Medical

I arrived early Monday morning at St John’s Hospital for my Hip Resurfacing surgery.  After filling out the mandatory forms, I was taken to the pre-op room where the nurses prepared me for surgery.  The anesthesiologist asked if I preferred a spinal or general anesthetic.  General anesthetic is when they put you to sleep entirely, spinal is when they numb you from the waist down and sedate you in what they call a “twilight sleep.”  Since it is less risky and there are fewer side effects after you wake up, I chose the spinal.

To understand spinal decompression you must first understand the importance of your discs.  Located between each vertebra is a cartilage disc.  This disc is to act as a spacer to keep the vertebrae apart.  It also acts as a rubber bushing, providing a spinal shock absorber.  They also provide a specialized surface for each vertebra to mechanically move on.  This movement is necessary to nourish the discs.

Are you overly sensitive? Relax, it has nothing to do with crying during life insurance commercials. Millions of adults struggle with hypersensitive teeth, which means they are sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, very sugary or acidic foods and drinks and vigorous toothbrushing. This kind of sensitivity is often called “dentin hypersensitivity.”

Want to reduce bad breath, gum problems and tooth decay? Grab a tongue scraper! While the practice of removing food and bacteria trapped between your taste buds has been recognized and recommended by dentists for half a century, true tongue scraping is a relatively new phenomenon. Perhaps its sharp increase in popularity is the result of recent studies touting about all the wonderful things that come from removing all that “gunk,” including healthier teeth and gums and sweeter smelling breath.

Q: I am confused.  I thought In-Home Care included medical, but the more I have talked to people involved in In-Home Care, medical is separate.  Could you clarify this for me?
A: Great question, and one that addresses confusion experienced by many.  Home “Health” is medical in nature. 

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder that causes frequent, urgent, and painful urination.  The natural lining of the bladder is protected from the urine toxins by a coating of enzymes.  In IC this protective layer is defective, allowing the toxins to penetrate into the interstitial layers of the bladder wall where the nerve endings are located which then causes severe irritation with urination and bladder pain.

All of these symptoms can manifest if our Neurotransmitters are out of balance and stress contributes to that imbalance.  When our NTs are out of balance, everything else is, too.  We may be overweight (abdominal fat creates additional undesirable imbalances in our body), feeling anxious, depressed, and unable to sleep, not as sharp mentally, having inflammatory conditions and other symptoms. 

As most of us are feeling the real pressures of life, a basic yet important need is emerging within us: the need to truly take care of ourselves and find balance in our lives.  However, finding balance in life can be very difficult if we feel bombarded by stress and fear.  So what can we be doing to achieve that balance, to find relief and peace?  Here are a few tips you can use in your daily life:

Many studies have documented that female athletes are more likely to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury than male athletes, with several authors reporting differences in foot structure when comparing ACL-injured participants with normal participants.  Could foot orthoses affect the knee injury rate in athletes?  Today, we will review a study that examines this issue.

Whether you’re preparing for holiday mistletoe or are just in the mood for some love, you’re probably fully aware of the connection between the state of your mouth and the quality of your kisses. Still, a little reminder never hurt. Here’s the skinny on getting lucky without embarrassment (from your mouth, anyway)!

If you were looking for an excuse to drink more red wine, it’s your lucky day.
A study released by scientists from Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, reports that compounds known as polyphenols in red wine have been found to stave off periodontal diseases. Periodontal diseases are those that affect the gums and bone around the teeth, often leading to permanent tooth loss.

Looking back on your relationships, what have you learned about yourself and others?  Exploration and discovery is a major part of relationships.  We begin with nothing other than what we observe around us, but, through our actual experiences, we learn who we are and what is compatible with us.

If you are intent on improving your health this year, acupuncture and Chinese medicine may be the very thing you need to “stick” to those resolutions.  Here’s how acupuncture can help you achieve your goals:
Resolution One: Reach Target Weight and Stay There Losing weight is the number one, most common, New Year’s Resolution and by March, it may have lost the steam it had in January or February.  Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can help you reach your goal weight and maintain it by promoting better digestion, smoothing emotions, reducing appetite, improving metabolism, and eliminating food cravings.

In many cases it’s the dentist—and not the physician—who has the first opportunity to detect diabetes early, because diabetics are especially prone to dental health problems.
Swollen, tender, receding and bleeding gums, loose teeth, and a sore tongue may not just be signs of poor dental hygiene. They may be danger signals for diabetes, too.

Sure, regular cleanings with our office promote good oral hygiene, but did you know it can also prevent a multitude of diseases?  That two o’clock chair-side rendezvous may not seem nearly as exciting as a late lunch with a friend, but it will be well worth it in the end.  Here are 10 really great reasons to stick with your regular cleaning schedule!

Fatigue, while not a disease, it is an early warning symptom for many potentially serious health conditions.  Yet fatigue is rarely given the importance it deserves.  Medical approaches to fatigue usually consist of treatment for anemia and hypothyroidism.  Both of these conditions must be considered when discussing fatigue, however, there are many other causes as well.

From a therapeutic standpoint, working with lap band recipients is a highly rewarding experience.  Traditionally, clients begin therapy when they hit one of their lowest points in their lives.  At Weight Loss Centers, however, I have the pleasure of talking to people who have already made a momentous decision to institute a positive change.

Obesity is a problem that continues to affect Americans every day.  Sometimes health care providers forget how it truly affects people.  The list of medical problems related to obesity is endless.  The short list includes: diabetes, high blood pressure, sleeping problems, reflux disease, difficulties with pregnancies, cancer, heart disease, lung problems, joint pain, back pain, and fatigue.  If you are overweight, most doctors will tell you to eat right and exercise.  While correct food choices and being active are an important part of losing weight, the plain fact is that they are not enough to have long term weight loss.