Best Health News - ailments

A Guide to Electric Wheelchairs

root — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 19:38:45 +0200

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A wheelchair is a mobility device that enables a indisposed or a disabled person to move. It’s basically a chair mounted on wheels, which can be propelled either manually or electrically. Wheelchairs propelled electronically are known as electric wheelchairs. Electric wheelchairs are powered by motors. They can be used indoors and outdoors and cost at least $1,500. Depending on the kind and extent of use, there are several kinds of wheelchairs ready on the market. Some features to consider when buying a wheelchair are the weight and size of the person using it, convenience of both interior and outdoor use, the chair’s weight capacity, power source, warranty and cost. Electric wheelchairs are generally old by people who have narrow or no mobility due to many different ailments. Some people can be required to use a wheelchair because of middle-aged age, paralysis, weight, degenerating muscle diseases, broken or weak bones or other illnesses. Electric wheelchairs are easy to use because they are powered by batteries and can be controlled by a joystick. They are also highly maneuverable as they can turn 360 degrees in cardinal spot. They are also precise quiet but they require much maintenance than manual wheelchairs. Electric wheelchairs are now being designed according to the users' requirements. Advanced technologies like spring suspension, pneumatic wheels and hydraulic systems are being applied to increase the wheelchair’s strength and durability. There are basically three types of tense wheelchairs, including rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, and mid-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive wheelchairs are the traditional and most common type. They are faster then front-wheel models but are not as flexible while turning as the front-wheel drive and mid-wheel drive wheelchairs. Front-wheel drive wheelchairs are becoming more best-selling because they are more elastic and maneuverable. They are slightly slower than the rear-wheel drive wheelchairs because of this. Mid-wheel drive wheelchairs are the tightest-turning wheelchairs. However, they tend to be slightly unsteady while stopping and starting. Other types of electric wheelchairs are based on weight, ranging from ultra lightweight to heavy-duty wheelchairs; transport wheelchairs; tilt-in-space wheelchairs; wheelchairs with an elevating seat; rough terrain wheelchairs; pediatric wheelchairs and specialty wheelchairs, among others. Various options are available for almost all part of an electric wheelchair. The wheelchair frame can be foldable or rigid while the wheels can be front-wheel or free wheel. different foot and armrests are also available including, detachable, swing-away or elevating. The footplates and armrests can be customized to adjust for both angle and height. When purchasing a wheelchair the preceding considerations are only the start of choosing the right design. Other important considerations are the dimensions of the chair’s backrest and whether it will be foldable and/or able to recline; the dimensions and upholstery of the chair’s seat; mechanical or hand brakes; the type of controls; kerb climbers and whether or not the wheelchair will be outfitted with lights. Other options that can be attached to electric wheelchairs include a tray, crutch holders, seat belts, bags, drink holders and anti-tip bars.

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What Is Herbal Medicine? Is It Safe?

root — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:38:45 +0200

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Herbal medicine is the use of plant and herb extracts for their therapeutic value. Most plants contain and produce chemical substances that aid in healthful and other physical treatments. Herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare and constitutes a key role in the development of neo medicine as we know it today. Back when technology was still unheard of, primitive men utilised the vast flora around them to the fullest extent, observing both plant and mammal-like life and their components, eventually giving birth to herbal medicine. In a study by the World Health Organization on herbal medicine use, about 80% of the world's populace still rely on herbal medicine to cure certain ailments and about 74% of the drugs we use today contain at least cardinal botanical element. For instance, Chinese Herbal Medicine's use of ephedrine to cure respiratory conditions nonmoving exists in the present time. Ephedrine remains an active ingredient in most of the mercantile drugs that are being nonarbitrary to relieve asthma symptoms. Herbal medicine is defined by three schools of thought: Ayurvedic Herbalism, Traditional Chinese Herbalism and Western Herbal Medicine. While both Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine have moved on to advanced forms, western herbal medicine remains a part of folk treatments. Herbal medicine is, first and foremost, holistic. It aims to address not antimonopoly a particular symptom, but also to help the whole body rejuventate strengthen itself. And while there is no scientific evidence that all herbal medicines claiming to have healing powers are actually effective, the number the herbal medicines that have been placed under clinical testing have proved their worth. The list of known kinds includes echinacea, which is used to temper colds, St John's wort, old to treat mild depression (without using Prozac), and hawthorne berries, which help in the recovery process from mild heart failures. Is herbal medicine a direct substitute to modern medication? It depends. While herbal medicines are extracted naturally from plants, not all are safe to use; particularly if they are taken with else types of treatments that may not be complementary. Also, herbal medicine is often used single for mild ailments. If the symptoms are more serious, it is best to consult a trained practitioner of herbal medicine who can tell you which ones are appropriate and recommend dosage levels and frequency. Presently, most of the recommended herbal medicines fall outside of accepted drug regulations, thus, not complete of their claims to fame are guaranteed and true. And even as common sense tells us that herbal medicine has been around for thousand of years, giving an impression that it is quite an authority, it is not recommended to self-diagnose. Always keep in mind that herbal medicines are still medicines and, therefore, share the likelihood of having side effects as day-to-day commercial drugs. Some of us have this misconception that because herbal medicines are natural, they are 100% safe. This is not true all the time. The best defense against the possible side effects herbal medicines might give is to educate ourselves with the basics on the herbal medicine in question and to use it with caution.

Fighting Halitosis: How to Knock it Out

root — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:38:45 +0200

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You may wonder, whom did you offend in a onetime life to be punished with bad breath? Sounds dramatic, but that is what bad breath (halitosis) is-dramatic. It wreaks havoc on your day and ethnical life and makes you self conscious to the point of paranoia. When you hear a laugh in the office, you worry that it is a group of people making entertaining of your bad breath. Suddenly, the world seems to revolve around your bad breath and fighting halitosis. The good news is that fighting halitosis is easier than you think, so stop stressing and read on (you’ll even learn about a bad breath home remedy or two!) Why did you get evil breath? Every day foods, beverages, medications, and ailments can cause evil breath, which is why so many people seek ways of fighting halitosis. One day you might have fresher breath than the sea air, but if you’re hit by allergies, post nasal drip and a humourous mouth well that fresh breath can quickly turn foul. Halitosis is also caused by musk-scented foods like garlic, dairy, and other foods that might be caught between your teeth. Alcohol and alcohol-based mouthwashes dry dead the mouth, creating a fruitful group for bacteria responsible for nasty breath. Diabetes is other culprit for bad breath, as are certain medications. If you have breath, and continue to eat these foods, it makes fighting halitosis a challenge. reported to the American Dental Association, halitosis is an embarrassing condition that is uncomfortable for the person who has it. Ways of Fighting Halitosis • Monitor your diet. Avoid excess dairy or acid-forming foods like onions. • Brush and floss your teeth directly aft each meal. • If dining out, take a drink of water and swoosh it around your mouth to break up some food caught between your teeth. • Limit your alcohol consumption and cease tobacco use. • If allergies and dry mouth cause your halitosis, one bad breath domestic remedy is to gargle water and salt. • Drink plenty of water to ensure your mouth stays moist and doesn’t humourous out. • Another bad breath domestic remedy for fighting halitosis is to chew on herbs much as thyme, mint, or cloves instead of gum. • Do not overuse mouthwashes as this dries out the mouth. A evil breath home remedy would be to use lemon and water as a mouth rinse. • Don’t forget to regularly see your dentist for cleanings. There are galore ways you can develop halitosis, and when you do it is your body’s way of saying, “Hello, pay attention, here, you’re not doing something right.” And boy, does it get your attention! That “something” you’re doing wrong can be uncomely diet, a lapse in spoken hygiene, sickness, or a combination. Fighting halitosis is a match that has to be fought round by round, but if you make some changes in the products you use, food you eat, and oral hygiene, you’ll knock halitosis out in no time!

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Insomnia: Treating Sleeplessness the Natural Way

root — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:38:45 +0200

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If the Sandman seems to have lost the map to your house and, no matter what you do, nothing seems to lull you to sleep each night, then it’s time to take some positive steps toward treating this potentially earnest condition using natural methods. galore people today are turning toward homeopathic or homemade remedies for curing what ails them, and insomnia is on that list of ailments. One of the most natural methods for reversing the condition of insomnia is by changing your diet to include – or avoid – definite types of foods. By eliminating the elements of caffeine and sugar, your body may be able to settle into a more natural, healthy routine, and your sleep cycle may become regulated. While coffee, tea and soda may be the early things that occur to you in your efforts to eradicate the menace of caffeine, those aren’t its only sources. You’ll also need to eliminate cough and cold medicines and a large number of other unlisted medications, as well – and your chocolate eating days are over, too. If you’ve ever felt sleepy after eating a turkey dinner, it’s probably because it contains tryptophan – an amino acid that encourages sleep when ingested. Eating foods which are rich in tryptophan will help your body to fall drowsy naturally, and there are much foods that contain this unbleached sleep agent than you might imagine. Cheese, milk, pumpkin seeds, bananas, peas, beans and else types of meat are complete good sources of this type of amino acid. Nutritional supplements are also very good tools for encouraging the sleeping process. Magnesium and calcium, for example, are natural sedatives and can be taken together. If you’ve been suffering from insomnia and need a bit of assistance getting to sleep, simply take a combination supplement of calcium and magnesium in the evening, healthy before your normal bedtime. Multivitamins will also work, since definite types of vitamins – much as B6 – are wealthy in the amino acids that are necessary to promote sleep. For those who prefer herbs rather than vitamins, valerian has been known to be used as a natural sleep aid since the second century A.D. This particular cure, however, doesn’t take affect immediately, so if you’re looking for immediate relief, this is not the treatment for you. It can take up to a month before its effects are noticeable, and may include adverse symptoms, such as digestive distress. Since valerian sometimes carries unwanted side effects, your physician should be consulted before opting to take this unbleached remedy. Other herbs which may be effective include St. John’s Wort, Kava, passionflower, chamomile, ashwagandha and hops. Though they work slightly differently, the overall result is the same, and they’re complete members of the herbal family, ensuring a natural means finished which to satisfy your regular sleep requirement. Of course, if you tend to be a couch potato and get little or no exercise, you’re pretty invulnerable in assuming that you’ll be afflicted by insomnia at many point. The body needs exercise on a regular basis in order to relieve tension and stress. By initiating an exercise program in the late afternoon or early evening, you should be able to enjoy a good night’s sleep – but don’t make the mistake of exercising too close to bedtime, or it’ll have the other effect, due to the release of adrenaline. In the event that all of these techniques fail, you can certainly turn to more unconventional methods of inducing sleep, such as yoga, meditation or feng shui. There are those who claim to find the cure that they need through utilizing one or much of these methods and, if it works, then it’s certainly worth a try. You may find that you’ll need to combine methods for inducing sleep, much as eating a banana and meditating for awhile before bedtime. What matters is what works for you and, since everyone is different, don’t be pessimistic if you try one specific natural method that doesn’t give you the desired results. finished patience and persistence, you’ll find the right combination and get the good night’s sleep that has long eluded you. Find dead more about insomnia and how you can restore healthy sleep naturally visiting http://www.curing-insomnia.com/serenite.php Article Source: http://www.articledepot.co.uk

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Zeroing in on the Prevention of Heart Disease

root — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 15:38:45 +0200

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More Americans succumb to the effects of heart disease than any other illness. Rated the number one killer, heart-related ailments are brought about by a variety of circumstances – some of which are preventable. The power that each individual has to ensure their own heart health is amazing, when you consider the factors that play a role in the variety of diseases that target the heart. The fact, then, that one out of all twenty people under the age of 40 suffers from many form of heart disease indicates that too many people aren’t taking their heart health seriously. Factors such as family medical history, menopause, diabetes mellitus and age (for those over 65) are among the risks that are beyond the control of those who may suffer from heart related ailments. Those which are within the scope of control include stress, inactivity, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity and hypertension (high blood pressure). By exercising discipline and reducing or eliminating these factors, your chances of heart disease are dramatically decreased. In addition to the more traditional methods of reducing your risk for such ailments, laughter has also been found to fight heart disease and promote good heart health. Since laughter is a great way to release pent-up stress and tension, this simple act might very healthy be just what you need to reduce the level of stress that might, otherwise, have a negative impact on your health. According to recent medical information, it’s believed that laughter can also help to fortify the lining of the blood vessels, as well as lowering your blood pressure and heart rate. Believe it or not, tea drinkers also have a decreased risk factor for heart disease. Due to its anti-oxidant properties, this is an ideal beverage – especially for those who don’t eat the proper amount of fruits and vegetables, which also contain anti-oxidants. This type of beverage, in addition to the fruits and vegetables, are wealthy in natural anti-oxidants and are, therefore, better for your heart health and overall health profile than supplements. The bottom line is that, in order to have more control over the health of your heart, there are specific types of behaviors and activities that you can integrate into your daily lifestyle. These include eating a heart-healthy diet, dominant your weight, smoking cessation, dominant diabetes (if present), maintaining wholesome cholesterol levels, controlling blood pressure levels, managing stress and involved in a daily exercise program – either by taking a class, enrolling in a gym or health spa, or artful an exercise plan that can be executed at home. A uncomplicated stroll around the neighborhood all day will help to control these potential risk factors. Medical professionals prescribe an hour of exercise each day – seven days a week. Of course, regular medical examinations are a necessary part of your health program, and those who are seeking to reduce their risk of heart disease should be screened for those types of ailments on a regular basis. Early detection can mean the difference between losing your life to heart disease and adding years to your life by attractive the necessary measures to restore your heart to good health. Copyright 2005 Octocat Ltd

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What Is Hypoglycemia?

root — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:08:45 +0100

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Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the blood sugar even of a person dips behind below the normal level. This leaves you unable to perform daily activities due to the decrease in energy levels caused by low blood glucose levels in the body. It usually affects adults and children finished 10 years of age as a side effect of attractive diabetic medication, although other ailments and medications can also bring it on. The majority of hypoglycemic suffers have diabetes. Due to being diabetic their body struggles to bring blood sugar levels rearmost within a normal range should they start to fall. This can leave you feeling hungry, anxious, weak, light-headed or asleep with excessive perspiration and dizziness. Usually the reaction is not serious and can be aerated by eating or drinking sugar or carbohydrate rich products. However, it is important to note that potential symptoms should not be ignored as, left untreated, hypoglycemia can cause a person to lose consciousness. Hypoglycemia can also affect people who do not suffer from diabetes. There are cardinal types of hypoglycemia not cognate to diabetes - reactive and fasting hypoglycemia. Fasting hypoglycemia occurs when people go periods without food such as overnight or after exercise. This is not a common condition in people without diabetes and is usually associated with another illness or medication. While, reactive hypoglycemia happens within about 4 hours of eating a meal. Should you suffer from reactive hypoglycemia the following steps have been suggested by many health officials to counter the symptoms - eating little and often, exercising regularly, having a varied, high fiber diet and cutting out or reducing your intake of sugary foods. If you do suffer from hypoglycemia there are also some precautions that you could think about taking. For example, wearing a bracelet with the condition on it in case of emergencies. Telling your friends and work colleagues what your particular symptoms are so they can watch out for you and remind you to eat when you appear to become irritable or fatigued. Keeping suitable snacks on hand and remembering to eat regularly to keep your blood sugar levels steady, limiting alcohol consumption and finally checking your glucose levels before using heavy machinery, dynamic or doing any strenuous exercise.

The Diagnosis Myth

root — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 18:08:45 +0200

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Eric Shapiro Although I risk dissension by doing so, I must say something that I think many of us in the mental health community have acknowledged for quite some time: every single diagnosis of a mental disorder is fallible. Before I proceed, I should note the value of diagnoses. They are immensely useful categorical tools. The human being cannot productively navigate the uncertain tides of reality without the use of symbols and structures. Symbols and structures allow us to determine where our glasses end and our tables begin. Accordingly, when Patient A is compulsively cleaning her apartment and Patient B is speaking to invisible demons, it is important to have the words "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" to describe the former and the word "Schizophrenia" to describe the latter. Categorizations such as these not only help us to distinguish between ailments, they also assist us in making time-tested behavioral predictions and selecting suitable modes of treatment. I have no intention of ignoring these facts. However, two unsettling flaws consistently accompany diagnoses of intellectual disorders. When one breaks an arm and is diagnosed with the linguistically sophisticated ailment known as a "broken arm," there is finitude on display. Witnesses could line up from the patient's bed to the hospital parking lot, and they would all agree that the patient was suffering from a broken arm. The Law of Averages insists that one or two jokers would, due to rebelliousness or sheer foolishness, concoct some other diagnosis, but I believe that my point is clear: physical diagnoses are finer suited for objective consideration than are mental ones. Despite the probable existence of Patient A and Patient B, the mind is a realm of liquidity and abstractions. Absent are some features remotely approaching the rigidity of a bone. Even for its most stubborn bearers, the mind is a place of motion. When it is attainable for a Depressed patient to shift from numbness to panic to auditory hallucinations within the space of a single afternoon, of what ultimate use is the "Depression" label? To be sure, some symptoms achieve prominence within some minds, but complete minds, we must acknowledge, never stop shifting, advancing, reversing, and flowing. Every mental disorder is therefore an abstraction at best. I have been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This seems about right, but what am I to make of my infrequent bouts of Panic? Are they "part of" my O.C.D., or do I also have Panic Disorder? And, further, what am I to make of the one or two professionals who have said that I may have Attention-Deficit Disorder? Is my A.D.D. an offshoot of my O.C.D. or does my O.C.D. stem from my A.D.D.? Which of the two shares a stronger bond with my Panic? Even more confusing: as part of my O.C.D., I sometimes obsess about the possibility of becoming Manic. This obsession seems to tangibly alter my moods, but am I authentically Manic, or am I merely Obsessed? I feel like panicking. We must admit that all intellectual disorders, however distinctive their acknowledged names, are members of cardinal large dysfunctional family. This family is so huge that I question the merits of memorizing all its members' names and faces. The second predictable defect of a mental illness diagnosis is the fact that Its Recipient Is Also Its Source. In other words, because the mind of a diagnosed patient is the seat of her affliction, knowledge of a diagnosis can provoke greater intellectual distress. Said distress can arrive in several forms. The patient's symptoms may increase due to her renewed awareness. The diligent may develop an Inferiority interlocking (yet another disorder!) or drift into a state of panic. Most troubling, the patient may adhere so strongly to the notion of being SICK that her mind will never trust itself to part with its imbalance. I can sense the naysayers closing in on me. You likely think, "The patient will surely never improve if she's ignorant about the existence of her disorder!" I agree wholeheartedly. Acknowledging the presence of a problem is the first step toward solving it. Nonetheless, our collective perception of mental diagnoses is ripened for a change. Not single do these labels fail to holistically summarize the people they're attached to, they also tend to make said people feel stuck. Upon being diagnosed with a mental disorder, a patient should regard her diagnosis as a handy signpost en route to treatment and recovery. Regarding such disorders as fixed, deep-rooted states is a intense way to make them hang around longer and sink in even deeper. About The Author Eric Shapiro is the author of "Short of a Picnic," a collection of fictional stories about people living with intellectual disorders. shortofapicnic@aol.com

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Orthodox Cancer Treatment

root — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 13:38:45 +0200

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Simon Mitchell 1. Diagnosis Diagnosis is a strength of west-central scientific medicine because of its dependence on analytical procedures and processes of elimination. Modern technology has given us many ways to see into the body for effective diagnosis of dis-ease. Nowhere is scientific Western medicine so advanced than in the fields of diagnosis. Although the philosophy of Western medicine often comes in for criticism, neo science has produced many ways in which we can examine and image organisms internally and take samples of tissue in hard to reach places. A qualified doctor should always be the first point of contact for serious disease as they have a good chance of getting you a correct diagnosis. Self-diagnosis is not a bully idea except for very peanut ailments. If you can, always get a second opinion on any diagnosis. In the UK you are urged to start orthodox cancer treatments within a month of diagnosis. Diagnosis for cancer uses careful clinical assessment and advanced investigative techniques much as: endoscopy: an endoscope is a tube-like viewing instrument with lenses and lights or video cameras that is inserted into a body orifice for investigating and treating disorders. If gives doctors the ability to see inside the body and flat remove small pieces of tissue for examination (biopsy). imaging: This process allows doctors to produce images of structures within the body that are other difficult to see. For example short-wave, electromagnetic waves such as X-rays are passed through the body. Some are absorbed and others pass through the tissues to produce a shadow image that is projected onto a film or screen. In x-ray images the bones show up clearly, making it an superior tool for seeing problems related with bones or hard objects within the body. In the 1920’s radiologists discovered that certain substances are opaque to radiation and they began to use them as ‘contrast media’. When these media are introduced into the body they create an outline shape of the cavities they fill, which helps to identify problem areas. Ultrasound scanning projects high-frequency sound waves through the body, using a transducer against the skin. The waves are reflected back and the pattern of echoes produces an image. Computers are old to create better images. C.T. scanning (Computed Tomography) takes x-rays from different angles and uses the computer to create crosswise sections or three-dimensional images. M.R.I. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) places the patient in a vehement magnetic field that passes waves through the body. The computer creates an image by analysing changes in the magnetic alignment of the hydrogen protons in our cells. P.E.T. scanning (Positron Emission Tomography) introduces short-lived radio isotopes into body tissues that are then flooded with gamma rays, recorded and then analysed by computer to produce images. cytology and histology: Cytology is concerned with the examination of individual cells. The important application in cancer is in the detection of abnormal cells. Histology or hystopathology looks at groups of cells. laboratory studies: Scientific methodology gives us galore ways to analyse and examine bodily extracts. 2. Prognosis What follows initial diagnosis means characteristic appropriate treatments, forecasting the equiprobable course and outcome of the disease (prognostication) and standardising the design of research and treatment protocols. You may be acknowledged the option to take part in a clinical study to help assess the effectiveness of a new treatment. Some health centres and surgeries are offered payoffs for enrolling patients in clinical trials which are often ongoing ‘action research’. 3. Treatment There are four main types of treatment in conventional cancer treatment: surgery: this offers the best chance when the cancer is contained to a several area and has a debased tendency to spread radiotherapy: unreal over 100 years ago, this treatment bombards specific areas of the body with gamma rays. chemotherapy: uses chemical cocktails that suppress the growth cycles of all cells in the body. biological therapy: This treatment uses B.R.M.’s (Biological Response Modifiers) much as Interferon or Interleukin-2 to modify biological systems. Taking these treatments is no guarantee that the cancer will not return. They do not involve superficial for or eliminating any causes. To this extent orthodox west-central medical approaches to cancer are only palliative. About The Author Simon Mitchell This is an extract from 'Don't Get Cancer'a new ebook available only at: http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/don'tget1.html