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bookmark_borderSleep Apnea Diagnosed

Posted on by Tim Warren

Sleep specialists are doctors who have undergone comprehensive training and additional education in the field of sleep medicine. Sleep apnea doctors are pulmonologists (lungs), neurologists (brain), otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat), psychiatrists (mental health) or family physicians.

Getting a good night’s sleep plays in an important role in our overall health and longevity of our lives. It is highly recommended, if you have irregular sleep patterns, to see a sleep doctor as soon as possible. Getting bad or inefficient sleep can compound through your life taking years away. There are also many health risks involved in getting troubled sleep such as; Cardiovascular disease, (People involved in the study who slept five or less hours per day had a two times higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those who slept seven hours) increased risk of stroke, bad sleep is linked to diabetes, it can Weaken the body’s antibody, Increasing the desire to eat fatty Foods, increase stress levels, and aging.

Test/Diagnosis

After your doctor has referred you to a Sleep Specialist there will be a number of tests he can perform based on your symptoms. Here are 2 common tests Sleep Specialists perform:

  • Nocturnal polysomnography.While you Sleep you are hooked up to equipment that will monitor all your bio signs including your lung activity, brain activity,breathing patterns, muscle twitches, arm and leg movements, heart activity, as well as your blood oxygen levels.
  • Portable monitoring devices.When the circumstances are not drastic, often times a doctor will prescribe a simplified device that you can take home to diagnose Sleep Apnea. Typically, this will measure your heart rate, blood oxygen, airflow and breathing. Common symptoms of sleep apnea in this tests will show drops and rises in your oxygen level during apneas and awakenings. If you have obvious abnormal results a doctor may immediately choose therapy without further tests.

Treatment

There are many treatments that only require simple lifestyle changes. There are also many holistic approaches to Sleep apnea. Generally these are used for mild cases of sleep apnea. More severe cases may require surgery, oral appliances or a CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) mask. If you have any concerns with your sleeping patterns or are not getting enough sleep, talk to your doctor about it right away. Getting great sleep can change the way you live your life.

bookmark_borderMacular Degeneration

Posted on by Tim Warren

Macular degeneration is a deterioration of the macula. The macula is at the center of the retina. The retina is the part of the eye that sends visual images to the brain so a person can see. This damage to the macula results in blind spots, blurry or distorted vision. This disease is one of the major visual disease in the United States.

There is not a lot known about macular degeneration. What is known, however is that it is closely linked with aging. There has also been a link found between the disease and a gene variant called complement factor H or CFH. Macular degeneration has two forms: dry or wet. Dry or non-nonvascular macular degeneration is the most common and occurs in 85% to 90% of diagnosis. Wet or nonvascular macular degeneration is a rarer form that results in the worst vision impairments. It is thought that the dry form is caused by thinning of the tissue in the macula. The wet form may be caused by leakage of blood and fluid into the retina.

Since little is known about what exactly causes macular degeneration it is hard to prevent it, but there are some guidelines that have been developed on risk factors that may contribute to the disease. The following list is of those risk factors.

  • smoking
  • age
  • gender (women are at more of a risk)
  • family history
  • high cholesterol
  • race (Caucasians are at more of a risk)
  • exposure to ultraviolet light (less is better)

These are just factors that have been studied and shown to play a part in increasing the risk of developing the disease.

bookmark_borderReasons for Blurry Vision

Posted on by Tim Warren

The easiest way to get blurry vision is to walk around without your glasses on. This may sound stupid, but lots of people refuse to go to the eye doctors and get their eyes checked or re-checked. The result: blurry vision.

You can also get blurry vision from consuming too much alcohol or taking illegal drugs. I’m sure most of you have had a few too many beers and had your vision go wacko as a result. I’m also sure that none of you have ever done illegal drugs, so you wouldn’t have any first hand experience with blurry vision because of it. Guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.

If you have high blood pressure you may experience some blurry vision. This is explained in depth in the articles on high blood pressure found on at our site.

Blurry vision can also be a result of over exerting yourself. For instance, if you go jogging and push your body to the limits, it’s only a matter of time before you aren’t getting enough oxygen to fuel your body and so your vision may blur.

If you have a cold or viral infection you may get blurry vision in short doses. If your body is fighting off an infection of some type, it saps your resources and sometimes you end up with blurry vision. It could also be secondary to allergy symptoms.

Some prescription drugs have the added bonus of giving you blurry vision. If you are experiencing blurry vision from a prescription drug, you might want to consult your doctor. They may change your prescription to one that doesn’t give you blurry vision.

I suffer from migraine head aches occasionally. Often, when I’m suffering from one of these episodes, I get blurry vision.

You may experience blurry vision at steep altitudes. I’m sure that most of you don’t mountain climb so you will never have to worry about this side effect. You never know for sure though, so I thought I’d add it in for good measure.

I’m also afraid of heights. If I’m up high (high for me may not be high for you. Anything over ten feet is a major accomplishment for me. I’m such a wimp.) I tend to get blurry vision. Funny how the body works. I’m afraid of heights because I don’t want to fall, so naturally my body gives me blurry vision. Who says nature doesn’t make mistakes?

Sometimes blurry vision could be a symptom of a more serious health problem. If you suffer from blurry vision frequently, you should see a doctor and get checked out. Perhaps, you might also think about seeing your friendly neighbourhood eye doctor for good measure.

bookmark_borderIs a Contact Lens Subscription Service Right for You?

Posted on by Tim Warren

For many people, the invention of contact lenses was all about freedom. It’s the freedom to get perfect vision without having to wear glasses. In fact, as long as you manage to find a comfortable set of contacts, you may actually forget you’re wearing them, and forget that you need corrective lenses at all!

Royalty Free Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-human-eye-2953811/

Contacts also make it possible for you to wear your favorite sunglasses without needing prescription lenses in them, your peripheral vision works great, you can swim with them on (just make sure to wear a good set of goggles), and they basically don’t interfere with life. Pretty much the only time you give thought to them is when it’s time to replace the current set you’re wearing. But not to worry, as your convenience has been thought about once again, and now there are contact lens subscription services that exist, which will ensure you are never without a fresh pair.

Curious as to whether this type of service is right for you? Let’s take a closer look.

No Need to Head into a Store

Where these subscription services really shine is in the convenience factor. There is never a need to head to a store to order more pairs, nor do you even have to order any online before you run out. The way a subscription service works is that you are automatically sent fresh lenses to your front door on a set basis. It takes the responsibility off your plate, and you don’t even have to remember to stay on top of ordering refills.

It Keeps the Cost Low on a Month-to-Month Basis

The way it traditionally works when you purchase contacts is you buy a one-year supply. What this means is that you need to pay a fair amount of money at one time. Meanwhile, with a subscription service, the cost is spread out, so you are paying monthly rather than one lump sum for the year. A typical subscription service comes out to around $35 per month.

Choose From a Few Different Companies

There is also the fact that this convenience is really starting to catch on, so consumers now have options. The top contenders in the arena are Hubble, Waldo, and Sightbox, each of which offers its own list of benefits to consumers. Hubble and Waldo follow the model listed above, but SightBox has found its own unique angle.

With SightBox, they are the ones who will pay for your visit with a local optometrist in order to have an eye exam and get a proper contact fitting. SightBox then uses that information to curate what you need and then deliver it to you monthly. SightBox can range from $39-$89 per month, depending on what kind of lenses you pick. There are dailies, bi-weeklies, and monthly lenses available. You can also apply your insurance coverage to the rate, if applicable.

You can read an informed and in-depth Hubble, SightBox and Waldo contacts review on the Fin vs Fin blog. The blog takes a look at the pros and cons of each service, so you can find one that is ideal for your needs.

Ensuring You are Well-Stocked

So, while a subscription service for your contact lenses may seem new and a bit confusing at first, the more you peel away the layers and dig through the information, the more convenient it looks.

bookmark_borderModern Screens Can Hurt Your Eyes

Posted on by Tim Warren

Well you can start by paying attention to how close you are to the computer screen and making sure you are working in adequate lighting. If not you could be exacerbating the problem. For those who are already working very close to the computer screens, they need to realize that this can damage the eyes, as there is an energy field, which comes out from the modern day computer screens.

Any chance on suing for this problem if your eyes are damaged? Probably not as the companies, which make the screens are not US based and are contract companies making components for the larger companies or name brands who sell the computers.

The fact is it is your responsibility as a computer user to be careful with your eyes and to make sure you are using the equipment properly. Remember you only have one pair of eyes and if you ruin them or damage them really badly now, there may not be a way to repair them anytime soon with modern technologies.

bookmark_borderTragic Outcomes of Cancer Failure to Diagnose

Posted on by Tim Warren

In order for a medical malpractice case to exist when a doctor fails to diagnose an ailment, the patient must be seriously injured or killed. Thus, there are countless instances in which a doctor may fail to diagnose a disorder or disease but it is generally only very severe and fast moving ailments that lead to medical malpractice lawsuits. One of the most common types of failure to diagnose lawsuits happens when a doctor fails to diagnose cancer.

Fast moving cancers oftentimes require early detection and rapid treatment in order to be curable. If a doctor sees a patient who complains of certain signs and symptoms that are indicative of a certain type of cancer and he or she sends the patient home with a clean bill of health or with a diagnosis of a less-serious ailment, it may be weeks or months before the cancer is formally diagnosed. At this point, if the cancer has metastasized, it may be too late to begin treatment.

Any health care professional that is legally allowed to formally diagnose a patient can be sued for this form of medical malpractice. These medical professionals include:

  • Doctors
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Dentists

Even if one of these medical professionals believes that cancer is not present, it is still his or her responsibility to continue with the appropriate testing until cancer can be ruled out completely.

bookmark_borderWays To Prevent Your Liver From Wrecking

Posted on by Tim Warren
  • Watch Your Alcohol Intake: The liver is an important body organ that performs vital functions and alcohol has the power to damage some of its cells after the filtration of the alcohol every time. Therefore, you should say “No” to it, or at least you can limit its quantity to prevent a number of liver diseases.
  • Say Yes To More And More Glasses Of Water: Water is important to keep the liver healthy and ensure its smooth functioning. It’ll help to flush the bad toxins out of your body and filter it properly, which ensure its good health. Thus, you should have water on a regular basis in an adequate quantity, as per your body type. It’ll not only prevent a number of liver diseases, but also keeps you healthy.
  • Get Moving: If you are the one whose miles away from the exercise, so, it’s high time to incorporate it into your lifestyle. You should do some sort of exercise on a regular basis to keep your body moving. It is not only good for your muscles or bones, but also keeps your liver healthy and away from a number of diseases or infections.
  • Have A Balanced Diet: It is always good to watch out what you are having, as it plays a vital role in making or breaking the health of your liver. You should moderate your diet accordingly to ensure that all you are having doesn’t leave any wrong impact on your liver or overall body.

bookmark_borderStay Fit and Healthy in Ramadan

Posted on by Tim Warren

Eat Fruit and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and veggies make a great snack. In fact, they are a great alternative to the junk food we consume on a regular basis. Ideally, you should opt for fruits and veggies that are full of water, such as pumpkins, squash, melons, and cucumber, to name a few.

Don’t have Processed Foods

It’s a good idea to stay away from processed foods, such as white flour and sugar. They contain a small number of nutrients and a lot of fat.

Eat Slowly

You may have the urge to eat a lot at Iftar, but this is not going to be good for your health. So, it’s better if you slow down while eating.

You can eat a few dates and then have some water. Dates are full of energy and they help your digestive system as well. After having some dates, you can have some lukewarm soup.

Your meals shouldn’t contain a lot of heavy oils and fats. Ideally, you should have some veggies to meet your need for protein and carbs.

Stay Hydrated

Make sure you have a minimum of 8 cups of water on a daily basis in Ramadan. Staying away from sugary drinks like Hibiscus and Tamarind is a good idea. While milk, soup, and juices can help you stay hydrated, know that nothing can take the place of water. So, it’s better to have small quantities of other drinks.

Avoid Caffeinated Drinks

As far as keeping hydrated is concerned, caffeine is the worst thing you can have in Ramadan. So, it’s better to avoid drinks like colas, coffee, and strong tea.

Avoid Deep-Frying

Deep-fried foods are no good either. In other words, it’s better to avoid foods that have a lot of oil in them. If you want to have them anyway, make sure you use as little oil as possible. For instance, you can use half a cup instead of one full cup of oil.

Also, it’s a good idea to opt for monounsaturated fats like corn oil, canola, and sunflowers. Don’t go for olive oil either.

bookmark_borderInfo of Diagnosing Pre-Diabetes

Posted on by Tim Warren

Pre-diabetes usually affects people over 45, who are overweight or obese, have experienced gestational diabetes (a condition affecting women during pregnancy and that usually disappears after the child’s birth), have high blood pressure, a high cholesterol level or a genetic predisposition of developing this condition. If you are in any of these cases or have symptoms that lead you to believe you may develop diabetes, you should see a doctor right away and make a test which can determine whether or not you have diabetes.

There are two types of test you can perform. If you choose a fasting plasma glucose test, you should know that glucose levels between 99 and 124 mg/dl are considered pre diabetes, while higher levels will indicate the presence of diabetes. Blood glucose levels between 140 and 199 mg/dl, with an oral glucose tolerance test, are considered pre diabetes; higher levels indicate the presence of diabetes.

The symptoms for diabetes are numerous; you may experience part or none of them. They vary between excessive thirst and hunger, sudden weight loss, blurry vision, nausea and vomiting, increased urination, fatigue or abdominal pain. A diabetes test will help you determine whether or not you should be worried; but keep in mind that if you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, you will most likely be able to keep it under control with the aid of a rigorous lifestyle.

The treatment you will be prescribed will probably help you to maintain glucose levels around a normal level. The treatment prescribed to you by the doctor will have improved effects if you also change your eating habits and start having a healthy diet, low in carbohydrates and fat food.

Besides healthy eating habits, exercise will also help; it will keep you fit, as well as contributing to your overall health and increase your immune system. If you have weight problems, it is probably a good idea to loose a few pounds, as there is a great risk for overweight patients to develop diabetes in time. Diabetes and pre-diabetes could also lead to numerous other health problems and complications, such as heart or kidney failure, loss of vision and numerous other serious conditions, some of which may prove lethal.

bookmark_borderRebuild Your Vision

Posted on by Tim Warren

Eyes can become stressed and strained, needing natural exercises that improve tension in this area. Adults and children alike can benefit from improving the health of their vision. Orthoptics in particular is the use of eye exercises and vision therapy to improve the vision of children. These are individualized per child and can prevent a child from the necessity of glasses or eye surgery. An example being covering one eye to look at a certain object with the other, hopefully forcing this eye to focus and strengthen. These types of exercises are often made into a game to keep the child entertained and attentive. Other such treatments can include the use of patches and eye drops. Syntonics is another type of vision therapy that involves colored lights being directed into the eyes. The color is dependent on the type of eye disorder experienced.

It is growing increasingly popular to correct refractive errors such as astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness with eye exercises. Although doctors generally do not endorse them, there are many kits and books on the market aimed at people with poor eyesight who wish to rebuild their vision in the comfort of their own without having to resort to more serious and long-term measures.

The Bates Method is a program that aims to correct bad vision habits using relaxation techniques, games and other exercises. This program was created by the ophthalmologist William Bates, M.D., who claimed that it could improve eye sight, reverse ocular disorders and rebuild the vision by decreasing strain and restoring good habits within the eye. Many people claim to have been aided by the aforementioned methods but there are still controversial due to an absence of proven facts. The theories of the Bates method have been frequently contradicted however his exercises included covering the eyes with the palms so that the eye would see total black and be relieved of excess strain. Exposing the closed eyes to sunlight and avoiding staring were also advocated by Bates methods and claimed to increase vision health.

bookmark_borderPhotochromic Lenses

Posted on by Tim Warren

Photochromic lenses are clear lenses that react with UV and produce a tint effect based on the amount of UV present.

When wearing Photochromic lenses even a dull day some reaction will occur producing a very pale tint and then on a very bright day where more UV is present they will turn quite dark. When wearing them indoors they will become clear.

The idea behind photochromic lenses is that they will provide the correct amount of protection for the varying light conditions you experience. However, when driving, your car windscreen will block a certain amount of UV which is required to make the lens react so they will not work as well as they would outside of the car.

Transitions are available in Standard Plastic, Poly Carbonate, 1.6 and 1.67 Lenses. They are the fastest reacting lens on the market and will react into sunglasses within 30 seconds. However, they will take longer than that to go clear again when you go inside.

Reactolite is a brand name given to a Glass photochromic lens. They do not react as well as the transitions and are much heavier to wear. However, one good thing about glass reactolite is that they work much better behind a car windscreen than the transitions do. (If only we could have the best of both worlds.)

In most cases the Transitions lens is the preferred option due to the over all comfort and performance.

Photocromic lenses are ideal in the sense that they can save you having to purchase two pairs of glasses ie, Clear glasses and a pair of Sunglasses. However, many people who wear transitions also have a cheaper tinted pair just to use in the car.

bookmark_borderTips For A Healthy Old Age

Posted on by Tim Warren
  • Eat Healthy Food
    The majority of adults consume more than double the daily sodium intake than recommended, which can lead to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Most of this high sodium intake comes from food and packaged foods.
    Tips: Eat nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods. Avoid sweet, salty foods, and packaged or processed foods. Remember that everyone has different dietary needs, follow your doctor’s advice on dietary restrictions.
  • Maintain Your Brain
    One in eight older adults (age> 65 years) in the United States and some other countries suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, whereas some cognitive decline is a normal part of aging. Studies have shown that lifestyles that stimulate cognitive stimulation through active learning will slow down cognitive decline.
    Tip: Never stop learning and challenge your mind. Take dance lessons, learn a new language, attend a lecture at a local university, learn to play a musical instrument, or read a book, for Muslims to try to memorize the Qur’an.
  • Build Social Relationships
    Nearly 30% of parents who live alone and live alone feel the loneliness of the heavy. Changes in life such as retirement, health problems, or loss of spouse, can lead to social isolation.
    Tips: Always keep in touch with your family and friends, especially after experiencing significant life changes. Schedule regular time to meet friends and family over tea, eat together once a week, or do other activities together. Invite other friends who may feel lonely or isolated.
  • Enough Sleep
    Humans can be more resilient with no food than without sleep. Parents need as much sleep as other adults, seven to nine hours per night. Sleep deprivation can lead to depression, irritability, increased risk of falling, and memory problems.
    Tips: Create a regular schedule to sleep. Keep your bedroom dark and free of noise when sleeping, avoid watching television or playing internet while in bed. Stay away from drinking coffee at night.

bookmark_borderThings to Know Before Hip Replacement

Posted on by Tim Warren

Who is the right candidate for hip replacement surgery?

There are plenty of reasons as to why people develop problems in their hips. The most common among them are injuries, or osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis that can cause premature deterioration of the hip joints. A persons’ age is never considered to be of much importance as far as their health state is concerned when it comes to having a hip replacement surgery. Well, in this procedure, the most successful people are those who do not wait until the joint deterioration is far too advanced.

What is the recovery period?

Every individual is different, but commonly, a hip replacement involves a 3-5 days hospital, and an approximately 3-6 month recovery period is required. Time frames depend upon overall health and on rehabilitation guidelines.

Do any complications arise during hip replacement surgery?

Today’s modern day surgical techniques, when combined with advanced artificial joint components exceptionally, reduced the likelihood of complications. The dislocation of joints remains one of the standard problems. Fake hip patients are advised to avoid certain positions of leg and movements during the rehabilitation period to help lower the risk of dislocation.

What exercises have to be done by the patient?

Once the rehabilitation process has started, a hip replacement beneficiary will need to perform some exercises to avoid stiffness and increase flexibility. Mostly, people who had very limited movability found that being able to exercise after mobility of hip joint will improve their overall health. Low impact movements and activities are best.

Any other alternatives to the surgery?

It depends on the amount of deterioration of the joint and other factors, where there can be an alternative to the hip replacement surgery. Some patients try to prefer physical therapy, anti-inflammatory and other medications to overcome the chronic pain, but when walking, driving and other activities become nearly impossible to perform, it is the correct time to perform surgery.