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Two Modern Ways To Correct Vision Problems

  • Posted on May 31, 2008 at 1:11 pm



What used to be a mere wishful thinking for people with eyesight difficulties can now be a reality. Because of the modern vision correction solutions offered today, people with eyesight problems may acquire a near-perfect vision and still look splendid and in-the-crowd! Gone are the oppressive days when geeks are obviously geeks and people wearing thick eyeglasses are classified solely as doctors or CPA’s. Today, there are two popular treatment methods for blurred vision and poor eyesight. Through these processes, one can do without eyeglasses and still have a pair of sharp eyes.

Laser Eye Surgery

Refractive laser eye surgery is among the leading vision correction procedures. This process balances the elements of your eyes by doing some changes on your cornea so that your eyesight will be able to focus on objects; this procedure minimizes your error of refraction. Once laser eye surgery is done, you will have no need for your reading glasses. This is the reason why, refractive eye surgery is also considered as a lifestyle change on top of being a medical process.

Refractive laser eye surgery may be done in two ways. One is through Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK. Or two, via Laser In Situ Keratomilieusis better known as LASIK. These two processes basically remodel the cornea by melting or taking away certain corneal tissues.

In Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK, changes in the cornea are done directly on the external coating of the eyes, directly on the covering of the iris. By using laser technology, parts of the cornea is taken away to improve the focus of the eyes. Due to the direct approach of this procedure, patients should expect some pain and even irritation of the eyes for a few days after the treatment.

On the other hand, Laser In Situ Keratomilieusis or LASIK is a more complicated procedure where a flap in the cornea is created to reveal its middle section. It is in this middle section called stroma that the laser will vaporize certain corneal tissues. After the laser treatment, the flap of corneal tissue is carefully repositioned or folded back to cover the eyes. In this procedure, you can see that the operation pinpoints the specific corneal tissues to vaporize. For this reason, LASIK surgery is more popular because it is comfortable and requires less time for the patient to recover.

Laser eye surgery is applicable for cases like blurred vision caused by the shape of cornea, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. But what happens to people who are not fit for this type of eyesight correction?

Lens Modification Process

Believe it or not, in an age where lasers are fast becoming ordinary medical tools, there are cases where lasers can be useless. Take the case of people with extraordinarily thick corneas or people with severe irregularities in their cornea, these types of patients are not eligible for laser surgery. But for the sake of ditching the horn-rimmed glasses and attaining good vision, people who are not fit for laser eye treatment may choose to have a lens modification procedure instead.

Lens modification can be done via two processes. The first one is the traditional procedure where the natural lenses of the eyes are replaced with artificial ones. This procedure may entail risks that include the patient’s loss of sight focus with things that are near him or her. The second type of lens modification, on the other hand, simply inserts artificial lenses on top of the natural ones.

Indeed, one of the reasons that eye experts came up with these procedures is to correct one’s vision and allow patients to have better eyesight without the cumbersome eyeglasses or easily-lost contact lenses. In effect, these eye sight procedures provide patients with more comfort and allow them to uncover their beautiful eyes without compromising eyesight.

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Understanding the Crohns Psoriasis Connection

  • Posted on May 29, 2008 at 2:49 pm



Studies have found that there is an estimated five-fold increase in psoriasis for those with Crohn’s disease. To put that into better perspective, approximately 2% of Americans are affected by psoriasis, yet more than 11% of Crohn’s sufferers are affected by psoriasis. It seems more and more likely that a link between Crohn’s disease and psoriasis exists.

What is psoriasis? Psoriasis is a chronic condition that affects the skin and joints. It typically causes red scaly patches on the skin that looks like a severe rash. The scales on the red patch of skin have a silvery hue and are known as psoriatic plaques and are the result of inflammation and excessive skin production. The most common areas of the skin that are affected by psoriasis include the knees and elbows. However, psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body, even on the genitals or the scalp. Like Crohn’s, psoriasis is not contagious.

What is the link? Researchers believe the crohns psoriasis link lies within a person’s genes. Just like Crohn’s, psoriasis is the result of a malfunctioning immune system and is considered an immune-mediated condition. If a person has a history of psoriasis within their family, and these genes have been passed on, this person may not only be at risk for psoriasis, but also another immune-mediated condition such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or Crohn’s disease.

In fact, research suggests that the risk of developing psoriasis and/or another immune-mediated condition, especially diabetes or Crohn’s disease, significantly increases in those who have a close blood relative with psoriasis.

If it is true that Crohn’s and psoriasis are caused by the same immune system malfunction, it would likely be best to treat crohns psoriasis as one condition instead of as two separate problems. Although those who have psoriasis and those who have Crohn’s will experience different symptoms, and each condition affects separate areas of the body, they still maintain some similarities in regards to flare ups.

For instance, stress and alcohol consumption are both prime candidates for triggering a Crohn’s and psoriasis flare up. In addition, some believe that a person’s diet can cause an active case of psoriasis, and diet also plays an important role in regulating Crohn’s.

How can crohns psoriasis be treated together? Even though you may need to treat these problems separately, certain medications such as Remicade (Infliximab) may be able to treat them together. Separate studies have found Remicade to be effective at treating both Crohn’s Disease and psoriasis. The reason is because Remicade is an anti-TNF medication. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is known to be the culprit behind the inflammation that occurs in Crohn’s and psoriasis.

Remicade sooths certain parts of the body’s immune system that are thought to aggravate the condition and cause symptoms. Essentially, Remicade has been designed to improve the natural response the body has towards disease.

Remicade is a powerful crohns psoriasis treatment and is administered through intravenous injection over a defined treatment schedule. Many participants in both the Crohn’s and psoriasis studies successfully achieved remission of their conditions with no or few adverse side effects.

Remicade is not for everyone, so be sure to talk to your doctor about possible medications if you suffer from crohns psoriasis. You should also find out if there are any other treatments or alternative therapies that your doctor can recommend which may help you attain relief.

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Stem Cell Therapy – Adult Stem Cells Are Curing Multiple Sclerosis Patients Now!

  • Posted on May 25, 2008 at 4:16 am



Most people think there is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis. However, a doctor in Israel has been having success treating patients using their own stem cells taken from their bone marrow.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease in which the patient’s own immune system attacks the nervous system and can lead to disability, blindness and sometimes paralysis. In Tel Aviv, doctors have invented a procedure in which stem cells are extracted from a Multiple Sclerosis patient’s bone marrow and then multiplied and then implant them back into the patient.

The researchers say they have tried this procedure on around 25 MS patients and say that the stem cells can repair damage done to the cells if done early enough. They believe the key is to do the stem cell treatment as early as possible before permanent damage is done.

Louise Zylstra from Canada was one of the patients treated with her own stem cells. Zylstra, a golf pro, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007. By early 2008, Zylstra could no longer play a round of golf and had difficulty walking short distances.

Zylstra suffered from the primary progressive form of MS, and her doctors told her she would have to be using a wheelchair within 2 years.

Zylstra heard about the stem cell treatment in Israel. Knowing that she was using her own stem cells and therefore there no side effects, Zylstra made the journey to Israel and was treated.

Fast forward 8 months, Zylstra is now back on the golf course again. She says she has made a 180 degree turn and the difference is like “night and day.” Her doctors say the amazing turnaround would have been unlikely without the stem cell treatment. Her doctors in Canada were so impressed that they would like to make the treatment available in Canada to treat other MS patients as well.

Adult Stem Cells are helping more and more people. Stories like Louise’s give Multiple Sclerosis patients hope. Adult Stem Cells are the future of medicine and the future is now.

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Top 5 Reasons Why We Need to Supplement Our Diet With Fish Oil

  • Posted on May 22, 2008 at 8:23 pm

Awareness of the health benefits of fish oil started since 1930′s but during the past few years, with the results of different clinical studies, there is a dramatic increase in the consumption of fish oil as a health supplement. Researchers studied the Greenland Eskimo population and were amazed to see decreased cases of heart attack, hypertension, dyslipedemia and atherosclerosis. Deep sea fishes contain the essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These essential fatty acids from fish are one step higher among food supplements because the FDA had given them the “qualified health claim” status compared to the usual “no approved therapeutic claim” status of other supplements.

Here now are the Top Five Reasons why we should supplement our Diet with Healthy Fish Oil.

1. For Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases based on the statistics are still the number one cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Numerous studies support that deep-sea fish oils really help manage cardiovascular diseases.

A study on the benefits of EPA was published in The Lancet in 2007. The study involved a large group of over 18,000 patients with unhealthy cholesterol levels. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 1,800 mg a day of EPA with a statin drug or a statin drug alone. The trial went on for a total of five years. It was found at the end of the study those patients in the EPA group had superior cardiovascular function. Non-fatal coronary events were also significantly reduced in the E-EPA group. The authors concluded that EPA is a promising treatment for prevention of major coronary events, especially non-fatal coronary events.

Another study published in the American Journal of Health System Pharmacy March 2007, patients with high triglycerides and poor coronary artery health were given 4 grams a day of a combination of EPA and DHA along with some monounsaturated fatty acids. Those patients with very unhealthy triglyceride levels (above 500 mg/dl) reduced their triglycerides on average 45% and their VLDL cholesterol by more than 50%. VLDL is a bad type of cholesterol and elevated triglycerides can also be deleterious for cardiovascular health.

In 2006, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and JAMA concluded that there was a decrease in total mortality and cardiovascular incidents in patients who regularly consume fish oil supplements.

There are a lot more studies supporting the advantage of taking fish oil supplements in cardiovascular patients Anti-2. Anti-inflammatory Properties

In the early 1980′s, there was a study in Harvard that discovered the anti-inflammatory properties of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. They discovered the potent anti-inflammatory molecules called resolvins, maresins and omega-3-oxylipins.

The research in 2005 has suggested that the in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of EPA and DHA translates into clinical benefits. Cohort studies of neck pain patients and of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have demonstrated benefits comparable to those receiving standard pain relievers such as NSAIDs.

3. Anti-Cancer Properties

There are several studies reporting the possible anti-cancer effects of EPA and DHA particularly colon, breast prostate cancer. The essential fatty acids from fish oil slowed the progression of prostate tumors. One study reported that DHA is consistently associated with reduced risk of break cancer. In a a 2009 trial found that a supplement of EPA helped cancer patients retain muscle mass.

4. Improves the Immune System

Here’s another proof that fish oil is really one-step in advance compared to other supplements. A study regarding fish oil was published in the Journal of Nutrition in April 2007. Sixty four healthy Danish infants from nine to twelve months of age received either cow’s milk or infant formula alone or with fish oil. It was found that those infants supplemented with fish oil had improvement in immune function maturation with no apparent reduction in immune activation.

5. For Psychiatric Disorders

The essential fatty acids are thought. The explanation is that the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA play a role in the fortification of the myelin sheaths. In a six-month study involving people with schizophrenia and Huntington’s disease who were treated with.EPA or a placebo, the placebo group had clearly lost cerebral tissue, while the patients given the supplements had a significant increase of grey and white matter.

In 2006 the Omega-3 Fatty Acids Subcommittee, assembled by the Committee on Research on Psychiatric Treatments of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) stated the following: “The preponderance of epidemiologic and tissue compositional studies supports a protective effect of essential fatty acid intake, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in mood disorders.

Another meta-analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2007, based on 10 clinical trials, found that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly improved depression in patients with both unipolar and bipolar disorder. However, based upon the heterogeneity of the trials, the authors concluded that “more large-scale, well-controlled trials are needed to find out the favorable target subjects, therapeutic dose of EPA in treating depression”.

These are the Top Five reasons why we should take fish oil supplements. There are a lot more promising studies and evidences relating to the health benefits of taking fish oil supplements. We should invest on our health and taking fish oil supplements could really help.

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Dental Implant Costs – Are Dental Implant Costs Worth It?

  • Posted on May 19, 2008 at 9:43 pm



Even though dental implant costs are quite expensive the long term benefits are very worth every penny you will spend on them. On average each dental implant costs $1,000 per tooth. If you need a very complex procedure or your entire mouth done the cost can be as much as $30,000. Unfortunately most dental insurances won’t cover the dental implant costs. Dentist offices understand this and they generally offer excellent financing options.

A dental implant involves pieces of titanium being inserted into the jawbone. This is what holds the ceramic crown in place. The ceramic teeth look very natural and no one will ever know you have them unless to care to share that information. They remain in your mouth and don’t have to be soaked in a glass overnight like dentures. It does take some time for the implant to heal up properly though.

Dental implant costs are less if the bone under the implant area is in good condition. You will then only have to pay for the extraction of the tooth or teeth in question and the surgery for the titanium inserts to be completed. You don’t have to worry about the titanium causing an infection. It has been used since 1960 and has no history of causing any reactions with the live tissues in your mouth.

It can take up to six months for the jawbone to fuse together with the titanium inserts. This process is called osseointegration. After this has been completed an abutment is added so the implant will be above the gum line. The crown is then placed on top of it. It the bone under the implant area isn’t in good condition though you will be required to under go bone grafts. This significantly increases bone implant costs.

For some individuals there is a new procedure that allows them to have the entire process completed at the same time. They can get a temporary crown at the time of the extraction so there is no alteration to their physical appearance. This generally takes place when the implants are for the front teeth. Later the permanent crown will be added after the dentist makes sure the bone has fused to the post.

Dental implant costs are among the highest you will find in any given dental office. However it is a very good investment that can help you end your chronic dental problems forever. If you think dental implants may be a good option for you discuss it with your dentist They can explain all of your treatment options as well as help you devise a plant to pay for dental implant costs without breaking your budget.

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Endometriosis and Vitamin B12

  • Posted on at 2:50 pm



As we mentioned in other articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. As we know nutritional supplements play a very important role in some culture in treating all kind of diseases. In this article, we will discuss how Vitamin B12 helps to treat endometriosis.

I. Definition
Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin and a member of vitamin B complex. It plays an important role in treating women with endometriosis, such as reducing symptoms of endometriosis during menstrual cycle, maintaining protein and fat metabolism, avoiding iron deficiency, etc.

II. Endometriosis and vitamin B12
1. Anemia
Women with endometriosis are found to have low levels of vitamin B12 during menstrual cycle for what ever reason. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 deceases the production of red blood cell in the blood stream causing depletion of levels of iron in the blood leading to anemia.

2. Nervous system
Vitamin B12 is vital for protein and fat synthesis that helps to strengthen the function of nervous system resulting in lessening the nervous tension such as irritation, loss of memory, depression and mood swing.

3. Insomnia and fatigue
Besides helping in protein and fat synthesis, vitamin B12 also play an important role in carbohydrate metabolism that helps to provide energy for our body function and aids in insomnia and fatigue.

4. Immune system
Liver required vitamin B12 to function properly, deficiency of vitamin B12 causes enlarged liver resulting in decreasing the function of liver in fighting against environment toxins leading to high levels of bad estrogen in the body resulting in menstrual cramps for women with endometriosis.

5. Cell abnormality
Vitamin B12 is vital for the synthesis of DNA. Deficiency of vitamin B12 increases the risk of abnormal cell growth in the body such as endometrial cells growing somewhere else in the abdomen.

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