find humor in someone else’s sleeping noises, snoring can be a sign of deeper health issues. If you’re a frequent snorer, not only can it affect the quality and amount of sleep you receive, but it also has an effect on how your family members sleep as well.

Types of Snoring

Believe it or not, there are different types of snoring and they affect each individual differently. Those who snore on occasion may do so as a result of excessive alcohol consumption, lack of good sleep, or abnormal sleeping posture. Those who habitually or frequently snore often have too much throat or nasal tissue in the way that is prone to vibrate as they breathe. They can also have issues with muscle control and how the tongue is positioned during rest. If not treated, these issues can cause a person to wake up over loss of breath, or experience other health issues such as daytime fatigue or even heart disease.

Causes of Snoring and Alleviating the Symptoms

Causes of snoring can include, age, body type, sinus problems, and sleep posture among other factors. Some of these causes can be helped by practicing good nutrition and sleeping habits, as well as getting plenty of physical activity to maintain a healthy weight. But if snoring is persistent despite these changes, it may be necessary to look at other methods to solve the problem.

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure(CPAP) - Used to treat sleep apnea and other sleep conditions, this device keeps the airway open by having the user wear a mask that continuously supplies the wearer with pressurized air to assist with breathing.
• Surgery Options - If the airway is restricted from sinus issues or swollen tonsils or adenoids, sometimes these can be removed and will reduce snoring all together.
• Dental Devices - Similar to an athletic mouth guard, these devices are considered very effective in reducing and alleviating snoring by bringing the jaw or tongue forward during sleep to open the airways.

Dental devices, CPAP Machines, and Surgery are all something to discuss with your doctor if the snoring is interfering with your sleep or the rest of someone else. For more information, consult http://www.duo-confort.com for anti-snoring mouthpieces, or a sleep specialists to discuss other options.

Multiple Medical and Healthcare Benefits Through Dedicated Social Networks

The social media is playing a great role in Sustainable Healthcare throughout the USA and beyond. Being the pioneering social-network for connecting the patients and the doctors is no small task. The website has been designed in such a way that the home page gives you all the available options including registration, online help, answers to the FAQ and connectivity to major social-media networks. This platform acts as free marketing tool for doctors. If you are a doctor and got yourself registered in the social networks like http://drsocial.org  you are ensuring maximum marketing for your services. The website not only lists your name, branch of medication and contact details, it also shows the various MD reviews written by the real patients who might have come to you through the same website’s marketing for a sustainable Healthcare. 

The reviews written here take into account

·        The environment within your health center or clinic

·        Your punctuality and appointment scheduling

·        Your friendly behavior with the patients

·        Level of diagnosis-accuracy

·        Your individual and your system’s efficiency levels

·        Effectiveness of your treatment/medication/surgery

·        The time you spend with your patients  and their satisfaction levels

·        The Meritocratic ranking for doctors that you can use to promote your services 

You might have recalled your own childhood days when you went to meet a doctor in his health-care center when your health was down. The moment you enter the clinical premises, you felt a sudden calmness and mental peace descending in you. You feel that you are now in safe hands and your nerves got calmed down. The same effect will be experienced by your patients when they visit you. Patients’ visits are dependent on your popularity. Popularity depends on the effectiveness of the campaign which depends on the media you select. The most powerful media today at the global level is the social media network. This has become a second home to almost everyone in this world. 72% of the adult population (>=18) who work on the internet or use internet have registered their names in the leading general social media networks. Since the websites like http://drsocial.org  have established understanding with the leading social networks including Facebook and Twitter, the task of Communication Patient-Doctor through this website becomes very simple and straight. Of course, the system does not associate itself in any kind of appointment scheduling, follow up etc. The Forums give you plenty of room to interact and discuss with a wide range of patients on the network.

Working on social media websites like http://drsocial.org gives you the best option of sending and receiving private-messages with the existing-members. By opening the private section of your profile, you will be able to read all the messages that you have received, sent and also store the messages in your system. You can change your profile at any point of time by just logging in with your user name and password.

When you register as a patient you will be able to

·        Access the largest database in the world about doctors and specialists in the USA.

·        Search for a doctor in the USA using the name of doctor, address, services provided and various other custom made options.

·        You can download free mobile-app(s) developed by the system.

·        Contact the doctor based on the contact information provided and be able to read regular MD reviews about physicians from the patients.

·        Write your own reviews about physicians and sustainable Healthcare.

·        Read blogs, add your likes view other likes, interact with the global patients-community through chats and do much more.

·        Use the Meritocratic ranking for doctors to select the best doctor in terms of patient care, facilities and infrastructure and various other factors that include those listed above for doctors.

When it comes to being used as a free marketing tool for doctors, the website has special section called the specialty-doctors. Here, you are benefited both as a doctor and as a patient. Normally it is very complex task to use general search engines when it comes to searching for a particular specialist, for example Chiropractors bone marrow surgeons. The websites like http://drsocial.org have built-in SEO that are custom made for the medical field alone. Besides, the increasing popularity of the social network is adding many of the leading physicians in the USA through registrations. Apart from them, there are literally tens of thousands of medical and alternate medicine specialists across the USA. You can find them all in one roof which makes your appointments simple (The website as such does not get involved in getting you appointments, fix schedules or make any sort of correspondence on your behalf). You can also post general enquiries about any doctor, medication or other information directly to your e-mail. Besides, you can get a direct link from the website onto many leading general social media networks like facebook, twitter and others.

Sustainable Healthcare is not just your appointments and treatments with the doctors. It begins with the health and well-being consciousness from within you. The system walks you through the various forums that host hehttp://drsocial.org/forums/topic/20/message-from-dr-social-s-ceo-to-ualthy and impartial discussions about the complete balancing of a healthy-way of life. This includes your diet, exercising and fitness, how to keep your body immune to diseases and many other interesting and critical subjects.

The FAQ-cum-Help gives you all the related information about how you can use the website to get the maximum benefits. You also have quick-links to Communication Patient-Doctor through dedicated chat center that can be accesses from the general social-media networks. Besides, the website itself is getting new update periodically. 

Registered members get special benefits like

·        Displaying your detailed profile and contact details as a doctor.

·        Promote your services through consistent campaigning based on your preference.

·        Spread your campaigning by sharing information with business-partners, related third-party vendors etc and much more.

JOIN US! With your registration we donate $1 to Medical Research. It’s our way to thank you for having opened a FREE account with us.

www.drsocial.org

You can also view the mission statement from the CEO of Dr Social at http://drsocial.org/forums/topic/20/message-from-dr-social-s-ceo-to-u

Patients please view the video below.

 

Doctors please view the video below

Physician Employment: Is it all about Job Security?

The future of the private doctor entrepreneur is bleak. To many, this may seem like a death sentence, but it is only a fact, a reality that many physicians are facing. It is no wonder that there is a massive movement to employment in bigger medical groups, hospitals, or groups affiliated to hospitals. In fact, in 2010, data from American Hospital Association revealed an incredible increase in the number of employed physicians from 2000 to 212,000. But before you take the huge leap, there are some factors beyond job security that you should consider.

1. Your Personality - If you are easy going, it is easier for you to make the transition. If a perfectionist, the transition may be very difficult for you.

2. Your Autonomy - When you get into employment, you will lose your autonomy in terms of decision making, location, and even whether the support staff will have the type of skills you require- remember you are no longer the boss. Your service work may also be affected, as you will be expected to spend more time at the hospital.

3. EHR- Electronic Health Records - In private practice, the systems are simple. as the institution is also small. A move to a large organization means that you have to become part of an intricate EHR system, which again makes the transition difficult.

4. A Reduction in Revenue - In a hospital, your salary will be fixed, with only a bonus, if you are productive enough. You may also deal with many patients under medicare, and medicaid, and even those without any health insurance. The lab charges now belong to the hospital. All these factors will without a doubt result in a significant reduction of revenue, a fact that you will have to grapple with.

5. Mission Congruence - Get to know what the organization you are going to be working with treasures most- is it community activities or high-margin activities?

6. Termination - You could get terminated, and your name tarnished. Your employer could terminate you at his discretion, and never refer any patients to you.

However, all is not lost. If you have decided to go into employment, there are some ways in which you can cushion yourself: Get Legal Advise

Before you make the all significant move, get legal advice. An attorney will help you understand all aspects of the employer's contract, and as you will get to know, all parts of the contract are negotiable. It is important to include what you need to work efficiently in the contract, though the hospital could still deny it. This process, in essence, helps you look realistically at the transition and decide whether its worth all the hassle.

Just like in any other business, you have to keep overhead at minimum if you are going to stick around in private medical practice. This is perhaps the biggest challenge many doctor entrepreneurs are facing, with factors such as decreased reimbursement from the government, and the cost of drugs for patients being highlighted. This is indeed a genuine reason to call it quits on private practice, but before you take the dive, brace yourself for tough times.

Prescription Savings of the RGV for entire year 2013

January 1, 2013 to December 31,2013

Total Transactions: 1,227

Total Savings: $25,926.64

Savings Per Script: $25.98

Average Savings: $34.11

Brand Transactions: 81

Brand Percentage: 5.95%

Generic Transactions: 1,146

Generic Percentage: 94.05%

U&C Transactions: 463

U&C Percentage: 34.90%

The majority of prescriptions filled were from The Rio Grande Valley with a few prescriptions filled outside the state of Texas.  Will you help me help others save money? Your help in sharing this information can greatly benefit those that need help and can also have a significant impact on the local, state and national economy. Please help me share to others about this free program.

Thank you from The Free Card Man @ FaceBook

DRUG TREATMENT CENTER WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBER

Renowned author, trainer Dr. Barry M. Gregory joins Good Future, Inc.

Delray, Fla. — December 16, 2013 — A new staff member recently joined the team at a local rehabilitation center. Good Future Rehab Center, a mental health and drug treatment center that offers intensive outpatient services, individual and family therapy and much more, recently welcomed Dr. Barry M. Gregory to their staff.

Dr. Gregory, Ed.D., M.Ed., LMHC, was brought on at Good Future as the rehabilitation center's new clinical director. He will help direct the implementation of state-of the art, evidence-based treatments for both adults and adolescents. He is now working directly with many families impacted by addiction and helping to oversee the individualized treatment plans of every adult and adolescent client from admission to discharge.

Dr. Gregory has over 15 years of experience in the substance abuse and mental health fields and has been a licensed mental health counselor in the State of Florida since 2003. He has extensive clinical experience working with individuals and families impacted by alcohol and drug addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Nationally renowned for his training seminars in evidence-based treatments like Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, 12 Step Facilitation Therapy and Relapse Prevention, Dr. Gregory has conducted over 500 national training seminars for addiction and mental health professionals and is author of the new book “Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical Exercises and Worksheets to Promote Change.”

In addition to serving as assistant director of a university counseling center, Dr. Gregory serves as a faculty member at colleges and universities, as director of outpatient and residential services at a community mental health facility, as coordinator for a substance abuse treatment center program in a jail and as a Clinical Director Department of Children and Families (DCF) Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Centers in South Florida.

Dr. Gregory has a Doctor of Education degree with a major in higher educational leadership (2001) and Master of Education degree in Counselor Education with a Major in Mental Health Counseling (1997) from Florida Atlantic University. His published doctoral dissertation tested the efficacy of brief motivational and skills interventions to reduce high risk drinking with inter-collegiate student athletes.

Good Future Rehab Center is located in Delray Beach, Florida, cited by the New York Times as the foremost addiction recovery city in the United States. Good Future's mission is to improve the lives of those struggling with abuse, addiction and co-occurring disorders, offering the most comprehensive addiction treatment in the nation based on multiple research modalities.

Good Future's multidisciplinary team of highly trained medical and addiction treatment professionals provides a safe, trusting experience and helps clients begin on a pathway to a new, sober future. The center's professionals have years of specialized experience in women’s addiction issues, dual diagnosis, prescription drug addiction, sober living, alcohol treatment, drug rehab treatment programs and drug rehab programs.

Learn more about Dr. Gregory and the Good Future Rehab Center programs at goodfuturerehabcenter.com.

Good Future Rehab Center.
Address: 2230 West Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach, FL 33445

Phone: (561) 859-0930

Fax: 561.266.0854

Email: info@goodfuturerehabcenter.com

Web: www.goodfuturerehabcenter.com

About Us Page: http://www.goodfuturerehabcenter.com/about-addiction-rehab-center/

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZIkntrE034

Medical products and services advertising for $5.00

If you have a pre-written article or advert that is relevant to health care and the medical field I can always put that onto my FaceBook page and this blog for $5.00. I need content and you need a spot for some traffic I assume right? If its research, professional opinions, experience, new products and services I will post it. So think about it and let me know.  I must warn you that I will not post contraception, family planning, nontraditional parenting ideas, weight loss fads, and herbalife,etc. I'm looking for nurses, doctors, patient care technicians, pharmacists, medical lab technicians, health care entrepreneurs, small business start ups, physician office managers and secretaries with something to say.

http://fiverr.com/dfalc12/post-your-promotional-link-5x-on-my-facebook-timeline 

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Rx Savings from August to November 2013 in the RGV

Total for August to November 2013

Total Transactions: 411

Total Savings: $9,724.02

Savings Per Script: $31.37

Average Savings: $39.46

Brand Transactions: 26

Brand Percentage: 6.19%

Generic Transactions: 385

Generic Percentage: 93.81%

U&C Transactions: 141

U&C Percentage: 32.58

The majority of the prescriptions filled are from cardholders in the Rio Grande Valley and a few from outside of  the state of Texas.  There has been a average savings of $2400.00 for the past four months.  Think of how many more people can still benefit from this free program.   I really need your help in sharing to others information about how they can save money on their prescription medicines and laboratory tests.  Your help is greatly appreciated and thank you so much.

Would you like to visit and like my FaceBook page?

How can I avoid the 2014 tax penalty if I do not enroll into an Affordable Care Act plan?

Mr Girard's goal is to reach out to fellow Christians, to help the body of Christ save a significant amount in the coming year by signing up for 2013 health insurance plans that are only available for the next 2-4 weeks. This will help them avoid the 2014 tax penalty and give them a full 1 year reprieve before they must purchase an "Affordable Care Act" plan. The insurance companies are not advertising this, but it is a tremendous opportunity for individuals and families who need to acquire new health insurance and can still pass through underwriting.
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 Adults can enroll themselves online 24/7 at http://InsureMyParts.com. Mr. Girard just expanded to every state where this is still an option from the most well known top A rated carriers in the nation. In some states, with some carriers, new enrollees only have until Dec. 15, others until Dec 30. So time is of the essence.

InsureMyParts.com  was designed by  Mr. R. Girard, a licensed Health & Life insurance agent whose goal is to help individuals and families across the U.S. sign up for health insurance online 24/7 from the comfort and convenience of their own homes.

Because the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has become a reality, millions of U.S. citizens have received cancellation letters from their insurance companies, informing them that the Government mandates new plans with new coverage at new prices that are difficult for many to budget in the coming year.

Mr. Girard wants to give people a reprieve all over this great country by letting them know that they have the option of signing up for a brand new 2013 Major Medical Health Insurance Plan that could be significantly less expensive than many of the new "Obamacare" plans.  

These 2013 Plans allow new enrollees to avoid the 1% income tax penalty for not having creditable health insurance coverage in 2014.   Enrollees can also keep their coverage for 1 full year or until the end of 2014.   But not all companies are doing this in all states.

That is why Mr. Girard is working diligently to update this site so that men and women in 36 states + D.C. who visit InsureMyParts.com can quickly find only companies, plans, and prices that are still available, giving them a one year reprieve, IF they can pass through underwriting.

Will buying short term also work in avoiding the tax penalty?

"It can count as creditable coverage; however, in some cases (perhaps all) the policies will not be renewed ... so for example with Humana you can get 1 to 6 months coverage but once your term expires you can not even apply for a new short term plan with them - you will be instructed on how to acquire a new 2014 long term major medical plan. To avoid the tax penalty you will need to have continuous coverage."

It's still 2013 - which means it's not too late.  But the door is closing quickly.

" Won't you please help me spread the word?   Families, couples, and single people could lose their coverage not realizing they had these options at these prices."  ~  Mr. Girard

What is Legionnaires' Disease?

In 1976, an American Legion conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania turned deadly when 221 men developed a new mysterious disease. This disease killed 34 of those men.

Legionnaires' disease is a serious and potentially fatal infection of the lungs.

Prevention: How?

Landlords and business owners can help control the spread of the legionella bacteria by using treated and sterile water in cooling, HVAC, and water heating units. Homeowners and business owners who operate pools, fountains, and spas should regularly clean and maintain equipment.

Find out more @ http://www.legionellacontrol.com/

Legionella Control International are the Legionella experts.





     

Legionella Control USA & Canada - Legionella Control International are leading environmental specialists offering a range of Legionella risk management, water treatment and indoor air quality services to organizations across the United States of America and Canada. Through our proactive approach to environmental risk management, service delivery and innovation we are able to deliver significant benefits to our clients across most industrial, commercial, healthcare, government and non-profit sectors.
Office Locations

Headquartered in Naperville, IL, and with additional offices covering the Midwest, Pacific Coast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic/Southeast Legionella Control International are ideally placed to offer local and national environmental risk management solutions ... locations >>
Legionella Specialists

Our specialist consulting services are delivered through teams of experts who have national and international reputations for unambiguous and impartial advice across their specialist areas of expertise which includes:

    Environmental, health and safety compliance advice based on Federal, State and Local Codes.
    Legionella risk assessments.
    Cooling tower assessments.
    Due diligence appraisals and reports.
    Legionella training.
    Expert witness and litigation support.
    Water treatment and environmental hygiene services.
    Indoor air quality services.
    Mechanical services, including air conditioning investigations.
    Laboratory water analysis services.
    Integrated electronic risk assessment and log book software.

 For further information and expert assistance please email usa@legionellacontrol.com.

Top Therapist in NYC

The key to properly managing a mental illness or personality disorder is finding a therapist who knows how to help. Mental illnesses cause a wide range of symptoms that can affect all aspects of a person’s life in a negative fashion. A therapist is someone who can help to retrain a person’s brain, so that he or she can overcome some of the negative thoughts that the illness generates. This person can also help a client to understand the nature and the origin of the problem. To obtain the right treatment from a top therapist in NYC, one would have to contact a firm and schedule an assessment. An assessment or evaluation consists of a battery of questions that a specialist asks a prospective client to gauge the areas in which that person needs help. Assessments can often pinpoint a specific mental disorder or personality disorder to a certain degree. The therapist usually combines the data contained in the assessment with information that he or she gathered from the person to formulate an effective treatment plan. A person can also use an assessment to qualify for certain benefits, court proceedings, and accommodations at work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a common practice of the top therapist in NYC. This type of therapy involves using various strategies to change the negative and irregular thinking patterns of people with mental disorders and personality disorders. For example, a therapist will help a person with OCD to realize that he or she is not in any danger for not repeating the act of hand washing, door locking, or bathing an extraordinary amount of times per day. The therapist would also help a depressed or bipolar person to understand that life is not unbearable just because something did not go as planned. In a phobia situation, the therapist may slowly expose the person to the object of his or her fear, until one day the person becomes immune to it.

Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services provides assessments and evaluations for people who have learning disabilities, mental illnesses, and personality afflictions. The organization can evaluate people for conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, autism, depression, anxiety and the like. A person can use the results of the assessment to obtain treatment, prove disability status, or to receive special accommodations. The company accepts most insurance plans and accepts vouchers from the New York City Department of Education. Interested parties can schedule a free consultation today.

Depression from life circumtances

An estimated ten percent of all Americans suffer from some form of depression during their lives. This figure varies but is pretty much the same worldwide. There are a few areas of the world that depression seems to have missed, but not many. Depression in general affects the way we behave from our sleeping patterns up to the way we think and live life.

The difference between depression and bipolar depression is in the severity and frequency. Depression alone is often brought about by life circumstances, while bipolar depression is chemically- induced and the flip side of mania. The depression and mania come in cycles, regardless of the circumstances in a person’s life.  While those suffering clinical depression are at risk of using drugs or alcohol to alleviate their symptoms, the risk is greater in those with bipolar depression. A person who knows the highs of mania may try to recreate the feeling when they are depressed or “stable”. Drugs often help create that high for a short time. This puts the person at risk of adding drug addiction to the bipolar disorder.

For more information please go to: http://dilusional.com/about-me/ ‎

Do I Really Need an EKG Course to Work on a Telemetry Unit?

Pretty much the only rhythm you know is normal sinus rhythm, and the only facts you know about telemetry are that a very fast or slow heart rate can be bad.  You’ve heard of atrial fibrillation but could you point it out on a monitor if you saw it?  What about ventricular tachycardia- would you know it if you saw it on the screen and would you know what to do about it?  And forget about junctional rhythms, heart blocks, and bundle branch blocks… what are those?  You are indeed a newbie to the world of cardiac telemetry and EKG.

That’s why you should to take an EKG course.  Whether online or in person, an EKG course is your best bet in getting the knowledge and competence you need to care for your telemetry patient and safely work on a telemetry unit.  

Most EKG courses start with reviewing cardiac anatomy and physiology and the cardiac conduction system.  This helps by giving you a picture and a basis for everything you will be learning, as most EKG courses are broken down into categories of where the cardiac electrical impulse originates from, i.e. sinus, atrial, junctional, etc.  

Another aspect of EKG education is learning what all those lines and squiggles on the monitor stand for and what they are called.  It shows you which part of the heart coordinates with which wave on the screen and what that part is doing at the time of that wave, i.e. the big up and down wave is the QRS complex- it represents the electrical impulse moving through the ventricles.  Then we learn how to measure each of these.  Each wave or line on the screen determines a certain length of time.  Time is important because it shows how quickly or slowly an impulse is moving through the heart.  A slower impulse may mean there’s an issue in the conduction system somewhere.

Once all the labeling and measuring is learned, most EKG courses then break it down into categories of where the electrical impulse originates from.  There are usually 5 categories here: sinus, atrial, junctional, ventricular, and the heart blocks.  Sometimes a 6^th category is paced rhythms.  Each category has several rhythms within it that need to be learned and each rhythm has its own set of rules regarding the wave lengths, time, etc.  Once these rules are learned, reading EKG’s and telemetry gets A LOT easier.

Some EKG courses also have extras like a review of cardiac medications and their indications regarding cardiac arrhythmia or a clinical perspective on each rhythm regarding the causes, treatments, and clinical presentation.  A good EKG course will also give you lots of rhythm strips to practice measuring and figuring out what each rhythm is.  It’s not enough just to just practice at work, as most of the rhythm strips you will encounter there will be a form of sinus rhythm with the occasional atrial fibrillation.

Finally, when choosing an EKG course, make sure it offers you everything you think you will need to feel comfortable and confident caring for your cardiac patient. 

Where can you get a free lesson on EKG?

Where can you get a FREE lesson on EKG?







Using the lessons of this free telemetry course, you will be be able to identify whether an EKG rhythm is safe or potentially fatal.

http://understandingekg.com/

What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is known by several names – COPD, Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, or COLD. The condition is progressive, meaning that the effects of this disease worsen over time. The effects cannot be reversed, but patients can manage their condition.

The two most common conditions associated with COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, according to the Mayo Clinic. To manage these conditions, patients should not smoke and should avoid prolonged exposure to other lung irritants.

By working with their doctors, patients can take an active role in managing their symptoms. Treatments often include doctor-assisted pulmonary rehabilitation, which includes exercise, breathing therapy and diet monitoring. To get the most benefit out of this treatment, patients should make a point to exercise regularly and take care with their diet, trying to avoid foods that encourage the production of mucous. In some cases, doctors may prescribe the use of ventilators or oxygen therapy through a facemask or nasal cannula. For these treatments to be most effective, the patient should wear their oxygen mask or breathing device regularly. 

Smoking is both a cause of COPD and an irritant. Patients who have emphysema or chronic bronchitis will likely hear their doctors tell them that they need to quit smoking, and perhaps the best way to manage symptoms is to do just that. Patients should faithfully take their medications, including bronchodilators and expectorants, in order to manage their symptoms.

In severe cases, doctors may consider surgical intervention. Lung volume reduction surgery is a treatment for severe cases of emphysema. It involves removal of portions of damaged lung tissue, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lung transplant is another option for patients with severe COPD. In very severe cases and those cases of COPD caused by a deficiency of the protein Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, doctors may perform a bullectomy, which entails the removal of large air pockets and damaged lung tissue. 

When it comes to surgical interventions, the patient can play an active role in their preparation and recovery – by getting as much exercise as possible and following dietary recommendations prior to the surgery. Afterward, patients should follow all instructions and take prescribed medications faithfully.

Individuals who live with COPD may runs the risk of other issues, like thinning bone, weight problems, heart failure and even an increased risk of lung cancer. These complications are yet another reason that patients should cooperate with their doctors and treatment plans as much as possible.

Specialists in COPD treatment brought this article to you

Sources: 

Lung volume reduction surgery: http://www.mayoclinic.org/lung-volume-reduction-surgery/

Surgical intervention explanations: http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/surgical-procedures.html

The Connection Between Obesity and Sleep Apnea

We all know about the many health risks associated with obesity, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.  A less spoken about risk is sleep apnea. People that carry excess weight can develop a type of sleep apnea called Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Due to Obesity

People that carry excess weight have fat that compress their upper airway while they sleep.  Not everyone that has Obstructive Sleep Apnea is obese, but this condition is much higher in this category of people.  OSA causes poor sleep quality, which may explain why severely overweight people also feel tired throughout the day.

Effects of OSA on Obesity

When obese people suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, they may be stuck in an endless cycle that will only make the problem, and their health, get worse.  OSA causes poor sleep quality, reducing the amount of a hormone called Leptin to build up in one’s system.  Leptin is the hormone that regulates appetite and metabolism.  Not having a good night’s sleep can result in one feeling hungry because of this lack of Leptin.  The body thinks it does not have enough energy, and so it thinks it needs more food to build up the necessary amount of energy, causing a person to eat more than they really need.  If an obese person continues to eat more than they can work off, they will continue to put on weight, making the Obstructive Sleep Apnea to become worse, and producing less Leptin during the night.  This cycle continues and gets worse as time goes on. 

Ghrelin is another hormone that helps to regulate weight.  It determines when your body needs to eat or store it away for later use in fat cells.  When sleep deprivation occurs due to OSA, a lower buildup of Ghrelin occurs, making the body think it is hungry rather than tired.  Rather than wanting to sleep, the body thinks it needs to refuel, and so it increases the desire to eat, rather than sleep.

What To Do If Suffering From Obstructive Sleep Apnea Due to Obesity

If one suffers from OSA due to obesity, the first step would be to consult his or her doctor for consultation in lifestyle modification.  There is a treatment called PAP (Positive Airway Pressure). The devices that the doctor can prescribe, if used as directed, can result in an increase in quality sleep and weight loss, assuming a proper diet regimen is also followed. 

Why is immunisation necessary for public health?

Why immunise?


 ... for protection against serious infectious diseases

by Dr Robert Arlt - Consultant Paediatrician

 

Dr Arlt provides general paediatric care, ultra-sound, health checks, developmental checks for babies and children at Richmond Practice.

There are two ways of protecting ourselves against most infectious diseases:

• vaccination 
•  by preventing disease being passed on from one person to another, ex. thorough hand washing

Immunisation is effective in eradicating disease and preventing death.

A worldwide immunisation campaign against smallpox in 1979 lead to complete eradication of
the disease, after reports of 10 to 15 million cases in 1966. As a result, vaccination against
this disease could be stopped. In the early 1960s hundreds of children in the UK died of
poliomyelitis every year. Now the disease has nearly disappeared thanks to the effective
vaccination programme in place worldwide. We need to protect others too
By vaccinating children we achieve "herd immunity." This is the level of immunity that occurs
when the vaccination of a majority of the population (or herd) provides protection to
unprotected individuals. It is more difficult to maintain a chain of infection when large numbers
of a population are immune and this prevents massive outbreaks of a disease. It is particularly
important to protect vulnerable people who cannot be immunised, especially babies in their
first two months of life.

The licensing of vaccines is closely regulated 

Vaccines go through many different phases of testing. Their safety and any potential side
effects are always carefully assessed. Organisations such as the European Medicines
Agency (EMEA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) also continue to work actively to
monitor side-effects contributed to vaccines after they have been released.

What about the side effects? 

We must see vaccines as what they are. Some are ‘dead’ and contain no active disease cells.
Examples are tetanus, diphtheria and poliomyelitis. But they do contain additives needed to
preserve the vaccine and to increase its efficiency. These sometimes cause local reactions
like fever and flu symptoms and allergic reactions that we must be ready for when we
immunise. Some vaccines are ‘live’ or ‘attenuated’. However, they are so weak that anyone
with a fairly normal immune system will not have a problem. Our immune systems fight off full
strength bugs all the time. Of course, we should not use these ‘live’ vaccines on immune-
deficient people.

... and MMR?

The recent scare around the combined Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) vaccine was
connected to the work of Dr Andrew Wakefield. He linked the vaccine with autism and bowel
disease (Lancet (1998.) This contributed to a resurgence of measles cases in Britain when
many parents declined the MMR vaccination for their children. Many large-scale studies,involving millions
of children ailed to establish a link to autism and the Wakefield hypothesis
has not gained acceptance in the medical community. Dr Wakefield has since admitted that
his claims were “not proved.”

To conclude, immunisation protects everyone and helps a great deal in eradicating many
serious infectious diseases. It saves lives and is safe when used appropriately.

---

Richmond Practice routine childhood immunisation programme

• when to immunise
• diseases protected against
• vaccine given

   Two months old

• Diphteria, tentanus, pertussis
• (whooping cough), polio and
• Haemophilus influenza typeb (Hib)
• Pneumococcal infection
• DTaP/OPV/Hib and
• Pneumococcal conjugate
• vaccine (PCV)

Three months old

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
• (whooping cough), polio and
• Haemophilus inflyenzae type b (Hib)
• Meningitis C (meningococcal group C)
• DTaP/IPV/Hib and MenC

Four months old

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
• (whooping gough), polio and
• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• Meningitis (meningococcal group C)
• Pneumococcal infection
• DTaP/IPV/Hib and MenC
• and PCV

Around 12 months

• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and
• meningitis C
• Hib/MenC
• Around 13 months
• Measles, mumps and rubella (German
• measles)
• Pneumococcal infection
• MMR and PCV

Three years and four

• months or soon after
• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio
• Measles, mumps and rubella
• DTaP/IPV or dTaP/IPV
• and MMR

Girls aged 12 to 13
years

• Cervical cancer caused by human
• papillomavirus types 16 and 18
• HPV*
• 13 to 18 years old
• Tetanus, diphtheria and polio
• Td/IPV
• *Human papillomavirus vaccine

The HPV vaccine was introduced into the routine immunisation programme in September 2008.

Mother Nature's Safe Ways To Treat Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism, a term for the over activity of the thyroid gland, affects many people globally every year. The thyroid usually produces a protein-bound thyroid hormone that is essential to cellular activity. This hormone helps every organ in the body function at its proper speed, and is a fundamental part of a body's metabolism.

When the thyroid produces an excess of this hormone, but they don't bond to the proteins and circulate normally through the body, this is called hyperthyroidism. It affects every part of our anatomies, and can become a serious problem.

What you can do?

Fortunately, there are not only many ways to detect if a thyroid is overproducing, but there are quite a few different options one can undertake for diagnosis and treatment.

Only your doctor can prescribe medications to you. But there are many things you can do entirely on your own that can curb an overactive thyroid gland and feel better at the same time!

You get out what you put in

Diet is extremely important to your personal health, and your thyroid is not an exception. The right kinds of food has been proven to improve thyroid efficiency. One of the best is protein. Protein has demonstrated that it can assist in transferring the thyroid hormone around your body. Eggs, nuts, and fish are all great sources of protein.

Another place that will help is in the area of candy and soda. Instead of sweets, try whole fruits. The body treats it exactly the same as sugar. And caffeine excites the metabolism, forcing the thyroid to work even harder. Avoid those energy drinks too, if you can. They will make your sugar levels jump incredibly.

One more piece of advice in the food category is to eat smaller meals more frequently. When a person eats a large meal, their insulin level spikes, causing even more thyroid problems. It is better to have a few smaller meals instead, to keep the thyroid working smoothly.

It's also a good idea to avoid alcohol, as it dehydrates you and takes your minerals with it when it is metabolized. Staying active is also one of the best ways to keep your thyroid working right. At least fifteen minutes of brisk exercise each day lowers levels of insulin. Plus, exercise is incredibly healthy.

These easy and natural practices promote thyroid health. For more information about Hyperthyroidism, click here.