Monday, June 4, 2012

Understanding neuropathy due to diabetes


This is a very common complication for those people who suffer from diabetes. Diabetes neuropathy refers to the damage to the nerves which causes a person to be unable to feel any sensations such as the feeling of pain. Diabetes damage can attack certain nerves in the nerve system. The effect is related to blood sugar levels which remain too high for too long a period of time.
Causes
Nerve injuries are caused by decreased blood flow and high blood sugar levels. They are more likely to develop if blood sugar levels are not well controlled .About half of people with diabetes will develop nerve damage.
Clinical manifestation of symptoms
Symptoms often develop slowly depending on the nerves that are affected.
  •          Problem in digesting food
  •          Feeling full after eating  a small amount of food
  •          Nausea, constipation, or diarrhea
  •          Throwing up food you have eaten a few hours after a meal
  •          Burning in the arms and legs (toes and feet)
  •          Deep pain in limbs
  •          Have a fast heart rate
  •          Sexual problems
  •          Bladder problems.
  •          A lack of reflexes in the ankle
  •          A loss of feeling in the feet
  •          Changes in the skin
  •          Drop in blood pressure when you stand up after sitting or lying down

Looking for a leg pain treatment center?


Leg pain may arise due arthritis at hip or knee, nerve problems like sciatica, weakening of leg muscles or any ligamentous or tendon tears. Expert health professionals at leg pain treatment center make it a worthy choice if you are suffering from any pain and disability associated with hip, thigh, knee or leg. For Houston, TX residents suffering from leg pain, a visit to the local leg pain treatment center can be helpful.

Common problems giving rise to leg pain
Obesity
It is not an uncommon condition these days. Overweight people complain of pain in legs as the muscles and joints are not strong enough to bear the body weight and hence the body experiences pain and fatigue.
Injuries and trauma
Any fall, accident, a sudden hit or twisting injury can lead to pain which is often associated with soft tissues like bulky muscles of the leg and thigh, or trauma to bones and small tendons, ligaments etc attached to it.
Osteoarthritis
It’s a commonest painful knee condition in the elderly. It results due to excessive load bearing on the knees making the articular surfaces of the knees to get damaged over a period of time. This causes friction between thigh bone and leg bone and results in pain, inability to do routine work and deformity in extreme conditions.

Uses of electrical muscle stimulator


What is a stimulator?

The name defines neuro muscular electric muscle stimulation which is primarily evoking of muscle contractions through a device which generates artificial impulses but very similar impulses with action potential in a normal human body. This is a tailor made device, user friendly and has a variety of frequencies, time values and intensity to which the muscle response is higher and a good output is given. 

Understanding basic working

The basics of working mechanism rely on the placement of electrodes and setting of frequency depending upon the location and kind of skeletal muscle to be stimulated. The muscle responds best when the electrodes are kept directly on the skin over the middle muscle fibers. Electrodes by wires are connected in the channels of the device. The electrical muscle stimulator induces electric pulses, generates action potential and muscle contraction takes place.  A time gap is also given for relaxation of muscle in between to prevent fatigue and so that muscle can contract all over again.

When is an EMS given?

·         Any trauma to muscle itself.
·         Post operative progressive muscle weakening.
·         Prolonged bed rest after surgery.
·         Nerve injuries in adults due to crutch use, or damage to facial nerve.
·         Sports people
·         After fractures to build muscle strength.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Are dental implants beneficial for you?


Personality is enhanced with a good set of teeth. A missing tooth can lower your confidence level.

It is quite important to have a balance while chewing food as the missing tooth can make you chew on one side and this can be bad for the jaw too. The increased pressure on the jaw can cause pain. Usually some people avoid certain kinds of food that need chewing and hence they become nutritionally deficient. It is so very important to have a balance and hence the need of an implant becomes very important. A missing tooth can be terrible as it can also cause weight loss in a person.

The process of extraction of bad teeth and implant of new ones need a lot of healing time. Hence, one has to have a lot of patience here. This will ensure that you have healthy dental set for many years. For affordable dental implants and consultation, you can approach the implant dentistry doctors at Manhattan.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Research and advancement about Parkinson’s disease


The nerve cells in the brain produce dopamine that controls the movement of human beings. During Parkinson’s disease, the nerve cells along with sub stantianigra neurons are killed. Moreover, the secretion of formation of protein clumps i.e. alpha synuclein known as the Lewy bodies is also created. Hence, a person with Parkinsons is affected wit shaking of hands and legs and the movements are very rigid. In certain cases, the sense of smell also changes. Most people complain about constipation, low morale and changes in sleep pattern. Certain cases are also noticed where the person suffers from dementia. The reason for Parkinson’s is not known and it can be genetic to a marginal percentage. Youth can be affected too and mostly men suffer than women.

The treatment for Parkinsons

The drugs like Levodpa definitely improve the secretion of dopamine and it also helps the neurons. Supplementary drugs are also advised that will help the nerve cells. In addition, physiotherapy greatly helps along with other changes in diet and exercise. People who have gone for occupational therapy will also vouch for positive changes happening in their life. But there is no way the disease can be cured. This ailment continuously grows and the nerve cells cannot be grown. The scientists have found a way to replace the dead nerve cells so that dopamine can be produced through Parkinson’s stem cell therapy.

Knee replacement surgery by minimally invasive method


What is knee replacement?

Knee replacement or knee arthroplasty is a method performed surgically where the areas of the knee joint bearing most of the body weight is damaged are replaced by artificial parts. Where total knee replacement is a bigger surgical procedure, MIS has emerged as a boon to patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or deformities etc. MIS is a reliable and potential alternative to knee surgery as it is done with smaller incisions and modern biomaterials.

Advantages of minimally invasive surgery

  •          Provides more mobility within the joint as the prosthesis is new and customized.
  •          The incision is only 4-6 inches long unlike 8-10 inches in traditional surgeries.
  •          Advanced techniques like robotics, computer navigation etc are used along with improvised surgical instruments.
  •          Quick recovery and short hospitalization.
  •          The surrounding soft tissues in the knee joint are protected and undergo less surgical trauma.
  •          Activities of daily living are certainly improved and a higher amount of success is achieved in long term gait pattern, climbing stairs etc.

NEW TECHNIQUES IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENT IDENTIFIED


Mass revolutions in the fields of technology and medicine have led to breakthrough in breast cancer treatment. In every cancer center PA, these newly found therapies are being increasingly made available to breast cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION TO TARGETED THERAPIES

A special branch of methods and medications has been developed by determining the exact molecular anomalies that are responsible for malignant growth in cancer. These targeted drugs work in a different way than the standard medications used with chemotherapy. At the cancer center PA they are often used along with chemotherapy for optimum advantage to the patient, and cause less adverse effects.
This category of advanced treatments is called targeted therapies. These have been made with the purpose of causing no damage to normal cells around the cancer and only aim at specific characteristics of the cancer cells, in order to get rid of them.
Immune targeted therapies are antibodies that work like natural antibodies made by our immune system and are safe for all patients except pregnant and nursing women.

Monday, May 14, 2012

MASTECTOMY CAN BE AVOIDED USING NEW ONCOPLASTIC TECHNIQUES


In the 1970s breast conserving surgery radically altered the surgical aspect of breast cancer treatment. A similar feat has been achieved by the latest oncoplastic techniques which are the best alternatives for mastectomy. The complex nature of these processes makes them technologically very demanding but there is increasing data and figures to support their clinical efficacy.

WHAT IS BREAST CONSERVING RECONSTRUCTION?

The latest option for women who would earlier required a mastectomy is breast-conserving reconstruction which saves normal breast tissue to the extent possible and the defect caused by tumour resection is remodelled. The best principles of reconstructive surgery in combination with oncological knowledge are used to provide the patient minimum cosmetic deformities which are quite common in local excisions undertaken for treating breast cancer.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Bank your teeth for stem cells


What are stem cells? 

Stem cells are cells present in almost all multi cellular organisms. Stem cells have the ability to renew themselves by the process of miotic cell division, and to develop into a wide and diverse range of specialized cell types. Stem cells are valuable research tools.

What is stem cell banking?

At the time of a child’s birth, umbilical cord is cut and discarded. The remaining blood in umbilical cord is full of stem cells. These cells are collected and preserved, so they can be used in the future in case of life threatening diseases. Though it is an expensive procedure, but more and more parents are opting for preservation of stem cells of their children. With a shelf life of 21 years, it is seen as a health insurance. Not only can these cells be used for the child, but also for his siblings. Stem cells can generate many types of tissues, and are used in treating life threatening diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, etc.

Correcting your posture with Alexander technique


Poor posture causes pain

Everyone experiences severe pain of the limbs or body during a lifetime. There are so many solutions available but the truth is about good posture and achieving a comfort level. Many patients are eager to be cured soon. Sometimes, the pain is very intense and it can stall routine functions. It is so true that only after having a bad back we realize that our posture is wrong. Ultimately, we look out for resting or new exercises that allow stretching. We also try out acupuncture and go for long walks. The pain can also be the root cause of other problem sand hence an analysis is necessary. At the back pain treatment center Houston, TX you can learn about new techniques that help to overcome back pain problems.