Hi Friends, as u all know that I am a Doctor. I am qualified Practitioner of Homoeopathy. If you or anyone of your family, have some health problems and want Homeopathic treatment then you can tell me. I’ll be there for your help.
I will try to post here some information about the diseases or other problems, for your knowledge. I hope you will be like it.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and a disturbance in at least one other thinking function (for example, language or perception of reality). Many scientists believe that AD results from an increase in the production or accumulation of a specific protein (beta-amyloid protein) that leads to nerve cell death. Loss of nerve cells in strategic brain areas, in turn, causes deficits in the neurotransmitters, which are the brain's chemical messengers.
Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging and is not something that inevitably happens in later life. Rather, it is one of the dementing disorders, which are a group of brain diseases that result in the loss of mental and physical functions.
Who develops Alzheimer's disease?
The main risk factor for AD is increased age. As the population ages, the frequency of AD continues to increase. 10 % of people over age 65 and 50 % of those over 85 have AD. The number of individuals with AD is expected to be 14 million by the year 2050. In 1998, the annual cost for the care of patients with AD in the United States was approximately $40,000 per patient.
There are also genetic risk factors for AD. The presence of several family members with AD has suggested that, in some cases, heredity may influence the development of AD. A genetic basis has been identified through the discovery of mutations in several genes that cause AD in a small subgroup of families in which the disease has frequently occurred at relatively early ages (beginning before age 50). Some evidence points to chromosome 19 as implicated in certain other families in which the disease has frequently developed at later ages.
Studies of aging and dementia (general mental deterioration) in the general population have identified three groups of subjects; persons who are not demented, those who are demented, and individuals who cannot be classified because they have a cognitive (thinking, memory) impairment, but do not meet the criteria for dementia.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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What are the causes of Alzheimer's disease?
With the exception of rare cases of familial AD, in whom the disease is caused by mutations (changes in the DNA) of a single gene, most cases of AD are probably caused by a variety of factors acting together. Cases without a family history are called "sporadic." The study of familial AD, however, has uncovered several proteins that are not only important for familial, but also for sporadic AD. These are the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and two presenilins. APP is a major component of plaques (abnormal deposits of proteins in the brain).
The break-down (faulty cleavage) of APPs likely increases their propensity to combine (aggregate) in plaques. Presenilins, on the other hand, are involved in the splitting (cleavage) of APP. Mutations in the genes that encode APPs and the presenilins can cause AD. This means that individuals carrying these mutations have a very high probability of developing AD.
Changes in other genes may not cause AD, but they may increase the risk of developing AD. The best-studied "risk" gene is the one that encodes apolipoprotein E (apoE). Certain forms (alleles) of this gene can increase the risk for AD. This effect is particularly striking in the setting of a positive family history for AD.
The apoE gene has three different forms (alleles) -- apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4. ApoE3 is the most common form in the general population. However, apoE4 occurs in approximately 40 % of all late-onset AD patients. People who inherit two apoE4 alleles (one from the mother and one from the father) are several times more likely to develop AD than those who have two of the more common E3 version. The least common allele, E2, lowers the risk of AD. People with one E2 and one E3 gene have only one-fourth the risk of developing Alzheimer's as do people with two E3 genes.
Since the 1970's, abnormalities in the brain's chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, have been identified in patients with AD. Acetylcholine is a critical neurotransmitter in the process of forming memories. This chemical messenger is abundant in the nerve cells of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, the regions that are devastated by AD. Levels of acetylcholine fall sharply in people with AD. Other neurotransmitters have also been implicated in AD. For example, serotonin, somatostatin, and noradrenaline levels are lower than normal in some Alzheimer's patients. Deficits in these substances may contribute to the memory and behavioral abnormalities in AD.
In addition to the known risk factors of age and family history, several other possible risk factors have been identified. Some studies have found that AD occurs more often among people who suffered traumatic head injuries earlier in life. Women may have a higher risk of the disease, although their higher rates may only reflect the effects of age, because women have longer life spans on average than do men. In addition, lower educational levels may increase the risk. It is not know whether this reflects a decreased "cognitive reserve" or other factors associated with a lower educational level.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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How much exercise you should do?
In addition to the National Academies’ Institute of Medicine’s recommendation of 60 minutes of daily exercise to prevent weight gain, there are two other major U.S. guidelines for how much physical activity you need:
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends a five- to 10-minute warm-up and then 30 to 45 minutes of continuous aerobic activity (such as swimming, biking, walking, dancing, or jogging) three to five times a week, with a stretch and cool down period in the last five to 10 minutes. The ACSM also recommends weight training: at least one set (eight to 12 repetitions) each of eight to 10 different exercises, targeting the body's major muscle groups. The surgeon general recommends accumulating 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (hard enough to leave you feeling "warm and slightly out of breath") on most, if not all, days of the week. You can do it in two bouts of 15 minutes, three bouts of 10 minutes, or one bout of 30 minutes. This recommendation emphasizes incorporating activity into your daily life -- walking instead of taking the bus, parking your car farther from the mall and walking across the parking lot, taking stairs instead of the elevator, and washing your car by hand.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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Q. What's the bottom line to weight loss?
The bottom line to weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume all day. (The behavior isn't simple, but the equation is.) For example, if you eat 2,500 calories a day and only burn 2,000, you gain weight; if you eat 1,500 calories and burn 2,000, you lose weight; if you eat 2,000 and burn 2,000 you maintain weight.
It's true that there are several medical conditions, and medications, that can make weight loss difficult (see below). But even if one of those factors applies to you, you still need to burn more calories than you consume to lose weight.
The good news is this: You can lose weight with a very modest amount of exercise.
People lose weight all the time without exercise by reducing their caloric intake. But keeping the weight off without exercise is another matter. Many experts agree that exercise is the single best predictor of long-term weight control. If you lose weight and don't start exercising, there's a very good chance you will regain it.
Here are some factors that can keep you from losing weight and/or cause weight gain:
Thyroid or adrenal gland problems. Medications like antidepressants. Stopping smoking. Rapid weight loss. This can lower metabolism because the body senses it is starving and make it harder to lose weight. The decrease in metabolic rate is often due to loss in muscle (when you lose weight, approximately 25% of the loss comes from muscle), so lifting weights is a good idea. Menopause (and premenopause). If you think any of these things are factors for you, your doctor may be able to help.
Otherwise, patience, determination, regular physical activity, and attention to your diet are the keys to long-term weight control. Doing these things will give you your best shot at reaching your weight loss goals and keeping the weight off.
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Gastric (Stomach) Cancer ---------------------------
Your stomach is a J-shaped organ in the upper abdomen where digestion begins before food is passed to your intestines. Cancer can arise in any part of the stomach, and is believed to develop slowly over many years.
Stomach cancer -- also referred to as gastric cancer -- is usually preceded by precancerous changes in the stomach lining, although these changes rarely produce symptoms. Because stomach cancer often does not cause symptoms until it is quite advanced, it is not often detected in its earliest stages.
Most stomach cancers (90 to 95 percent) are classified as adenocarcinomas. Other types of stomach cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma, stromal tumors (cancer of the muscle or connective tissue of the stomach wall), and carcinoid tumors (cancer of the hormone-producing cells of the stomach).
The following factors increase the risk of stomach cancer:
* infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, which may lead to chronic inflammation of the inner layer of the stomach and possibly precancerous changes; recent research has shown that antibiotic treatment may reduce the risk of stomach cancer -- particularly stomach lymphoma -- in people infected with this bacterium
* a diet high in consumption of smoked and salted foods, such as smoked fish and meat and pickled vegetables; conversely, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables (particularly those high in beta-carotene and vitamin C can decrease stomach-cancer risk
* high consumption of red meat; studies show that eating red meat more than 13 times per week can double the risk of stomach cancer
* smoking
* alcohol abuse
* previous stomach surgery, such as removal of stomach tissue in patients with ulcers
* pernicious anemia, a severe inability to produce red blood cells, due to a deficiency of vitamin B12
* Menetrier's disease, a very rare condition associated with large folds in the stomach and low production of stomach acids
* blood type A (for unknown reasons)
* family cancer syndromes, such as Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis, which increase colorectal-cancer risk and slightly increase stomach-cancer risk
* family history of stomach cancer
* stomach polyps (small benign growths that sometimes develop into stomach cancers).
When symptoms of stomach cancer arise, they may include:
* indigestion and stomach discomfort
* a bloated feeling after eating
* mild nausea
* loss of appetite
* heartburn
In the more advanced stages of stomach cancer, a patient may experience the following symptoms:
* blood in the stool
* vomiting
* unexplained weight loss
* stomach pain
These symptoms may also result from more benign illnesses, such as simple indigestion or a stomach virus. However, if you have these symptoms over a long period of time, you should see your doctor.
If your doctor suspects that you may have stomach cancer, you may have a barium x-ray of your upper gastrointestinal system. For this test, you will be asked to drink a liquid containing barium, which makes your stomach easier to see on an x-ray. This test can be performed in a doctor's office or a hospital's radiology department.
The doctor may also look inside your stomach using a gastroscope, a thin, lighted tube that is inserted into your mouth and guided into your stomach (also called upper endoscopy). A camera at the end of the tube enables your doctor to see inside your stomach. Your doctor may take small samples of tissue to examine for cancer cells. (You will receive a spray of anesthetic into your throat or other medication to ensure that you are comfortable during this examination. )
A third, newer technique to diagnose stomach cancer is called endoscopic ultrasound. Similar to gastroscopy, endoscopic ultrasound relies on a thin tube inserted into the mouth and down into the stomach. At the tip of the tube is a small ultrasound probe that bounces sound waves off the stomach walls. This test is useful for estimating how far cancer has spread into the wall of the stomach, to nearby organs, and to nearby lymph nodes -- a process called staging.
Another staging technique is called laparoscopy. This procedure involves minor surgery using a small tube with a camera at the end to look inside your abdomen. Doctors can look at the outside wall of your stomach, examine the lymph nodes, and evaluate the surfaces of other abdominal organs to determine if the cancer has spread to those areas.
In addition to these diagnostic tests, your doctor will take your medical history into account, perform a physical examination, and order laboratory studies such as blood tests.
The choice of treatment for stomach cancer depends on the stage of the disease -- that is, how large the tumor has grown, how deeply it has invaded the layers of the stomach, and whether it has spread to nearby organs, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.
Recent investigations suggest that a three-pronged attack on stomach cancer -- utilizing surgery to remove most of the tumor and chemotherapy and radiation therapy to control cancer spread -- may improve the survival of patients with stomach cancer. This combination approach is expected to become the standard of care for patients with this disease.
Surgery
Surgery is the most common form of treatment for stomach cancer. If the results of staging indicate that surgery is likely to help you, your doctor may perform one of these operations to remove the cancer:
* subtotal gastrectomy : removal of the part of the stomach that contains the cancer and parts of other tissues or organs near the tumor (such as the small intestine or esophagus, depending on the location of the tumor)
* total gastrectomy : removal of the entire stomach and parts of the esophagus, small intestine, and other tissue near the tumor; in this case the esophagus may be connected to the small intestine so that you can continue to eat and swallow.
During the surgery, the surgeon will also remove nearby lymph nodes to examine them for cancer cells. Sometimes the spleen (an organ in the upper abdomen that filters blood and removes old blood cells) and part of the pancreas are also removed.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy -- treatment with cancer-killing drugs -- is another option for treating stomach cancer. It can be given to patients whose cancers have invaded the layers of the stomach wall, nearby lymph nodes, and nearby organs. Chemotherapy may be given before surgery (so-called neoadjuvant therapy) -- to shrink the tumor first -- or after surgery (adjuvant therapy), to kill any remaining cancer cells. These approaches are being evaluated in clinical trials.
When given alone or with radiation therapy, chemotherapy is also useful in some patients to relieve stomach-cancer symptoms or to delay cancer recurrence and extend a patient's life, especially in patients whose cancers cannot be completely removed through surgery. 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin are the drugs most commonly used to treat stomach cancer; other drugs (including paclitaxel, docetaxel, and irinotecan) and new combinations of conventional drugs are currently under investigation. Some are given intravenously (through a vein), while others are given intraperitoneally (delivered directly into the abdominal cavity).
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is most commonly used in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of gastric cancer. New studies reveal that for many patients with gastric cancer, the addition of radiation therapy plus chemotherapy after surgery improves survival compared to surgery alone.
QUEEN VICTORIA
Age: 124
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What are gallstones?
Gallstones are stones that form in the gall (bile). Bile is a watery liquid made by the cells of the liver that is important for digesting food in the intestine, particularly fat. Liver cells secrete the bile they make into small canals within the liver. The bile flows through the canals and into larger collecting ducts within the liver (the intrahepatic bile ducts). The bile then flows within the intrahepatic bile ducts out of the liver and into the extrahepatic bile ducts-first into the hepatic bile ducts, then into the common hepatic duct, and finally into the common bile duct. From the common bile duct, there are two different directions that bile can flow. The first direction is on down the common bile duct and into the intestine where the bile mixes with food and promotes digestion of food. The second direction is into the cystic duct, and from there into the gallbladder (often misspelled as gall bladder). Once in the gallbladder, bile is concentrated by the removal (absorption) of water. During a meal, the muscle that makes up the wall of the gallbladder contracts and squeezes the concentrated bile in the gallbladder back through the cystic duct into the common duct and then into the intestine. (Concentrated bile is much more effective for digestion than the un-concentrated bile that goes from the liver straight into the intestine.) The timing of gallbladder contraction-during a meal-allows the concentrated bile from the gallbladder to mix with food.
Gallstones usually form in the gallbladder; however, they also may form anywhere there is bile--in the intrahepatic, hepatic, common bile, and cystic ducts. Gallstones also may move about within bile, for example, from the gallbladder into the cystic or common duct.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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What causes gallstones?
Gallstones are common--they occur in approximately 20% of women in the US, Canada and Europe--but there is a large variation in prevalence among ethnic groups. For example, gallstones occur 1 ½ to 2 times more commonly among Scandinavians and Mexican-Americans. Among American Indians, gallstone prevalence reaches more than 80%. These differences probably are accounted for by genetic (hereditary) factors. First-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) of individuals with gallstones are 1 ½ times more likely to have gallstones than if they did not have a first-degree relative with gallstones. Further support that genetic factors are important in determining who gets gallstones comes from twin studies. Among non-identical pairs of twins (who share 50% of their genes with each other), both individuals in a pair have gallstones 8% of the time. Among identical pairs of twins (who share 100% of their genes with each other), both individuals in a pair have gallstones 23% of the time.
There are several types of gallstones and each type has a different cause.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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What are the symptoms of gallstones?
The majority of people with gallstones have no signs or symptoms and are unaware of their gallstones. (The gallstones are "silent.") Their gallstones often are found as a result of tests (e.g., ultrasound or X-ray examination of the abdomen) performed while evaluating medical conditions other than gallstones. Symptoms can appear later in life, however, after many years without symptoms. Thus, over a period of five years, approximately ten percent of people with silent gallstones will develop symptoms. Once symptoms develop, they are likely to continue and often will worsen.
Gallstones are blamed for many symptoms they do not cause. Among the symptoms gallstones do not cause are dyspepsia (including abdominal bloating and discomfort after eating), intolerance to fatty foods, belching, and flatulence (passing gas or farting). When signs and symptoms of gallstones occur, they virtually always occur because the gallstones obstruct the bile ducts.
The most common symptom of gallstones is biliary colic. Biliary colic is a very specific type of pain, occurring as the primary or only symptom in 80% of people with gallstones who develop symptoms. Biliary colic occurs when the extrahepatic ducts-cystic, hepatic or common bile-are suddenly blocked by a gallstone. (Slowly-progressing obstruction, as from a tumor, does not cause biliary colic.) Behind the obstruction, fluid accumulates and distends the ducts and gallbladder. In the case of hepatic or common bile duct obstruction, this is due to continued secretion of bile by the liver. In the case of cystic duct obstruction, the wall of the gallbladder secretes fluid into the gallbladder. It is the distention of the ducts or gallbladder that causes biliary colic.
Characteristically, biliary colic comes on suddenly or builds rapidly to a peak over a few minutes. It is a constant pain--it does not come and go, though it may vary in intensity while it is present. It lasts for 15 minutes to 4-5 hours. If the pain lasts more than 4-5 hours, it means that a complication--usually cholecystitis--has developed. The pain usually is severe, but movement does not make the pain worse. In fact, patients experiencing biliary colic often walk about or writhe (twist the body in different positions) in bed trying to find a comfortable position. Biliary colic often is accompanied by nausea. Most commonly, biliary colic is felt in the middle of the upper abdomen just below the sternum. The second most common location for pain is the right upper abdomen just below the margin of the ribs. Occasionally, the pain also may be felt in the back at the lower tip of the scapula on the right side. On rare occasions, the pain may be felt beneath the sternum and be mistaken for angina or a heart attack . An episode of biliary colic subsides gradually once the gallstone shifts within the duct so that it is no longer obstructing.
Biliary colic is a recurring symptom. Once the first episode occurs, there are likely to be other episodes. Also, there is a pattern of recurrence for each individual, that is, for some individuals the episodes tend to remain frequent while for others they tend to remain infrequent. The majority of people who develop biliary colic do not go on to develop cholecystitis or other complications.
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Controlling Anger -- Before It Controls You -----------------------------------------------
We all know what anger is, and we've all felt it: whether as a fleeting annoyance or as full-fledged rage.
Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems-problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life. And it can make you feel as though you're at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion. This brochure is meant to help you understand and control anger.
What is Anger?
The Nature of Anger
Anger is "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage," according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the study of anger. Like other emotions, it is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your energy hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.
Anger can be caused by both external and internal events. You could be angry at a specific person (Such as a coworker or supervisor) or event (a traffic jam, a canceled flight), or your anger could be caused by worrying or brooding about your personal problems. Memories of traumatic or enraging events can also trigger angry feelings.
Expressing Anger
The instinctive, natural way to express anger is to respond aggressively. Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats; it inspires powerful, often aggressive, feelings and behaviors, which allow us to fight and to defend ourselves when we are attacked. A certain amount of anger, therefore, is necessary to our survival.
On the other hand, we can't physically lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys us; laws, social norms, and common sense place limits on how far our anger can take us.
People use a variety of both conscious and unconscious processes to deal with their angry feelings. The three main approaches are expressing, suppressing, and calming. Expressing your angry feelings in an assertive-not aggressive-manner is the healthiest way to express anger. To do this, you have to learn how to make clear what your needs are, and how to get them met, without hurting others. Being assertive doesn't mean being pushy or demanding; it means being respectful of yourself and others.
Anger can be suppressed, and then converted or redirected. This happens when you hold in your anger, stop thinking about it, and focus on something positive. The aim is to inhibit or suppress your anger and convert it into more constructive behavior. The danger in this type of response is that if it isn't allowed outward expression, your anger can turn inward-on yourself. Anger turned inward may cause hypertension, high blood pressure, or depression.
Unexpressed anger can create other problems. It can lead to pathological expressions of anger, such as passive-aggressive behavior (getting back at people indirectly, without telling them why, rather than confronting them head-on) or a personality that seems perpetually cynical and hostile. People who are constantly putting others down, criticizing everything, and making cynical comments haven't learned how to constructively express their anger. Not surprisingly, they aren't likely to have many successful relationships.
Finally, you can calm down inside. This means not just controlling your outward behavior, but also controlling your internal responses, taking steps to lower your heart rate, calm yourself down, and let the feelings subside.
As Dr. Spielberger notes, "when none of these three techniques work, that's when someone-or something-is going to get hurt."
Anger Management
The goal of anger management is to reduce both your emotional feelings and the physiological arousal that anger causes. You can't get rid of, or avoid, the things or the people that enrage you, nor can you change them, but you can learn to control your reactions.
Are You Too Angry?
There are psychological tests that measure the intensity of angry feelings, how prone to anger you are, and how well you handle it. But chances are good that if you do have a problem with anger, you already know it. If you find yourself acting in ways that seem out of control and frightening, you might need help finding better ways to deal with this emotion.
Why Are Some People More Angry Than Others?
According to Jerry Deffenbacher, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in anger management, some people really are more "hotheaded" than others are; they get angry more easily and more intensely than the average person does. There are also those who don't show their anger in loud spectacular ways but are chronically irritable and grumpy. Easily angered people don't always curse and throw things; sometimes they withdraw socially, sulk, or get physically ill.
People who are easily angered generally have what some psychologists call a low tolerance for frustration, meaning simply that they feel that they should not have to be subjected to frustration, inconvenience, or annoyance. They can't take things in stride, and they're particularly infuriated if the situation seems somehow unjust: for example, being corrected for a minor mistake.
What makes these people this way? A number of things. One cause may be genetic or physiological: There is evidence that some children are born irritable, touchy, and easily angered, and that these signs are present from a very early age. Another may be sociocultural. Anger is often regarded as negative; we're taught that it's all right to express anxiety, depression, or other emotions but not to express anger. As a result, we don't learn how to handle it or channel it constructively.
Research has also found that family background plays a role. Typically, people who are easily angered come from families that are disruptive, chaotic, and not skilled at emotional communications.
Is It Good To "Let it All Hang Out?"
Psychologists now say that this is a dangerous myth. Some people use this theory as a license to hurt others. Research has found that "letting it rip" with anger actually escalates anger and aggression and does nothing to help you (or the person you're angry with) resolve the situation.
It's best to find out what it is that triggers your anger, and then to develop strategies to keep those triggers from tipping you over the edge.
Strategies To Keep Anger At Bay
Relaxation
Simple relaxation tools, such as deep breathing and relaxing imagery, can help calm down angry feelings. There are books and courses that can teach you relaxation techniques, and once you learn the techniques, you can call upon them in any situation. If you are involved in a relationship where both partners are hot-tempered, it might be a good idea for both of you to learn these techniques.
Some simple steps you can try: Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm; breathing from your chest won't relax you. Picture your breath coming up from your "gut."
Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as "relax," "take it easy." Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply.
Use imagery; visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination.
Nonstrenuous, slow yoga-like exercises can relax your muscles and make you feel much calmer.
Practice these techniques daily. Learn to use them automatically when you're in a tense situation.
Cognitive Restructuring
Simply put, this means changing the way you think. Angry people tend to curse, swear, or speak in highly colorful terms that reflect their inner thoughts. When you're angry, your thinking can get very exaggerated and overly dramatic. Try replacing these thoughts with more rational ones. For instance, instead of telling yourself, "oh, it's awful, it's terrible, everything's ruined," tell yourself, "it's frustrating, and it's understandable that I'm upset about it, but it's not the end of the world and getting angry is not going to fix it anyhow."
Be careful of words like "never" or "always" when talking about yourself or someone else. "This !&*%@ machine never works," or "you're always forgetting things" are not just inaccurate, they also serve to make you feel that your anger is justified and that there's no way to solve the problem. They also alienate and humiliate people who might otherwise be willing to work with you on a solution.
Remind yourself that getting angry is not going to fix anything, that it won't make you feel better (and may actually make you feel worse).
Logic defeats anger, because anger, even when it's justified, can quickly become irrational. So use cold hard logic on yourself. Remind yourself that the world is "not out to get you," you're just experiencing some of the rough spots of daily life. Do this each time you feel anger getting the best of you, and it'll help you get a more balanced perspective. Angry people tend to demand things: fairness, appreciation, agreement, willingness to do things their way. Everyone wants these things, and we are all hurt and disappointed when we don't get them, but angry people demand them, and when their demands aren't met, their disappointment becomes anger. As part of their cognitive restructuring, angry people need to become aware of their demanding nature and translate their expectations into desires. In other words, saying, "I would like" something is healthier than saying, "I demand" or "I must have" something. When you're unable to get what you want, you will experience the normal reactions-frustration, disappointment, hurt-but not anger. Some angry people use this anger as a way to avoid feeling hurt, but that doesn't mean the hurt goes away.
Problem Solving
Sometimes, our anger and frustration are caused by very real and inescapable problems in our lives. Not all anger is misplaced, and often it's a healthy, natural response to these difficulties. There is also a cultural belief that every problem has a solution, and it adds to our frustration to find out that this isn't always the case. The best attitude to bring to such a situation, then, is not to focus on finding the solution, but rather on how you handle and face the problem.
Make a plan, and check your progress along the way. Resolve to give it your best, but also not to punish yourself if an answer doesn't come right away. If you can approach it with your best intentions and efforts and make a serious attempt to face it head-on, you will be less likely to lose patience and fall into all-or-nothing thinking, even if the problem does not get solved right away.
Better Communication
Angry people tend to jump to-and act on-conclusions, and some of those conclusions can be very inaccurate. The first thing to do if you're in a heated discussion is slow down and think through your responses. Don't say the first thing that comes into your head, but slow down and think carefully about what you want to say. At the same time, listen carefully to what the other person is saying and take your time before answering.
Listen, too, to what is underlying the anger. For instance, you like a certain amount of freedom and personal space, and your "significant other" wants more connection and closeness. If he or she starts complaining about your activities, don't retaliate by painting your partner as a jailer, a warden, or an albatross around your neck.
It's natural to get defensive when you're criticized, but don't fight back. Instead, listen to what's underlying the words: the message that this person might feel neglected and unloved. It may take a lot of patient questioning on your part, and it may require some breathing space, but don't let your anger-or a partner's-let a discussion spin out of control. Keeping your cool can keep the situation from becoming a disastrous one.
Using Humor
"Silly humor" can help defuse rage in a number of ways. For one thing, it can help you get a more balanced perspective. When you get angry and call someone a name or refer to them in some imaginative phrase, stop and picture what that word would literally look like. If you're at work and you think of a coworker as a "dirtbag" or a "single-cell life form," for example, picture a large bag full of dirt (or an amoeba) sitting at your colleague's desk, talking on the phone, going to meetings. Do this whenever a name comes into your head about another person. If you can, draw a picture of what the actual thing might look like. This will take a lot of the edge off your fury; and humor can always be relied on to help unknot a tense situation.
The underlying message of highly angry people, Dr. Deffenbacher says, is "things oughta go my way!" Angry people tend to feel that they are morally right, that any blocking or changing of their plans is an unbearable indignity and that they should NOT have to suffer this way. Maybe other people do, but not them!
When you feel that urge, he suggests, picture yourself as a god or goddess, a supreme ruler, who owns the streets and stores and office space, striding alone and having your way in all situations while others defer to you. The more detail you can get into your imaginary scenes, the more chances you have to realize that maybe you are being unreasonable; you'll also realize how unimportant the things you're angry about really are. There are two cautions in using humor. First, don't try to just "laugh off" your problems; rather, use humor to help yourself face them more constructively. Second, don't give in to harsh, sarcastic humor; that's just another form of unhealthy anger expression.
What these techniques have in common is a refusal to take yourself too seriously. Anger is a serious emotion, but it's often accompanied by ideas that, if examined, can make you laugh.
Changing Your Environment
Sometimes it's our immediate surroundings that give us cause for irritation and fury. Problems and responsibilities can weigh on you and make you feel angry at the "trap" you seem to have fallen into and all the people and things that form that trap.
Give yourself a break. Make sure you have some "personal time" scheduled for times of the day that you know are particularly stressful. One example is the working mother who has a standing rule that when she comes home from work, for the first 15 minutes "nobody talks to Mom unless the house is on fire." After this brief quiet time, she feels better prepared to handle demands from her kids without blowing up at them.
Some Other Tips for Easing Up on Yourself
Timing: If you and your spouse tend to fight when you discuss things at night-perhaps you're tired, or distracted, or maybe it's just habit-try changing the times when you talk about important matters so these talks don't turn into arguments.
Avoidance: If your child's chaotic room makes you furious every time you walk by it, shut the door. Don't make yourself look at what infuriates you. Don't say, "well, my child should clean up the room so I won't have to be angry!" That's not the point. The point is to keep yourself calm.
Finding alternatives: If your daily commute through traffic leaves you in a state of rage and frustration, give yourself a project-learn or map out a different route, one that's less congested or more scenic. Or find another alternative, such as a bus or commuter train.
Do You Need Counseling?
If you feel that your anger is really out of control, if it is having an impact on your relationships and on important parts of your life, you might consider counseling to learn how to handle it better. A psychologist or other licensed mental health professional can work with you in developing a range of techniques for changing your thinking and your behavior.
When you talk to a prospective therapist, tell her or him that you have problems with anger that you want to work on, and ask about his or her approach to anger management. Make sure this isn't only a course of action designed to "put you in touch with your feelings and express them"-that may be precisely what your problem is. With counseling, psychologists say, a highly angry person can move closer to a middle range of anger in about 8 to 10 weeks, depending on the circumstances and the techniques used.
What About Assertiveness Training?
It's true that angry people need to learn to become assertive (rather than aggressive), but most books and courses on developing assertiveness are aimed at people who don't feel enough anger. These people are more passive and acquiescent than the average person; they tend to let others walk all over them. That isn't something that most angry people do. Still, these books can contain some useful tactics to use in frustrating situations.
Remember, you can't eliminate anger-and it wouldn't be a good idea if you could. In spite of all your efforts, things will happen that will cause you anger; and sometimes it will be justifiable anger. Life will be filled with frustration, pain, loss, and the unpredictable actions of others. You can't change that; but you can change the way you let such events affect you. Controlling your angry responses can keep them from making you even more unhappy in the long run.
~tasha~
Age: 124
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Food and cancer ------------------
CANCER : Not all cancers are the same. 1/3 is curable. 1/3 is preventable.
2 factors of cancer that cannot be controlled are AGE & FAMILY HISTORY.
CAUSES OF CANCER:
1. Smoking is very often the main cause of cancer.
It kills us silently and drains money from us quietly. There?re 4,000 harmful chemicals (though in diluted form) in one stick of cigarette. Taking one puff is 600 times worse than inhaling exhaust fumes from vehicles.
2. Some foods that cause cancer is :
a. Barbecued Food
b. Deep Fried Food
c. Overheating Meat
d. Food that is high in fat causes our bile to secrete acid that contains a chemical which is a promoter of cancer cells.
e. Food that contains preservatives, too much salt or nitrates, e.g. canned food, salted egg & veggies, sausages, etc.
f. Overnight Rice (where Aflatoxin is accumulated)
g. Food that is low in fibre : Our body needs 25gm of both soluble & insoluble fibre daily. We must drink at least 1.5 litres of plain water a day.
h. Contaminated Food (e.g. moulded bread causes our body to secrete toxins that may eventually lead to liver cancer in the long run. Never eat bread that is kept in room temperature for more than 2 days especially in a humid weather.)
3. Types of fat and which is the best?
Highly Recommended for Health :
a. Olive Oil - It does not absorb in our body.
b. Fish Oil - Omega 3 (contained in NI?s Circulytes) has poly-unsaturated fat. It?s good for our brain cells.
c. Peanut Oil - It contains Vitamin E. A small dosage is recommended only.
4. Not Recommended for Health
a. Vegetable Fat - Palm oil is worse than coconut oil. It is high in cholesterol and highly unsaturated.
b. Coconut Oil - It has saturated fat.
5. Specific Food & Beverages
a. Egg when eaten too much can cause High Colon Cancer, Risk Ovary Cancer, Prostate Cancer.
b. Cabbage is highly recommended for health reason.
c. Tomato is best eaten raw with a bit of olive oil for better absorption. Other alternative is to take tomato sauce.
d. Coffee is good because it contains 2 anti- oxidants. Inhale coffee aroma for half each day is equivalent to eating 2 oranges a day. However, the residue of over-burned coffee is extremely bad for health. It can cause cancer.
e. Tea, as long as it is in its original tealeaves and not processed into BOH or Lipton packets, it is good for health. Tea contains 30 anti-oxidants. Recommended dosage is cups a day.
EXERCISE AND BE FIT
Have a balanced lifestyle. Exercise regularly.
F : Frequency : 3 to 5 times a week.
I : Intensity : Exercise till we sweat and breath deeply.
T : Types of exercises : Find one that suits our age, lifestyle?
HAVE REGULAR CHECK-UP once we reach the age of 45 & above, it is recommended that we go for regular comprehensive health examination. Early detection may save lives.
~tasha~
Age: 124
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How much water do you need a day? -------------------------------------
Water is an important structural component of skin cartilage, tissues and organs. For human beings, every part of the body is dependent on water. Our body comprises about 75% water: the brain has 85%, blood is 90%, muscles are 75%, kidney is 82% and bones are 22% water. The functions of our glands and organs will eventually deteriorate if they are not nourished with good, clean water.
The average adult loses about 2.5 litres water daily through perspiration, breathing and elimination. Symptoms of the body's deterioration begins to appear when the body loses 5% of its total water volume. In a healthy adult, this is seen as fatigue and general discomfort, whereas for an infant, it can be dehydrating. In an elderly person, a 5% water loss causes the body chemistry to become abnormal, especially if the percentage of electrolytes is overbalanced with sodium.One can usually see symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles, lethargy and even disorientation. Continuous water loss over time will speed up aging as well as increase risks of diseases.
If your body is not sufficiently hydrated, the cells will draw water from your bloodstream, which will make your heart work harder. At the same time, the kidneys cannot purify blood effectively. When this happens, some of the kidney's workload is passed on to the liver and other organs, which may cause them to be severely stressed. Additionally, you may develop a number of minor health conditions such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nosebleeds, urinary tract infection, coughs, sneezing, sinus pressure, and headaches.
So, how much water is enough for you? The minimum amount of water you need depends on your body weight. A more accurate calculation, is to drink an ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight.
~tasha~
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EVERY NUTRIENTS -------------------
How to meet your daily dietary needs.
Many people know vitamins may help reduce the risk of some diseases. But not many know which vitamins they need or how to determine if they're consuming sufficient quantities of needed nutrients.
"Although research has shown the benefits of vitamins and minerals in a healthful diet, the way to get these nutrients may not necessarily be in a vitamin or mineral supplement," says Bobby Montgomery, an exercise physiologist.
Often, you can consume the small amounts of vitamins and minerals you need by choosing a wide variety of foods.
RECOMMENDED DIET
According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), a balanced diet includes:
Bread and grains: 6 to 11 serving per day
One serving equals one slice of bread, 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal or ½ cup of cooked cereal, rice or pasta.
Vegetables: 3 to 5 servings per day
One serving equals 1 cup of raw, leafy vegetables; ½ cup of vegetable, cooked or chopped raw; or ¾ cup of vegetable juice.
Milk, yogurt and cheese: 2 to 3 serving per day
One serving equals 1 cup of milk of yogurt, 1½ ounces of natural cheese or 2 ounces of processed cheese.
Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts: 2 to 3 serving per day
One serving equals 2 or 3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry or fish; 1 cup of cooked dry beans; 2 eggs; and 2/3 cup nuts.
PEOPLE IN NEED
Some people can benefit from taking a supplement in addition to eating a healthful diet, According to the ADA, a vitamin supplement may be helpful if you fit any of the following profiles:
c You frequently skip meals or don't eat enough fruits, vegetables, grain and dairy products
c You're on a low-calories diet
c You're a strict vegetarian
c You can't drink milk or eat yogurt
c You're a woman of childbearing age and don't eat fruits and vegetables
c You are pregnant
IF you believe you should take vitamin supplements, "It's important you first talk with your doctor or dietitian to make sure you are not taking more or less than you need and that none of the supplements could cause an interaction with medications you take or conditions you have," says Montgomery.
TAKING SUPPLEMENTS
To help you take supplements safely, remember:
Self-prescribing mega doses of individual vitamin or mineral supplements can be more harmful than helpful
Supplements can never take the place of a healthful diet
"It's also crucial to remember that 'natural' doesn't always mean safe," says Montgomery. "Good health is more than pooping pills. It's about living a healthful lifestyle with a nutritious diet and plenty of exercise."
"Your body also needs other substances found in food, such as protein, minerals, carbohydrates and fat," says Montgomery. "Vitamins themselves often can't work without the presence of other foods."
QUEEN VICTORIA
Age: 124
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What is liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC)?
Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) is a cancer arising from the liver. It is also known as primary liver cancer or hepatoma. The liver is made up of different cell types (for example, bile ducts, blood vessels, and fat-storing cells). However, liver cells (hepatocytes) make up 80% of the liver tissue. Thus, the majority of primary liver cancers (over 90 to 95%) arises from liver cells and is called hepatocellular cancer or carcinoma.
When patients or physicians speak of liver cancer, however, they are often referring to cancer that has spread to the liver, having originated in other organs (such as the colon, stomach, pancreas, breast, and lung). More specifically, this type of liver cancer is called metastatic liver disease (cancer) or secondary liver cancer. Thus, the term liver cancer actually can refer to either metastatic liver cancer or hepatocellular cancer. The subject of this article is hepatocellular carcinoma, which I will refer to as liver cancer.
What is the scope of the liver cancer problem?
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. A deadly cancer, liver cancer will kill almost all patients who have it within a year. In 1990, the World Health Organization estimated that there were about 430,000 new cases of liver cancer worldwide, and a similar number of patients died as a result of this disease. About three quarters of the cases of liver cancer are found in Southeast Asia (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan). Liver cancer is also very common in sub-Saharan Africa (Mozambique and South Africa).
The frequency of liver cancer in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is greater than 20 cases per 100,000 population. In contrast, the frequency of liver cancer in North America and Western Europe is much lower, less than five per 100,000 population. However, the frequency of liver cancer among native Alaskans is comparable to that seen in Southeast Asia. Moreover, recent data show that the frequency of liver cancer in the U.S. overall is rising. This increase is due primarily to chronic hepatitis C, an infection of the liver that causes liver cancer.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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What are the symptoms of liver cancer?
The initial symptoms (the clinical presentations) of liver cancer are variable. In countries where liver cancer is very common, the cancer generally is discovered at a very advanced stage of disease for several reasons. For one thing, areas where there is a high frequency of liver cancer are generally developing countries where access to healthcare is limited. For another, screening examinations for patients at risk for developing liver cancer are not available in these areas. In addition, patients from these regions actually have more aggressive liver cancer disease. In other words, the tumor usually reaches an advanced stage and causes symptoms more rapidly. In contrast, patients in areas of low liver cancer frequency tend to have liver cancer tumors that progress more slowly and, therefore, remain without symptoms longer.
Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of liver cancer and usually signifies a very large tumor or widespread involvement of the liver. Additionally, unexplained weight loss or unexplained fevers are warning signs of liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis. These symptoms are less common in individuals with liver cancer in the U.S. because these patients are usually diagnosed at an earlier stage. However, whenever the overall health of a patient with cirrhosis deteriorates, every effort should be made to look for liver cancer.
A very common initial presentation of liver cancer in a patient with compensated cirrhosis (no complications of liver disease) is the sudden onset of a complication. For example, the sudden appearance of ascites (abdominal fluid and swelling), jaundice (yellow color of the skin), or muscle wasting without causative (precipitating) factors (for example, alcohol consumption) suggests the possibility of liver cancer. What's more, the cancer can invade and block the portal vein (a large vein that brings blood to the liver from the intestine and spleen). When this happens, the blood will travel paths of less resistance, such as through esophageal veins. This causes increased pressure in these veins, which results in dilated (widened) veins called esophageal varices. The patient then is at risk for hemorrhage from the rupture of the varices into the gastrointestinal tract. Rarely, the cancer itself can rupture and bleed into the abdominal cavity, resulting in bloody ascites.
On physical examination, an enlarged, sometimes tender, liver is the most common finding. Liver cancers are very vascular (containing many blood vessels) tumors. Thus, increased amounts of blood feed into the hepatic artery (artery to the liver) and cause turbulent blood flow in the artery. The turbulence results in a distinct sound in the liver (hepatic bruit) that can be heard with a stethoscope in about one quarter to one half of patients with liver cancer. Any sign of advanced liver disease (for example, ascites, jaundice, or muscle wasting) means a poor prognosis. Rarely, a patient with liver cancer can become suddenly jaundiced when the tumor erodes into the bile duct. The jaundice occurs in this situation because both sloughing of the tumor into the duct and bleeding that clots in the duct can block the duct.
In advanced liver cancer, the tumor can spread locally to neighboring tissues or, through the blood vessels, to elsewhere in the body (distant metastasis). Locally, liver cancer can invade the veins that drain the liver (hepatic veins). The tumor can then block these veins, which results in congestion of the liver. The congestion occurs because the blocked veins cannot drain the blood out of the liver. (Normally, the blood in the hepatic veins leaving the liver flows through the inferior vena cava, which is the largest vein that drains into the heart.) In African patients, the tumor frequently blocks the inferior vena cava. Blockage of either the hepatic veins or the inferior vena cava results in a very swollen liver and massive formation of ascites. In some patients, as previously mentioned, the tumor can invade the portal vein and lead to the rupture of esophageal varices.
Regarding the distant metastases, liver cancer frequently spreads to the lungs, presumably by way of the blood stream. Usually, patients do not have symptoms from the lung metastases, which are diagnosed by radiologic (x-ray) studies. Rarely, in very advanced cases, liver cancer can spread to the bone or brain.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine (colon). The colon is the part of the digestive system where waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. In patients with ulcerative colitis, ulcers and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon lead to symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.
Ulcerative colitis is closely related to another condition of inflammation of the intestines called Crohn's disease. Together, they are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseases are chronic conditions that can last years to decades. They affect approximately 500,000 to 2 million people In the United States. Men and women are affected equally. They most commonly begin during adolescence and early adulthood, but they also can begin during childhood and later in life.
It is found worldwide, but is most common in the United States, England, and northern Europe. It is especially common in people of Jewish descent. Ulcerative colitis is rarely seen in Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America, and is rare in the black population. For unknown reasons, an increased frequency of this condition has been recently observed in developing nations.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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What Causes Ulcerative Colitis?
The causes of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are unknown. To date, there has been no convincing evidence that these two diseases are caused by infection. Neither disease is contagious.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are caused by abnormal activation of the immune system in the intestines. The immune system is composed of immune cells and the proteins that these cells produce. These cells and proteins serve to defend the body against harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other foreign invaders. Activation of the immune system causes inflammation within the tissues where the activation occurs. (Inflammation is, in fact, an important mechanism of defense used by the immune system.) Normally, the immune system is activated only when the body is exposed to harmful invaders. In patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, however, the immune system is abnormally and chronically activated in the absence of any known invader. The continued abnormal activation of the immune systems causes chronic inflammation and ulceration. The susceptibility to abnormal activation of the immune system is genetically inherited. First degree relatives (brothers, sisters, children, and parents) of patients with IBD are thus more likely to develop these diseases.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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What are the Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?
Common symptoms of ulcerative colitis include rectal bleeding and diarrhea, but there is a wide range of symptoms among patients with this disease. Variability of symptoms reflects differences in the extent of disease (the amount of the colon and rectum that are inflamed) and the intensity of inflammation. Generally, patients with inflammation confined to the rectum and a short segment of the colon adjacent to the rectum have milder symptoms and a better prognosis than patients with more widespread inflammation of the colon. The different types of ulcerative colitis are classified according to the location and the extent of inflammation:
Ulcerative proctitis refers to inflammation that is limited to the rectum. In many patients with ulcerative proctitis, mild intermittent rectal bleeding may be the only symptom. Other patients with more severe rectal inflammation may, in addition, experience rectal pain, urgency (sudden feeling of having to defecate and a need to rush to the bathroom for fear of soiling), and tenesmus (ineffective, painful urge to move one's bowels). Proctosigmoiditis involves inflammation of the rectum and the sigmoid colon (a short segment of the colon contiguous to the rectum). Symptoms of proctosigmoiditis, like that of proctitis, include rectal bleeding, urgency, and tenesmus. Some patients with proctosigmoiditis also develop bloody diarrhea and cramps. Left–sided colitis involves inflammation that starts at the rectum and extends up the left colon (sigmoid colon and the descending colon). Symptoms of left–sided colitis include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, and left–sided abdominal pain. Pancolitis or universal colitis refers to inflammation affecting the entire colon (right colon, left colon, transverse colon and the rectum). Symptoms of pancolitis include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and night sweats. Some patients with pancolitis have low–grade inflammation and mild symptoms that respond readily to medications. Generally, however, patients with pancolitis suffer more severe disease and are more difficult to treat than those with more limited forms of ulcerative colitis. Fulminant colitis is a rare but severe form of pancolitis. Patients with fulminant colitis are extremely ill with dehydration, severe abdominal pain, protracted diarrhea with bleeding, and even shock. They are at risk of developing toxic megacolon (marked dilatation of the colon due to severe inflammation) and colon rupture (perforation). Patients with fulminant colitis and toxic megacolon are treated in the hospital with potent intravenous medications. Unless they respond to treatment promptly, surgical removal of the diseased colon is necessary to prevent colon rupture. While the intensity of colon inflammation in ulcerative colitis waxes and wanes over time, the location and the extent of disease in a patient generally stays constant. Therefore, when a patient with ulcerative proctitis develops a relapse of his disease, the inflammation usually is confined to the rectum. Nevertheless, a small number of patients (less than 10%) with ulcerative proctitis or proctosigmoiditis can later develop more extensive colitis. Thus, patients who initially only have ulcerative proctitis can later develop left–sided colitis or even pancolitis.
QUEEN VICTORIA
Age: 124
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Cosmetic Procedures: Treating Aging Skin New innovations in skin rejuvenation continue to develop, ranging from topically applied "cosmeceuticals" to new surgical techniques. A thorough understanding of how your skin changes as you age and how the sun affects your skin can help you decide with your doctor what treatment is best.
How Can I Maintain Healthy Skin? The best way to keep skin healthy is to avoid sun exposure beginning early in life. Here are some other tips:
Do not sunbathe or visit tanning parlors and try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you are in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. always wear protective clothing–such as a hat, long-sleeved shirt, and sunglasses. Put on sunscreen lotion before going out in the sun to help protect your skin from UV light. Remember to reapply the lotion as needed. Always use products that are SPF (sun protection factor) 15 or higher. It is also important to choose broad spectrum products that privde both UVB and UVA protection. Check your skin often for signs of skin cancer. If there are changes that worry you, call the doctor right away. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that older, fair-skinned people have a yearly skin check by a doctor as part of a regular physical check-up. Relieve dry skin problems by using a humidifier at home, bathing with soap less often (use a moisturizing body wash instead), and using a moisturizing lotion. If this doesn't work, see your doctor. What are the Treatment Options for Aging Skin? The doctor's palette of resurfacing options continues to expand. In patients with early skin aging changes, nonsurgical treatment methods such as tretinoin, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids may provide satisfactory improvement. Chemical peels, dermabrasion and laserabrasion may be used alone or in combination with other surgical procedures to treat moderate to severe degrees of facial photodamage.
Deeper facial lines may be treated with botulinum toxin or soft tissue enhancement, including collagen, autologous fat, and Goretex implants. Patients with more sagging, excess skin may benefit from additional procedures such as a facelift, browlift, or blepharoplasty (surgical reconstruction of the eyelid). Treatment must be individualized according to the patient's facial characteristics and cosmetic concerns.
Here is more detail about some of the more popular treatment options:
QUEEN VICTORIA
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Chemical peels. Chemical peels are effective for removing fine lines and smoothing out the skin. Chemical peels remove the upper surface of the skin to expose newer, clearer skin. After the upper layers of the skin have been removed, a new layer of skin develops. Chemical peels can be used in areas, such as around the eye and mouth, that are not improved by a facelift. Depending on the patient's skin type and degree of sun damage, a superficial, medium or deep chemical peel may be the appropriate treatment. Dermabrasion. Dermabrasion removes lines and some scarring and can be used to treat moderate to severe photodamage (sun damage). In dermabrasion, the doctor sands away the top layer of skin, thus it has similar side effects and complications as medium to deep chemical peels. However, because of the bleeding associated with dermabrasion and variations in skill and technique, the control of wounding is not as accurate as with current resurfacing technology. Dermabrasion is not done on the thin skin around the eyes. Care must also be taken when dermabrading the skin around the mouth. Laser resurfacing. In the past few years, the development of high-energy lasers has enhanced physicians' ability to improve photoaged skin, various types of scars and other dermatologic conditions. The precise depth control and ability to treat large areas in a relatively short amount of time makes these lasers valuable tools. Before laser resurfacing is performed, your doctor will discuss with you other treatment options, what to expect during recovery, how to take care of your skin after the procedure, and possible side effects and complications. Camouflage makeup suggestions will also be discussed.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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Skin Conditions: Nail Problems Nail Fungus Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a condition that occurs when a microscopic fungus enters either a fingernail or toenail. Fungal infections occur in toenails more often than in fingernails.
Anyone can get nail fungus, but infections are more common in people over the age of 60. Nail fungus is especially common in people with diabetes or circulation problems. For people who have diabetes or a weakened immune system, nail fungus can present serious risks.
What Causes Nail Fungus? Usually, nail fungus occurs when fungus enters the nail through a small trauma (cut or break) in the nail. Nail fungus is not caused by poor hygiene. Nail fungus can be spread from person to person. If you notice an infected nail, don't pick at it or even trim it, as both of these activities can cause the fungus to spread. It may be hard to determine exactly where or how a fungal infection is obtained. However, a warm, wet place (for example, a locker room) is a good place for a fungus to grow.
What Are the Symptoms of Nail Fungus? A nail fungus infection can make your nails thick and discolored. Uncommonly, you may feel pain in your toes or fingertips.
How Is Nail Fungus Diagnosed? Your doctor may be able to tell if you have a nail fungus infection by looking carefully at your nails. He or she may scrape some tissue from your nail and send it to a lab in order to determine for certain what kind of infection you have.
How Is Nail Fungus Treated? Treatment may include topical creams or oral medications (antifungal drugs), but topical antifungal agents may only help treat very mild cases. Rarely, surgery may be required. Removal of the infected nail can be performed to permit direct application of a topical antifungal.
Toenail infections are more difficult to treat than fingernail infections because the toenail grows more slowly. In addition, a damp, warm environment of a shoe or boot can encourage fungal growth.
QUEEN VICTORIA
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How Can I Prevent Getting Nail Fungus? Avoid walking barefoot in public areas, such as locker rooms Keep the inside of your shoes dry and change your socks frequently (100% cotton socks are recommended) Wear proper fitting shoes (shoes with a wide toe area and ones that don't press your toes) Use absorbent or antifungal powder Ingrown Toenails Ingrown toenails can occur when the corner or side of the nail grows into the flesh of the toe. In many cases, ingrown nails occur in the big toe. The end result of this common condition is pain, redness and swelling. Infection can occur in some cases.
What Causes Ingrown Toenails? Some common causes of ingrown toenail include cutting the nails too short or not straight across, injury to the toenail, and wearing shoes that crowd the toenails.
How Can Ingrown Toenails Be Treated? In mild cases, ingrown toenails may be treated with a 15-20-minute soak in warm water. Dry cotton can be placed under the corner of the nail. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing increasing pain, swelling and drainage of the area. Minor surgery can be performed to remove the part of the nail that is poking into the skin.
How Can Ingrown Toenails Be Prevented? You can prevent ingrown toenails by:
Wearing shoes that fit properly Keeping your toenails at a moderate length and trimming them straight across Wearing protective footwear
