Can Acupuncture Help With Fertility?

If you are having problems getting pregnant, and you have been to the doctor without finding a resolution to the problem, you may want to consider acupuncture as a viable alternative to modern medicine. Sometimes resolving the problem of getting pregnant begins with looking at things from an Eastern perspective, beginning with acupuncture. This ancient practice has been used by people in Asia for thousands of years and is very popular in Western society today. Let’s start with an overview of how acupuncture works, and why it might be the best way to solve the problem of infertility.

What Causes Infertility?

There are many reasons that people can experience infertility. Some women simply have hormonal problems. These can be resolved by taking certain drugs that can increase hormone levels, but they may also be suffering from other problems. For example, the failure to produce mature eggs ranks very high regarding why women cannot become pregnant. They may also have a malfunction in their hypothalamus, the part of the brain which signals the pituitary gland to instruct the ovaries to form eggs. Other problems may include a malfunction in the pituitary gland itself. However, there could be other reasons that women are not able to get pregnant which can be solved through acupuncture.

What Is Acupuncture?

Fertility treatment with acupuncture needlesAcupuncture is a system of addressing the energy flow within the human body. This energy is called Chi in many cultures and is responsible for maintaining proper balance within the body. Many people that have headaches, illnesses, or chronic pain have found relief after visiting an acupuncturist.

Acupuncturists tap into what are called Meridian points, specific locations on the body where this energy can be manipulated. This is done by inserting needles into the skin, and in doing so, can bring balance back to the energy that may have run into some form of a blockage. Although modern science has no way of measuring this energy, it is most certainly real as witnessed by the millions of people that have benefited from this type of treatment. All that medical doctors can say is that it may relate to a placebo effect, which is essentially saying they do not understand what is happening. Those that practice acupuncture realize that by manipulating these subtle body energies, many things can be resolved including infertility.

How To Find An Acupuncturist In Your Area That Specializes In Infertility

If you do not have an acupuncturist that you work with regularly, your doctor may be able to recommend one to you. The practice of acupuncture for fertility treatment has become more accepted by the general medical community, and they will likely have an acupuncturist that they have recommended in the past that will be able to help. If not, you can always search on the Internet, specifically searching for an acupuncturist that has a track record for helping with infertility. Once you have set the appointment, you will be able to see if your inability to conceive can be resolved through acupuncture.

By seeking help from an acupuncturist, it may be possible to bypass all of the hormonal injections, or other treatments that modern medicine will recommend. By using this ancient practice of manipulating the Chi in the body, it is possible to resolve many medical issues.

The acupuncturist will focus their efforts on the thyroid in most cases, specifically targeting hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. It is also recommended if you are trying to go through in vitro fertilization that you have acupuncture treatments a couple months prior to IVF, or a donor egg transfer, to increase the probability that you will be able to have a child. Set an appointment today with an acupuncturist that may be able to help you fix your infertility issues.

Elements of a Good Fitness Program

A fitness program is important since it is a guide towards achieving your goal. It also serves as a motivation for working towards your goal and it eliminates chances of procrastination which is a snare for most people who are beginners. There are many fitness programs, but you should choose one that is most suitable for you. For example, the fitness program for someone who is preparing for a marathon is very different from the fitness program of one who wants to lose weight. Hence, always have clear goals before searching or writing down a program for working out. A good workout program will ensure that most parts of the body are exercised and that there is time for rest.

gym workoutA newer trend in health clubs is to focus on incorporating different types of training into one workout routine. One of the reasons many people avoid mixing multiple types of training into their workout is because they are concerned it can cause their workout session to become very long.

This problem is now being solved by some new technologies. Koko FitClub is a gym in Bradenton, Florida, which is using digital technology to help organize its members’ workout routines and squeeze out as much workout in as short an amount of time as possible. This has become so popular, they just recently opened a second gym in Ellenton. However, training every single day is not healthy since the body needs some recovery time. Here are some of the training that make up a good fitness program.

Flexibility Training

This is an important part of your workout routine since it paves the way for all the other exercises. In addition to this, flexibility training reduces the chances of an injury during your workout since it warms you up before performing any vigorous exercises. It also improves balance and relaxation of muscles in your body. This training reduces the stress on your muscles which would cause muscle tightness and thus lead to muscle tears. There are various types of flexibility training and they include:

Static Active Flexibility

This involves stretching an antagonist muscle using the tension of the agonist muscle. An example of this workout is holding one leg out as high as possible in front of you. In this case, the antagonist muscle is the hamstring which is being stretched while the agonist muscles are the hip muscles and quadriceps.

Static Passive Flexibility

It involves holding a stretch using body weight. An example of such a workout is performing splits.

Kinetic Flexibility

This involves performing dynamic movements within the full range of motion of the joint. An example of this type of flexibility is stretching your upper body from side to side. There are many other types of flexibility training exercises but you should choose the one most suitable for your goal.

Aerobic Training

These exercises are of high intensity and they result in increased breathing and heart rate as well as body metabolism. It also aids in weight loss. The large muscle groups are the ones exercised and the exercise is performed over a period of 15 minutes or longer. It is recommended that one does aerobic exercise for a period of 30 minutes at least 5 times a week. Aerobic exercises include swimming, brisk walking, jogging, running, swimming and climbing stairs among other things.

Dynamic Strength Training

This type of training is considered as a high intensity training. The exercises in this category are fast and they fully engage your muscles and it strengthens the muscles within the full range of motion. Resistance is used to work your muscles all through a complete motion. Weights are normally used to perform any workouts under this category. Some of the exercises include sit-ups, kettlebell swings, dumbbell clings, leg ups and bench presses.

Static Strength Training

Just like dynamic strength training, static strength training also involves anaerobic exercise. Such exercises help you to maintain your muscle strength and also muscle tone. There are two main types of static strength training exercises and one of them is maximal exercises which involve using all your strength to contract muscles. Mountain biking, alpine skiing and horseback riding are all examples of static strength training exercises. The other type is submaximal exercises which also involves contracting muscles using your strength but not all your strength. An example of such an exercise is steadily holding a weight out to the side.

Circuit Training

This is a combination of aerobic exercise and strength training exercises. How is this done? During a strength-training workout, you can decide to sprint for a few seconds or you can run for a few seconds and then go back to the strength-training workout. By doing this, you maintain a fast heartbeat throughout your workout routine and you also make exercise fun since you are breaking the monotony of the workout.

If you are planning on writing down your own fitness program, make sure you include all of these categories and this also applies to beginners. If you are not sure on how to create a fitness plan appropriate for you, then you can speak to a fitness trainer in any gym.

Optometrist or Ophthalmologist – Which One Should You See?

When it comes to doctors, there are a lot of complicated definitions and terminology that can be tricky for their patients to understand. This is certainly true when it comes to the realm of eye medicine, and when it comes to your eyes, you have to understand what you’re looking for: because some eye emergencies can mean the difference between perfect vision and blindness.

Many patients ask: “What is the Difference Between an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist?”

The differences in the doctors’ titles ultimately boils down to their particular level of education, which qualifies them to practice in a particular specialty.

optometrist and patientUnderstanding these differences is important because doctors visits are costly, and time is precious! It can be difficult to schedule appointments as it is, and even more difficult if you aren’t exactly sure what to do, or where to go. There are two types of eye doctors: Ophthalmologists and Optometrists. There is also another type of specialist in this field of medicine, but not a physician, known as an Optician.

But What Do They Do?

Each is invaluable when it comes to the health of your eye. Unfortunately, the tasks that can be performed by each professional are very strict and well outlined. Here’s a glimpse into how the system works:

Ophthalmologists

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors whose sole training revolves around treating and diagnosing eye injuries and diseases. Ophthalmologists are the most trained eye professionals; as they’ve completed college, taken at least eight years of medical training, and have completed a practicum (or apprenticeship) before starting their practice.

As such, ophthalmologists are allowed by law to perform delicate surgeries on veins and tissues of the eye as well as prescribe eye medication to keep your eye healthy and well-functioning. Ophthalmologists are essential because they can treat virtually anything that’s wrong with your eye; any eye diseases, any serious cuts or lacerations, even the prescribing of sunglasses, corrective lenses, and other types of vision issues that you might face.

Specialists in Ophthalmology

There are some ophthalmologists that specialize in a specific type of eye care or medical surgery. When an eye doctor specializes in any one variety of medicine, they’re called a sub-specialist and are required to take additional schooling to cover these kinds of situations, as well as on-the-job training (called a fellowship) on areas including glaucoma, cornea issues, retina surgery, eye care for children, plastic surgery of the eye, and other very specific kinds of surgery.

For these cases, it’s important to see a trained, knowledgeable doctor who can help make complex or specific decisions regarding your eye health.

Optometrists

Optometrists are qualified eye doctors in that they receive a degree in optometry after four years of optometry school after three or more years of college. They can perform sight testing, correction diagnoses, treatments, and even vision management and changes to vision diagnoses.

An optometrist is trained to help you handle pretty much anything wrong with your eye, including performing eye exams, vision tests, prescribing lenses to correct your vision, performing visual exams, finding eye issues or other eye abnormalities and other issues, as well as the identification of various eye diseases.

The main difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists is the ability to perform eye surgery.

The Other Member of the Eye Health Team: The Optician

Opticians have the basic training to make eye glasses and verify, that glasses appropriately fit their wearers. Additionally, many opticians are responsible for providing the glasses and contacts for correcting eyesight. They’ll make most of the adjustments with your prescription, making sure that everything works out the way that it should. They aren’t allowed to diagnose, prescribe medicines, or perform surgery.

Your sight is extremely important, and all throughout your life, you’re losing rods and cones in your eyes that you’ll never get back. It’s up to you to keep up to date on your eye health, to prepare yourself for any future injury. While it’s hard always to make sure that you pick the right professional for the job, it’s not hard to understand exactly what each medical professional can do, so that you can highlight your major issues, come to terms with solution options and work from there.

Your vision is one of the most important things you have, and your ability to see clearly has a huge effect on your overall well being. For further research, you may want to investigate how your eye health relates to your blood pressure, diabetes, and even stress.

Facelift Procedures are Becoming a Popular Choice for Baby Boomers

Facelift surgery is becoming a popular cosmetic surgery for baby boomers, and over the past decade procedures have evolved to produce more natural-looking results, while becoming less invasive, as well. Modern advances in technology and techniques have turned many plastic surgeries into simple out-patient procedures.

surgeon doing skin check on mid age woman before facelift

One benefit to the patient with these advances is less down-time. As an example, Skintastic, a surgical rejuvenation center in Dallas, TX, offers a “weekend facelift.” Also known as VitalizeLift, the procedure is accomplished by using smaller incisions than a traditional facelift. The procedure takes as little as two hours. You can read more about it here: Facelift Dallas.

However, the key to a good result still lies with the doctor performing the procedure. Fortunately, finding a good surgeon has also become easier, as the internet has become a wealth of information, particularly when it comes to reviews of practitioners. It is also very helpful in viewing before and after photos of a particular surgeon’s results. This, alone, makes choosing a surgeon much less difficult than just a decade ago. Additionally, sites like realself make it easy for prospective patients to ask questions, which will be answered by licensed plastic surgeons online.

If you’re curious about what to expect when getting a facelift, we’ve put together a brief guide to answer some common questions:

The Consultation

When you decide to get a facelift, you’ll visit with the cosmetic surgeon to make sure you qualify. This is more than simply checking your credit and insurance. The doctor is going to check your medical history and your facial structure to ensure you can handle the procedure. However, the doctor isn’t the only person who should be checking on things.

You should make sure to check your surgeon’s credentials. Talk to people who’ve had work done, look at before and after photos that your surgeon has taken of past clients, and make sure to shop around. You’re a paying customer, you have a right to have the face you want. So don’t let the consultation be a one-way lecture. Make it a conversation about what you need and what to expect.

The Surgery

Older facelift surgeries would simply pull up different layers of skin. This created the “wind tunnel” look that’s often mocked and maligned in popular media. These days, proper facelifts don’t just pull up skin layers, but also add tissue underneath. This way, a face lift actually looks like a full, healthy face and not just skin stretched over bone.

During the surgery, you’ll have several incisions made in order to arrange the muscle and skin. You should make certain you’re getting a full facelift and not just a partial lift. Otherwise, you run the risk of having non-lifted portions of your face needing a touch up in another few years. The end result is that you wind up paying more overall than you would have from a single surgery.

The Healing Process

The consultation and the surgery is fairly straight forward. There are few surprises or variations there, provided you’ve hired a skilled surgeon. However, the healing process can be a bit different for each person. This is based on a combination of things, from facial structure to biology and healing ability, and even the skill of the surgeon. While any skilled surgeon can make a facelift look good, some are a bit heavier on the scalpel than others. This can lead to more swelling and longer recovery time.

You should expect swelling and pain immediately after the surgery. There’s no way around that. Give yourself time to heal before looking in the mirror. You’ll thank yourself for this, since looking into the mirror will make you feel as though something may have gone wrong. However, swelling does not mean anything has gone wrong! Swelling is a normal, natural part of the healing process. Give it two to four weeks to reduce. You’ll be having post-op follow-up visits with the surgeon during this time and if you have any questions or concerns, you will have an opportunity to speak with the doctor.

In some cases, in can take several months for your face to fully recover from the surgery. However, you’ll probably be fine within 6-8 weeks. Make sure to apply your ointments and medications properly, or you risk the skin becoming stretched and marked. And of course, make sure you take your medications properly and on schedule. There will be pain, so don’t believe anyone who claims that a facelift is “practically painless”. It may not be excruciating, debilitating pain, but it is pain that may require a stronger painkiller than simple Tylenol.

Family Dentists – What To Look For

Finding a family dentist can be tricky – you want someone capable of providing all the services necessary for adults, children, and teenagers alike. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean there are ample pickings for dental service providers. As long as you know exactly what you want, there are usually dental offices capable of meeting those requirements. But what exactly can a family dentist do for you? Following are common problems solved by having a regular dentist.

Dentures and Braces

The dentist should have the ability to produce everything from dentures to braces. Skill at basic orthodontics is especially valuable if you have little kids in the family. Braces are typically used for misalignments of the teeth. In some cases, the braces are replaced with retainers, depending on the specific dental problems. With braces, adults and children alike can fix unattractive smiles or crooked teeth.

Tooth Decay

Definitely one of the most common dental problems, having a family dentist means you will be able to track and prevent cavity growth in the mouth. With regular visits, your dentist can tell you when a problem is developing as well as provide informed advice on how to halt the dental caries process.

Tooth Sensitivity

Sensitive teeth are fairly common for adults. This is characterized by pain when the teeth are exposed to extreme temperatures such as hot and cold. Sweets, flossing and even brushing your teeth can cause the sensitivity. A good dentist should be able to prescribe something for this problem.

Gingivitis (Gum Disease)

One of the primary causes of tooth loss among adults, gum disease is a slow process that can be difficult to reverse once it sets in. This is why the best way to address this problem is through regular visits to a dentist, allowing professionals to check the teeth and prevent cavities from building. Flossing and regular brushing with the use of good toothpaste can help limit the instances of this problem.

Bad Breath

Bad breath can be caused by a lot of things including poor diet and bacteria build up. If you are suffering from bad breath but do not know exactly why it is happening, a good dentist should be able to narrow down the possible causes and offer a viable treatment.

Oral Cancer

Definitely one of the scariest dental problems to have, oral cancer doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, this particular problem has a high cure percentage – but only if caught early on. Your dentist should be able to spot it immediately through regular visits and checkups.

Extractions

In some cases, there is really no other solution for the tooth problem but extraction. Dentists are usually flexible when it comes to emergency situations, allowing them to make sufficient room for you in their schedule. This is especially true for wisdom teeth and other dental problems that cause excruciating pain.

Tooth Erosion

This happens when acid starts to attack and damage the enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity. Over time, it can cause worse problems and unfortunately, it can be tough for most people to easily see the effects of tooth erosion until it is too late. When caught early on however, the erosion could be stopped and prevented through proper care and dentist-prescribed medication.

Dental Emergencies

Suddenly found yourself with a chipped tooth or bleeding gums due to an accident? Family dentists can take care of this problem in a jiffy. Loyalty is always rewarded in all industries and the same is true for dental care.

Plaque Cleaning

Some patients usually find themselves struggling with yellowish teeth. This usually occurs due to coffee drinking, tea drinking or routine use of cigarettes. Dentists however are capable of cleaning the teeth and restoring the whiteness of your smile through a quick and simple process.

Note that it can be bothersome to have your teeth checked only to be sent to another clinic for the dental x-rays. As much as possible, search for a dentist in Peoria AZ with an in-house x-ray machine that can offer help immediately.

Don’t forget to inquire about insurance before finding a family dentist. Ask your provider for a list of dentists included in their policies, allowing you to go directly to these doctors. By doing so, you would find yourself making the most out of your insurance for dental care.

Dental health is something that should be taken seriously. Don’t wait until you are feeling something before going to the dentist. Instead, avail the services of a regular by finding a family dentist to service you and your children. The beauty of this approach is that through regular visits, the fear of dentists for children is lessened, ensuring that they would continue the habit of dental hygiene through adulthood.

A Chiropractor Might Just Save Your Neck

Chiropractic generally uses safe and effective non-surgical procedures for chronic and acute pain relief. Chiropractic treatment helps to relieve pain of the joints, muscles, and tissues by applying natural methods that aid in achieving and maintaining good health. You should strive to achieve and maintain good health for your family, too. Good general health helps reduce those medical bills that can pile up and lead to huge amounts of debt.

chiropractor and patientChiropractic, which may be used in conjunction with conventional medicine or as a stand-alone therapy, has one major advantage: the procedure requires no surgery. Many patients are deceived into thinking that they are fine following an accident and need no medical attention. However, as time goes by, they start experiencing sharp pain in their joints and muscles. This is especially common for those who have experienced minor accidents. Unknown to them, some accidents may cause spinal injuries that lead to serious problems several months later.

It is highly advisable to get an examination and treatment from a licensed chiropractor immediately, in order to ensure the best chance of healing. Although in the past, it was recommended to rest and immobilize an area of injury. It is now best practice to mobilize an injured joint or soft tissue as early as possible. This helps better align tissues that are healing, so that less scar tissue is formed. Seeing a chiropractor will assist in mobilizing injured joints and tissues. So for you to be on the safe side, visit a chiropractor to examine your spine and ascertain that you are OK. And if there is any health concern you should worry about then it can be addressed with the seriousness it deserves.

Typically chiropractors use manual therapies to correct problems with the musculo-skeletal system. Using their hands, they are able to move mis-aligned vertebrae (bones of the spine) back into their proper position. This is one using a procedure known as a chiropractic spinal adjustment, or manipulation. This procedure is done to correct spinal alignment and promote the body’s overall function. In the process, it also reduces the subluxation and increases the range of motion. This generally improves overall body function by reducing nerve irritation too.

Are Spinal Adjustments Painful?

Although there is a common fear that chiropractic adjustments are painful or uncomfortable, this is not normally the case. A few too many people have seen extreme or even ridiculous representations of chiropractic manipulation, as portrayed in movies or on TV. A typical treatment is rarely more uncomfortable than massage or physical therapy. But, if you are still concerned and want a more gentle chiropractic adjustment, a female chiropractor may be more to your liking.

Accidents often result in soft tissue injuries (sprained muscle or strained ligaments) especially in the neck, spine and back. The areas mentioned are critical, and any injury could seriously affect the patient’s movement and everything he does. If someone’s head and neck are rapidly thrown back and forth (to result in whiplash), it could cause serious and painful injuries to discs, ligaments, and soft tissue, particularly those around the spine and neck. Complex causes often result in various forms of acute and chronic injuries. However, chiropractic employs a combination of services to assist patients with various issues to attain their health goals.

Chiropractic is very helpful for patients with “locked up,” fixated, or improperly moving joints. Trained chiropractors perform proper adjustments to help restore the bones to their initial/original position, allowing a fuller range of motion and, in the process, promoting natural healing of the body. It also helps normalize spinal function, prevents bone and tissue degeneration, and improves the nervous system. After all this is done, then the body can begin its journey to natural healing. Generally, many patients often report a feeling of improvement, calmness, or improved mobility after visiting a chiropractor.

 

Medical Weight Loss – Best Option, or Last Hope?

Weight is a major concern among many people. Statistics reveal that three in every five persons suffer from obesity or other weight related conditions. Although a few may have accepted their situation, many are still seeking for a fast and efficient way to lose weight. The sad news, however, is that there are only three viable options that one can use to lose weight. These include; losing weight naturally (involves watching your diet and exercising – takes longer than expected), using weight loss pills or opting for bariatric surgeries.medical weight loss

Although medical weight loss is considerably much faster and efficient, certain elements of natural weight loss such as watching what you eat and exercising have to be considered – this reduces the risk of gaining weight after some time. Discussed below are some of the available medical weight loss options that one can opt for.

Medical Weight Loss Options

1. Drug Therapy
This treatment involves using medical supplements to induce weight loss through a number of ways. Drug weight loss therapy is mostly recommended for people looking for a way to lose weight but aren’t ready to go for bariatric surgery. A prescription is provided for by a physician or a doctor detailing how he/she should take the pills to induce weight loss. These drugs work by either inducing a satiation effect, inhibiting digestion and absorption of fats, and increasing body metabolic rates. Good examples of such drugs include Orlistat capsules (inhibits fats absorption), Lorcaserin (induces prolonged satiation effect), and Liraglutide (increases metabolic rates).

2. Bariatric Surgeries
Bariatric surgery involves altering the digestive tract to either reduce the amount of food intake or reduce the rates at which food materials are emptied from the stomach. It may also involve reducing the amount of food digested to induce weight loss. Outlined below are the most common bariatric procedures that one can opt for.

a. Restrictive surgery: The main purpose of this procedure is to reduce the amount of food one takes in a sitting. It involves shrinking or reducing the stomach size (by up to 1/3 its size) and slowing digestion rates. With the stomach size reduced (through gastric banding), there is a less chance eating more than the stomach can accommodate. A person’s stomach can hold up to 3 pints of food: once a restrictive procedure is done, the stomach can only hold approximately 1 ounce of food. The surgeons may also choose to reduce the lower food outlet size, which reduces the rate at which food empties from the stomach.

b. Malabsorptive techniques: This procedure involves making the stomach reasonably smaller, and creating a bypass linking the stomach to the large intestines. This means very little food passes through the small intestines for digestion and absorption of nutrients and calories. With calorie intake reduced, the body cannot get enough calories to support all the body functions and processes. This in turn induces increased respiration rates to burn fats to supplement energy production. It is through this that you start experiencing a significant loss in weight. Most doctors and surgeons, however, don’t perform pure malabsorptive surgeries due to the side effects that come thereafter.

c. Electrical device implant: This is the newest procedure that involves implanting a special electrical device to induce weight loss. This device works by interrupting nerve signals between the brain and the stomach. In layman’s language, when the stomach is empty, it sends signals to the brain that activates the release of hunger hormones – which makes you feel hungry. With these signals interrupted or delayed, you can stay for much longer without food hence facilitating weight loss.

These are the most common medical weight loss procedures that many people are opting for. Although these procedures do induce weight loss, you also need to adopt a healthier lifestyle and watch your diet to avoid becoming overweight or obese again. It would also be advisable to look for a professional and specialized surgeon to perform the procedure.

How Do Hearing Aids Work?

Hearing examHearing aids bring clear hearing to nearly 3 million patients in North America alone. While exact numbers are hard to come by, many estimate that over 10 million people worldwide still need some sort of hearing aid to help restore their hearing to a better functional level. These numbers show the amazing importance that ear health and hearing aids have for many people. What can be a bit surprising is how few people understand how exactly these aids work.

The first thing to understand is that a hearing aid is a small machine that can be broke into three common parts:

  • The microphone
  • The amplifier
  • The speaker

For a good hearing aid to work, all three of these parts need to be well-maintained and in working order.

Simple Explanation of How it Works

Hearing AidHearing aids start by increasing the sound that occurs from everyday noises. This amplified sound is taken by the hearing aid, and then turned into an electronic signal. That signal is what actually gets sent out via the speaker and allows the person with the hearing aid to hear what’s going on.

The Microphone

The microphone’s job is to accurately capture the sounds going on in the world around the patient. The microphone needs to be sharp in order to help the individual really pick up on all the noise going around him or her. A bad microphone sinks a hearing aid from the beginning.

The Amplifier

The amplifier is just that. It is the part of the hearing aid that takes all the sound being brought in from the microphone and makes it louder and more clear, so the same sounds people without hearing issues can hear clearly now can be heard by people using the hearing aids. This is a critical part of the process.

The Speaker

The speaker takes that amplified sound and allows the person to hear it. This is similar to looking at the way a hearing aid works as similar to turning up the volume knob on a stereo. Although the actual process is obviously a bit more complicated than that, the end results are similar.

Understanding Different Hearing Aids

There is more than one way in which hearing can be lost. Depending on the shape of a person’s ear, the level of hearing loss, and the cause behind it, a person will receive a hearing aid that best fits their specific needs. There are several different types available.

Just a few of the most common hearing aid styles include:

  • BTE hearing aids (this stands for “behind the ear”). These aids are probably the most common one that most people are familiar with.
  • Miniature BTE aids
  • The classic ITE (“In the ear”) hearing aids
  • In the Canal (ITC) hearing aids
  • In some extreme circumstances, you will also hear about Completely in Canal styles, which are also referred to as CIC hearing aids

These styles cover virtually every type of hearing aid that a patient might be provided at some point. In addition to these different styles, a doctor might recommend an analog or a digital hearing aid, depending on a wide variety of factors.

Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages and while they work the same basic way, the main difference is that analog hearing aids use electric signals while digital aids tend to use numerical codes in translating signals to sound.

In Conclusion

The full variety of hearing aids is amazing, and no matter what the style or how new the design, the basic setup will be the same with three parts working together to help make sound available to someone even with severe hearing damage. By understanding how these work, hopefully, you will find a greater appreciation of how far the science has come to help return hearing to patients.

Health Benefits of Organic Coffee

Whether you just can’t do without that morning cup of coffee or if you are a coffee lover with sophisticated tastes, there are a variety of benefits that can be had by switching from conventional to organic coffee brands.

Your Health

organic coffee beansOrganic coffee is grown and manufactured without the use of toxic man-made pesticides or fertilizers and does not contain any preservatives or artificial flavors or colorants. These toxins can be harmful to your health in both the short term and in the long run, especially if you are drinking copious amounts throughout the day.

Coffee produced in this way contains greater amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants are responsible for removing toxins from the body and for promoting healthier cell regeneration, meaning that your organic coffee is not only less detrimental but can, in fact, promote health and wellness.

The Environment

Using traditional agricultural methods to produce organic coffee means that the process does not pollute the environment and is not dangerous to the natural fauna and flora. Apart from the toxins that are excluded in the growing process, the land is left fallow for a period of time for nutrients to be re-established in the soil which means that it is a more sustainable agricultural solution. So if you are concerned about the environment, it may be time to go organic.

Varieties

Although you may be slightly more limited in choice when you switch to organic coffee, there are still a wide variety of brands available that should meet your individual taste requirements. It is best to try as many as possible to find one or more that can provide you with the aroma and flavor that you prefer.

You also don’t have to be concerned about the type of coffee you are partial to. Whether you like to grind your own beans, enjoy that percolated taste, or like the simplicity of instant coffee, there is a type that will suit you.

Quality

Organic coffee is often of a higher quality than regular coffee brands due to the process used in production. The beans are machine dried, sun-dried, or roasted to perfection using only natural techniques with no chemicals involved to speed-up the dry milling process. However, some coffee drinkers are of the mind that wet milling provides a higher quality coffee, but this method is rarely used in the production of organic coffee as it is not environmentally friendly and is often accompanied by the use of chemicals.

Taste

There is some debate as to whether organic coffee delivers a better taste than it’s regular alternative. Regular coffee may provide more flavor and even aroma, but it is important to be aware that this is primarily due to the addition of artificial flavors rather than the natural taste of the coffee. Once you remove all additives, organic coffee should definitively provide you with a much better taste experience.

Cost

You can expect to pay a little more to get all the benefits of organic coffee than you would for your conventional brand. Organic production may take a little longer and require a little more care and attention than the process used to produce regular coffee, which is the main reason consumers are expected to pay more.

However, the extra care and the fact that most organic coffee producers only opt to grow and process the best coffee beans means that you will be getting a better quality drink. Regular coffee producers often use inferior beans or blend expensive beans with lower quality beans to get a better flavor.

Not convinced? You won’t know until you try it.

#adopthealthyhabits #coffee #organic

What Is Concierge Medicine?

Health CheckConcierge medicine, also called retainer medicine, is something you may not have heard of, but is increasing in popularity, during a time in which patients are becoming more concerned about the quality of HMO and PPO managed care, which can impose limits due to financial constraints within the plan, as well as financial limits imposed on their providers, creating the necessity to often “cut corners” on treatment and patient care. Considering the importance of overall health, new models of patient care are emerging and this is likely to continue. In fact, you may find that having retainer medicine is usually more useful than having health insurance.

What is Retainer Medicine?

Simply put, concierge (or retainer) medicine is a type of commitment between the doctor and his patient. The patient pays an annual fee, in which case the doctor offers his expertise on a regular basis – usually performing check-ups and coming over for visits to ascertain the health of the patient. Concierge medical services usually vary in the scope of the service, but it generally always involves a single primary physician concerned with the overall health of their patient.

What Are The Benefits Of Concierge Medicine?

Retainer MedicineIt is easy to see exactly why concierge medicine is a favored choice for many, simply due to the fact that it is more personalized. But there are several more benefits that are unique to this type of practice.

According to practitioners of concierge medicine, the patient benefits from the retainer system in the following manner:

• Patients are given more time by the doctor. Unlike assembly line medicine wherein doctors try to see as many patients at once, concierge doctors typically limit the number of their patients. This gives them the chance to provide a higher quality of medical care to the individual.

• Concierge medical care also means that the doctor becomes more aware of your medical history. This puts them in a better position when it comes to prescribing medications or providing suggestions on your health lifestyle.

• Like insurance, retainer medicine is often privy to customization. For example, some doctors include in-office check-ups as part of the retainer fee while others may ask for a separate payment. Make sure to ask your doctor about this beforehand before committing to a general physician.

• Patients of concierge doctors are often encouraged to call whenever they need medical advice. This is part and parcel of the service, ensuring that someone will be present in the event of medical emergencies.

• When confined in the hospital, a primary care physician may extend help on their patient therefore decreasing the amount of time one may spend confined.

• Primary care concierge physicians often operate alone, but that does not mean they do not have a network of contacts. In the event of problems, they are capable of getting in touch with special practice physicians and refer your case to people they know could handle it best. Like a lawyer, your concierge physician is also in the position to explain and elaborate on different medical situations, often conferring with a specialized doctor regarding your case.

• Retainer medicine practices are usually smaller practices, which are often located in more suburban areas, so you can find a physician near you and avoid driving a long distance if you need an appointment for an emergency. To find a concierge medicine doctor near you, try using Yelp. Their review system makes it easy to determine the right doctor for you.

• Concierge doctors may also include diagnostic operations as part of their fee. More often than not, their clinic houses different equipment to analyze patients and determine the status of their health more accurately.

doctor and patient• An added perk of concierge physicians is that this gives patients the freedom to call on them when they notice the slightest of symptoms. With direct care, patients often wait until the symptoms can no longer be ignored before visiting their doctor. This is a bad decision since at this point; the condition may already be reaching its chronic stage. That being said, concierge medicine is often more concerned about the prevention of health problems rather than curing what is already there.

• Most of all – concierge medical practice gives you the chance to really get to know and develop trust with your doctor. This is crucial considering the seriousness of maintaining proper health during your productive years. With excellent relationship with your doctor, you will be able to rest easy knowing you are getting the best of care from the person you trust.

• Insurance usually does not cover basic health concerns – hence the need for a primary care physician. You will find that in the long run, this method of medical care is actually cheaper and more health-friendly.

Retainer medicine is usually a private contract between you and your doctor with no third party involved. Hence, there is really no insurance utilized for the process and so far, there is very little to suggest that insurance would cover the cost of concierge medical service. That being said, the cost of the service is usually out of pocket, averaging to around $15,000 annually.

Note that concierge medicine is not a substitute for health insurance. Both manage to perform different functions to better serve people in their health needs.

What Makes Indianapolis a Top Ten Plastic Surgery City?

plastic surgeryPlastic surgery is a cosmetic surgical procedure that promises real improvements to self-image and quality of people’s lives. No wonder there has been a tremendous growth in plastic surgery across the globe so much so that people opt for an elective surgery to improve their overall appearance. There are top board certified cosmetic surgeons in Indianapolis, IN, who offer body contouring and confidence-boosting facial cosmetic procedures at affordable rates. Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery incorporates the latest technologies in a way that can help you look and feel good.

Services offered by plastic surgery centers in Indianapolis provide state-of-the-art procedures and a wide array of services. Marion County has a significant number of plastic surgery centers that specialize in breast augmentation to restore feminine contours. There are also facelifts to improve signs of aging, liposuction for removal of excess fat deposits, browlifts to correct drooping eyebrows, blepharoplasty to improve the look of eyes and body contouring procedures like tummy tucks for a flatter and toned tummy.

Rhinoplasty allows you to achieve a natural looking nose that blends seamlessly with other features. Aesthetic plastic surgery procedures like facial rejuvenation help restore sagging skin and facial sculpting to restore the youthful look.

Neck lift surgeries are performed to tighten loose muscles around the neck area. They also perform chin and cheek implants to restore a refined and balanced profile. Lip augmentation is a procedure that is done in order to improve the appearance of the lips by making them fuller and more shapely.

Many plastic surgeons provide breast augmentation services, which are extremely popular. But breast augmentation services may also encompass male breast reduction for conditions such as gynecomastia. However, breast enhancement procedures for women are the most common.

Less commonly performed surgeries include: arm lift, butt lift, buttocks implants, calf augmentation and laser hair removal, which is a bit less of a plastic surgery procedure than it is a medical spa procedure these days.

Why Indianapolis, IN May Be the Best Place to Find A Great Plastic Surgeon

Indianapolis has a growing economic base of aging baby boomers and Generation X-ers who are seeking cosmetic procedures and have the expendable income to afford them. It also has a significant population, being the 14th largest city in the United States. Those are demographics that attract top plastic surgeons.

However, you will still need to sift and sort through a large number of plastic surgeons to find the one who is right for you. In doing this, there are a few things to be aware of.

Perhaps the most common confusion that people have is that they don’t know the difference between a “plastic surgeon” and a “cosmetic surgeon.” A plastic surgeon is a doctor who has completed a lengthy residency in plastic surgery. After completing a residency, they may earn certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which is the only Board relating to plastic or cosmetic surgery that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

In contrast, any physician can refer to himself as a “cosmetic surgeon,” regardless of his training. This is not to say there are not excellent cosmetic surgeons, but they are simply not board certified in plastic surgery.

Additionally, there are areas that cosmetic and plastic surgeons specialize in, within their own practice. For example, some may focus on facial procedures, while others specialize in breast enhancement. It is a good idea to find out who is the specialist for the procedure you are interested in.

Finally, once you have narrowed down a few doctors you feel good about, you should look at many before and after pictures of their procedures and also read reviews and testimonials of their past patients. This should give you a good objective assessment of the results you can expect.

Then, once you are interested in finding a surgeon, you should set up an appointment for a consultation, in order to meet the doctor and determine if they are someone you are comfortable with. This is not merely a matter of finding a compatible personality, but also includes finding any difference in philosophy of treatment that an individual surgeon may have.

Once you are comfortable, it will be time to take the plunge and commit to getting the procedure scheduled. But by then you should be very satisfied you are in good hands and are getting the correct procedure by one of the best surgeons that Indianapolis has to offer.

A Look at Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a procedure that can be used to permanently remove hair from an area of skin anywhere on the body. It is often used to get rid of hair on the upper lip, but there is no reason to say that someone could not use it to get rid of hair on the bikini line, legs or arms if they wanted to.

patient getting laser hair removalLaser epilation can be quite expensive, which is why it is usually used only for small patches of skin. But it is a good way of getting rid of hair that you would want to remove on a regular basis. A lot of women opt to have laser hair removal carried out because they know that, over the course of their life, it will be cheaper to have the hair removed for good with a laser than it would be to keep shaving, waxing, using a depilatory cream, or paying for threading.

How Laser Treatments Work

Laser hair removal treatments involve killing off the follicle that produces the hair. A narrowly focused laser beam is directed into the root, burning the root so that it will not grow back. This means that the hair growth stops permanently (although in very rare cases the follicle can repair itself and another treatment is needed to completely get rid of the hair).

The treatment process is not invasive. It is slightly painful, but not very painful. Most people report that it feels like their skin is being hit by an elastic band, but that it is not so painful that they cannot cope with it. After the treatment, the skin might swell and blister slightly, but it will normally heal quite quickly.

Who Can Get Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal treatments can be used by almost anyone, although it works better on relatively coarse, dark hair than it does on fine hair. People who have colored skin should talk to the technician who is providing the treatment to make sure that the laser being used is the right wavelength. There are a few different lasers that can be used for these treatments, and each one suits a specific hair color or skin color.

Make sure that the laser is properly calibrated, and confirm that the person providing the treatment is qualified to do so. There is not much in the way of regulation for this sort of treatment, so it is not uncommon for it to be provided in spas and salons, by people who have only cursory training. This is quite risky, because if the laser is used incorrectly, it could burn your skin and possibly leave a scar.

When it is done properly, laser hair removal is fast and effective. You can treat an area about the size of a quarter in just a second or two, and it normally takes three sessions to achieve permanent hair loss. The lasers, when properly calibrated, will target hair while leaving bare skin untouched.

After the treatment, it is important that you cover the skin and avoid sun exposure for about six weeks. Sun exposure can make the treatment less effective, and it can be harmful to skin that has been damaged by the laser. Follow the after-care instructions that you are given diligently, to ensure that your skin heals properly and that the treatment lasts for as long as possible. Do not wax or pluck hairs before the treatment, because that will damage the roots that you want to target with the procedure.

Food Handlers Certificate in Food Safety

One of the fastest growing sectors in the economy is the hospitality industry. This means there are more jobs available in this industry than in many other areas. However, since many of these jobs are in restaurants and bars, many of them requires training and certification in food and alcohol handling and safety procedures.

There are a couple of ways to get your Florida food safety manager certification or food handlers certificate. The easiest way is to sign up for an online course or take a course through the local health department. If you live in a major urban area, the local health department probably offers several of these courses each week. They may even offer them online as well. It may also be possible to take the course through a local community college or vocational educational center.

If you opt to take the course locally instead of online, be sure to arrive early to the class room in order to register and pay for the course. The course will probably at least a half a day and may even take an entire day. The course will cover proper handling, preparation, storage, and sanitation procedures, as well as hand washing, and food temperature control.

Depending upon state and local health department requirements, the course will cover additional subject matter. These may extend coverage to include extra information in the areas of proper food handling practices, facility and building sanitation, basic principles of sanitation, and personal hygiene of those who handle food, the effect of temperature on food sanitation and preparation, and safety standards in food production.

In order to keep cooked foods from developing bacteria, they must be kept within certain temperatures within certain time frames. This means those working with foods must understand how to take the temperatures of cooked foods and read the thermometers and what the parameters are for safe handling and consumption.

There are also certain ways to store foods. Foods which can cause bacterial infection should never be stored above foods which are not prone to bacterial infections. This prevents cross-contamination of bacteria from one dripping onto another. For example, an uncooked chicken should not be above a salad so that it does not drip onto the salad.

Students will learn proper techniques for washing their hands and for using disposable gloves. They should understand when to use disposable gloves and how often they should change them. Disposable gloves need to be changes often during the day to prevent cross-contamination.

In the alcohol safety course, the instructor will cover risk management, situational control, and security. There will be an examination at the end of the course that you must score at least 75% on to pass, so pay attention during the course.

The final examination will be 80 questions and will be multiple choice. Both the food handlers certificate and the alcohol safety certificate will be given out to those who pass the final exam with at least a 75% rate.

Obtaining a food handlers certificate can be a great advantage if trying to find employment in the food service industry. Having this certification is evidence that you know and understand how to safely prepare and serve food for consumption.

florida food safety manager certification

Facial Plastic Surgery

“Vanity is a sin.” People say that a lot of times. And when it comes to vanity, its highest form may just be plastic surgery. Indeed, there are many areas of plastic surgery and each of them functions in a special way. Simply defined, plastic surgery is the arm of medicine focused on the restoration and correction of the body’s form and function.

Cosmetic surgery is also referred to as aesthetic surgery. This type doesn’t just focus on the restoration, but also on improving the features of a given external body part. Good examples are rhinoplasty, rhytidectomy, and blepharosplasty. Breast reduction, liposuction, and laser hair removal may also belong under the category of cosmetic surgery. In Phoenix plastic surgery is widely available, with a variety of excellent board-certified plastic surgeons to choose from.

Specific Types of Plastic Surgery

For those who want to undergo these procedures to improve one’s facial features, here are the most common types of plastic surgeries and an overview of each:

1. Rhinoplasty

Simply referred to as nose surgery, this procedure aesthetically enhances the physical features of the nose. Most patients who ask for it mostly desire a more proportionate nose. The surgeons will then correct the defect by using inert fillers.

2. Facelift

Facelift or rhytidectomy is a type of plastic surgery wherein excess facial skin is removed. This is mostly performed to eliminate wrinkles and to restore the youthful appearance of the face. While traditionally, this procedure requires incisions and obtrusions, there are non-surgical facelift methods available today.

3. Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery is medically referred to as blepharosplasty. It is the process of correcting the deformities, defects, and imperfection on the eyelids. This surgery is referred to as the eye-modifying surgery, wherein excess skin or muscles around the eyes are removed.

What Plastic Surgery can Do

Although mostly referred to as a vanity procedure, plastic surgery is also widely used to restore the physical features of individuals who were involved in accidents, traumas, and similar instances. These procedures are very successful, not just in restoring the person’s natural beauty, but also in boosting their self-confidence.

But perhaps the most well-known types of plastic surgery are those done for purely cosmetic reasons, such as breast augmentation with silicone implants; tummy tucks; mommy make-overs; blepharoplasty and liposuction.

While plastic surgeries are mostly associated with celebrities, the high availability and affordability of these procedures make them accessible to regular individuals. To know more about plastic surgery and the different options you have, talk to a doctor about it. The cost of each procedure may vary as well.

With plastic surgery, everybody could now be beautiful. It is just a matter of finding which doctor can best enhance your facial features. Find experts near you by checking with medical clinics and hospitals offering facial plastic surgery procedures.

What is Physical Therapy?

PTPhysical therapy, or PT for short, is a form of manual care employed in the rehabilitation of individuals who have suffered injuries or who are recuperating from surgery. It can also be beneficial in the treatment of chronic conditions which lead to physical impairment.

A person who has a hard time moving in a manner that reduces normal activity may require physical therapy. Doctors prescribe physical therapy for persons injured due to accident. Disability, disease or illness may also require the aid of a physical therapist to ease the pain and help the patient return to regular activities. Most states allow a patient to see a PT or Occupational Therapist without a script from a medical doctor. Physical therapy is directly accessible to these patients without a prescription.

The services of a physical therapist may be necessary to help the patient restore strength and eventually get back some scale of motion. A physical therapist can also give an idea about how to avoid the recurrence of injury. A physical therapist is an expert in the treatment and examination of people with cardio-thoracic, musculo-skeletal and neuro-muscular diseases. He focuses on conditions and problems that undermine patients’ abilities to move and function efficiently.

Doctors often recommend physical therapy for persons who have genetic disorders, limb deficiencies, muscle diseases, orthopedic injuries, lung and heart conditions and many other causes that need treatment. In most cases, sports injuries come as among the prevalent cases that necessitate physical therapy. Various regions may focus more on one specialty or another, depending on the needs of the area. Some of the best physical therapy can be found in sports injury clinics that cater to many of the area’s professional and minor league athletes.

Physical therapy is a branch of rehabilitative medicine. Rehabilitation helps patients to recover or maintain their physical capacities. A physical therapist improves the patient’s physical abilities that may have deteriorated because of disease, sports injuries, aging and even environmental factors.

A physical therapist can evaluate the range of rehabilitation needed by a patient. Rehabilitation thru physical therapy is an option when the patient does not want to undergo invasive surgical procedures.

When a person loses the ability to perform or do correctly or at all his or her usual daily chores, then rehabilitation can be resorted to. Physical therapy is a clinical science that helps in the rehabilitation of patients with disabilities. Physical therapists are in hospitals or a clinic in the community.

Every person wants sound health. Health is not only the lack of disease, but it is a state of complete mental, physical and social wellness. As the saying goes, health is wealth, and rehabilitation or physical therapy can be useful to nurse a patient back to good health.