Friday, August 28, 2009

Cheap Colored Contact Lenses

Cheap Colored Contact Lenses
Colored contact lenses are exactly like regular contacts, but they give the illusion of a new eye color. Colored contact lenses come at cheap rates, yet in wide ranges. They can be discarded after using for a week or two. Also, one can change color combinations in accordance with the outfit and occasions.
Cosmetic Fresh look contact lenses that change eye color are on sale for $29.95 a pair. For even greater savings, there are packages for festive occasions. Purchase three pairs or more and you will receive two free pairs, for a savings of $59.90. There are other handy price combinations as well. These contact lenses can be of the same color, or different. With each order, the dealers offer a sample colored contact lens for trial purposes.
Colors and color blends are designed to change even the darkest eye color. Opaque lenses can block the natural color of the eyes. They are designed to enhance or add color to light-colored eyes. For the lowest price, one can purchase Wild Eyes contact lenses around Halloween. These special-effect lenses usually go on sale at that time of the year. They are very comfortable to wear. These novelty lenses come in a variety of crazy designs such as white, black, red, vampire, and cat eyes for those special effects or a theatrical costume.
Make-up suggestions are also available with dealers. Depending on the skin tones and the color of the contact lenses, these make-up suggestions will enhance one’s look. However, cheap lenses might not meet the quality requirements of the user.
Colored Contact Lenses provides detailed information on Colored Contact Lenses, Cheap Colored Contact Lenses, How Colored Contact Lenses Work, Non Prescription Colored Contact Lenses and more. Colored Contact Lenses is affiliated with Non Prescription Color Contacts.

Natural Cure For Acne !

Natural Cure For Acne !
Where skin disorders are concerned, it is best to stick as much as possible to natural cure options; these are less likely to have an adverse side-effect. A variety of Natural Acne Cure Products are available in the market and you can consider these, after consulting with your doctor. Please do not try anything without a consultation, however appealing and promising the description.
What is Acne?
Acne is a disorder that causes skin eruptions and inflammation in human beings. It occurs principally during the adolescence/teenage years – the Pimple Phase, so to speak, which is suffered or endured by nearly 90% of the young population. But Acne is also quite commonly seen in adults.
What causes Acne?
It is thought that the increased production of the Testosterone hormone and natural oils in the body during the teenage years is responsible for the formation of pimples. However other physical and genetic factors may also play a role. Stress, psychological disturbances, and irregular living habits can also bring on Acne.
Impact of Acne
While Acne is not life-threatening, it can have a very adverse psychological impact on it's young sufferer. At the very time of your life, when you're extra-conscious about your looks and want to fit in, being marked out by acne can be extremely difficult to live with. Teenagers with acne are often prone to depression and often show poor self-esteem and a general lack of confidence.
The large incidence of Acne is the reason there are so many skin products in the market, designed to fight and cure it.
Some Natural Anti Acne Products you will find in the market
Tea Tree Oil, Aloe Vera, Zinc, and Vitamin A are some natural products that have been used with some success to cure Acne. A word of caution about 'natural' skin care items. They often contain certain chemicals for preservation purposes. Some of these may not be advisable for you if you're pregnant or have certain special health considerations. As mentioned, it is best to consult with your doctor before embarking on any therapy.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is obtained from the Melaleuca alternifoliais tree from Australia. It is very effective against Acne as it contains bacteria-fighting substances called Terpenes. Acne is often caused by bacteria and the Terpenes either outright kill them or weaken them enough to be destroyed by protective antibodies. There are very little side effects from using Tea Tree Oil.
Aloe Vera
The watery gel from Aloe Vera plant is also a highly effective natural cure against Acne. The enzyme-rich gel has very soothing anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It can also be taken internally and helps clean up and detox the digestive tract. This in turn can help clear up the skin.
Zinc
Zinc is taken in the form of capsules. It helps to strengthen the human immune system and to repair the skin.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A tablets are also a natural and effective Acne cure. Vitamin A promotes healthy skin.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E also helps in countering Acne. It is a natural antioxidant and beneficial for the skin. Vitamin E comes in soft gelatin capsules that contain Vitamin E, Soybean Oil, Glycerin, and Water.
Some Natural Homemade Cures to counter Acne
The most important thing to do if you suffer from Acne is to drink at least four pints of water every day. Drinking a lot of water is very beneficial to your skin. Including fresh fruit and leafy green vegetables in your daily diet will also bring about a marked improvement in the quality of your complexion.
Before bathing, apply a mixture of tomato pulp – real tomota pulp, not packaged one – honey and rose water to your face and keep for twenty minutes before washing off.
At night, before going to bed, apply a mix of cream, glycerine, and lemon juice to your face and again keep it on for a short while before washing.
Regular Yoga exercises will also improve skin and overall health.
Things to Avoid
Avoid touching your face all the time, keep your hair away from your face, and avoid picking at pimples.
Another important thing if you're prone to Acne is to avoid using heavy make-up – in fact, it is preferable to avoid make-up altogether. For an effective cure, stay as natural as possible.

Natural Oral Health Care

Natural Oral Health Care
Contrary to what television commercials and magazine advertisements would have you believe, you don't need the chemicals in most toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other oral health care products to tackle gingivitis, periodontal gum disease, dry mouth, or bad breath. In reality, many of those advertisements mislead you into believing that simply using mouthwash will combat periodontal infection. In fact, the plant soaps, essential oils, vitamins, and herbs in natural oral health care products are often more effective in the treatment of gingivitis, in periodontal disease prevention, in dry mouth treatment, and in the everyday care of healthy teeth and gums.
Although most people don't make the connection, your teeth and gums can have a dramatic impact on your health and well-being. Gum problems, tooth decay, and even mercury fillings can have a negative impact on your health.
The Signs of Healthy Gums
When your gums are healthy, they have a nice pink color, and don't bleed when you brush your teeth. In addition, your gum line tightly hugs your teeth. Unfortunately, however, periodontal disease affects three-quarters of the population. Because it's often painless, most people are unaware that they have a problem.
Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease
The symptoms of periodontal infection range from bleeding in the gum pockets; red, swollen, or tender gums; an abscess on the gum surface; gums that have pulled away from the teeth; and persistent bad breath.
Bad breath is more than an embarrassment; it's a warning sign that unhealthy bacteria are growing in your mouth. If you floss your teeth and the floss smells like rotten eggs, you most likely have periodontal disease that is causing the hydrogen sulfide compounds in your mouth to multiply.
Similarly, dry mouth is more than an annoyance; a persistent lack of salivation can actual accelerate tooth decay and gum problems because saliva helps keep the bacteria and fungi in your mouth in check.
How Natural Oral Health Care Products Can Help
Natural oral health care products address the root of the problem, rather than simply the symptoms. For example, dry mouth can occur as a side effect of many medications, or as the result of a medical condition. Many commercial oral care products contain alcohol or sodium lauryl sulfate, which can further irritate and dehydrate your mouth. A refreshing, natural gel, on the other hand, can actually stimulate the salivary glands to produce more saliva, which in turn will help control the bacteria and fungi.
Similarly, there are many products on the market that advertise a solution to bad breath. In fact, most of these products contain alcohol, which over time dries out your gums and makes the problem worse. Natural oral health care products avoid alcohol and instead use a blend of ingredients that discourages the growth of the organisms that cause bad breath.
Good oral health care is a habit worth developing. And, by using natural oral health care products, you can be assured that you are doing all you can to treat the problems you have, or to prevent the development of gingivitis, periodontal gum disease, bad breath, and dry mouth.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Stages of Breast Cancer


Stages of Breast Cancer
After breast cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body.
The process used to find out whether the cancer has spread within the breast or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment.
There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
The three ways that cancer spreads in the body are:
* Through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue.
* Through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body.
* Through the blood. Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.
When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.
The following stages are used for breast cancer:
Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ)
There are 2 types of breast carcinoma in situ:
* Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct. The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. In some cases, DCIS may become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues, although it is not known at this time how to predict which lesions will become invasive.
* Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lobules of the breast. This condition seldom becomes invasive cancer; however, having lobular carcinoma in situ in one breast increases the risk of developing breast cancer in either breast.
Stage I
In stage I, cancer has formed. The tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and has not spread outside the breast.
Stage IIA
In stage IIA:
* no tumor is found in the breast, but cancer is found in the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm); or
* the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes; or
* the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage IIB
In stage IIB, the tumor is either:
* larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes; or
* larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage IIIA In stage IIIA:
* no tumor is found in the breast. Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone; or
* the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. Cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone; or
* the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone; or
* the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that may be attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Stage IIIB
In stage IIIB, the tumor may be any size and cancer:
* has spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast; and
* may have spread to axillary lymph nodes that may be attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Cancer that has spread to the skin of the breast is inflammatory breast cancer. See the section on Inflammatory Breast Cancer for more information.
Stage IIIC
In stage IIIC, there may be no sign of cancer in the breast or the tumor may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast. Also, cancer:
* has spread to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone; and
* may have spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Cancer that has spread to the skin of the breast is inflammatory breast cancer. See the section on Inflammatory Breast Cancer for more information.
Stage IIIC breast cancer is divided into operable and inoperable stage IIIC.
In operable stage IIIC, the cancer:
* is found in ten or more axillary lymph nodes; or
* is found in lymph nodes below the collarbone; or
* is found in axillary lymph nodes and in lymph nodes near the breastbone.
In inoperable stage IIIC breast cancer, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes above the collarbone.
Stage IV
In stage IV, the cancer has spread to other organs of the body, most often the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.

General Information About Breast Cancer


General Information About Breast Cancer
The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.
Each breast also has blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry an almost colorless fluid called lymph. Lymph vessels lead to organs called lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They filter substances in a fluid called lymph and help fight infection and disease. Clusters of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest.
The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the breast is warm, red, and swollen.
See the PDQ summary on Unusual Cancers of Childhood for information about childhood breast cancer.

Eye Care Tips


Eye Care Tips
* Take A vitamin diet to make eyes brighter. (papaya, eggs, fish, milk, cilantro etc.,)
Wash eyes with cold water to get sparkling eyes.
* Put sliced cucumber over your eyes to treat dark circles.
* Put potato slices on your eye to get rid off those dark circles.
* Soak amla overnight in water and use this water the next morning to wash the eyes.
* Soak cotton in Luke warm milk and cover eyes with it for 15 min.
* To soothe tired eyes, dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on closed eyes for 10 minutes. Now relax completely.
* To completely relax the eyes and the surrounding muscles, close your eyes and think of something that is pleasant or soothing and at a distance. Now gently open your eyes and look into the distance. Next focus on an object at arm's length. Do this extremely relaxing exercise four or five times a day.
* If your eye twitches, or your eyes are red and feeling itchy, massage your scalp with curd.
* Soak 1 tsp. dry amla in one cup of water overnight. Next morning strain it through a muslin cloth and then add one extra cup of water. Splash your eyes with this solution each morning. This makes your eyes sparkle.
* For Puffy Eyes: Grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 20 minutes and relax completely. You may even take a nap.
* Wash your face before sleeping, and ensure that there is no make-up on your face before you sleep, because, make-up creams may spoil your face as it will be there for the whole night. It is better if no cream is applied. What I feel is, wash your face before sleeping and if at all you want to apply any cream, just apply night cream and none other than that.

Monday, August 24, 2009

BLEPHAROPLASTY OR EYE BAGS REMOVAL


BLEPHAROPLASTY OR EYE BAGS REMOVAL
Upper Blepharoplasty is a relatively simple operation in which excess upper eyelid skin, which creates an unsightly fold, is removed under local Anaesthesia. The scar is well concealed in the natural skin crease and is not usually noticeable.
Lower Blepharoplasty is the operation for correction of puffiness of lower eyelids. This is due to excess fat which can be removed either by a scar which is well concealed under the eyelashes or without any external scar if no excess skin needs to be removed. The procedure can be performed under local Anaesthesia or general Anaesthesia.
Every surgical operation carries certain risks, but in properly selected cases, the potential benefits far outweigh these risks.
Surgeon Dr Shahab Mahdi, who has successfully performed thousands of cosmetic surgery operations in England will discuss all aspects of your operation in a confidential consultation and give you a realistic idea of what to expect.

Female Breast Reduction

Female Breast Reduction

While many women these days are looking to have their breasts enhanced with implants, there are also plenty of women who are looking to enhance their figure with a breast reduction operation. Overly large bust can cause back pain and other physical limitations, and they can actually result in low levels of self-confidence just as much as a flat chest can.
There is a plastic surgery procedure called reduction mammaplasty that is designed to help large chested women find the relief they seek. If you are among the many women opting for this treatment today, you may have several questions about the procedure. Here are the answers to some of the most common breast reduction questions:
Who is a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
Women whose busts are fully developed (typically women who are at least 18 years old or older) and who have pain or discomfort associated with their large mammaries are great candidates for this treatment.
Why Should I Have This Surgery?
Large breasts can cause a number of social and physical problems including back and neck pain, shoulder strain, limited ability to participate in sports and other activities, and unwanted negative social comments and teasing. All these can be alleviated with the surgery as well as things like poor posture, skin irritation from bra straps and under-breast chafing, and trouble finding clothes that fit you properly.
How Is This Procedure Performed?
There are several common techniques. One method involves incisions made under the chest and up around the areola. Extra skin and extra tissue is then manually removed, and the areola is repositioned for a natural look. A newer method is called the tumescent technique, which basically allows the cosmetic surgeon to break down and remove excess fat by means of liposuction.
How Long Does Breast Reduction Surgery Last?
Depending on the techniques it can take anywhere between one and three hours per side.
Are The Results Permanent?
Breast reduction surgery permanently removes some of the tissue and therefore some of the fat cells. However, your chest may still get larger if you gain a significant amount of weight, but are not likely to reach the proportional size that they were before the procedure. Hormone treatments, as well as pregnancy and breast feeding can also lead to larger busts after your surgery, but those conditions are not permanent.
What Will The Recovery Period Be Like?
Immediately after the surgery, there will be some swelling, bruising, and pain in and around the breasts. Patients are instructed to wear a surgical bra for several days post-surgery to help with the healing process. While most women can return to work and other normal activities after a week or two, they may still continue to experience swelling and tenderness for several months. The full results of the treatment are typically visible six to twelve months after the operation.
How Much Does Breast Reduction Surgery Cost?
The price will vary dramatically by state and region. The cost may be anywhere in the range of $5,000 to $10,000. The good news is that insurance companies will sometimes foot all or part of the bill if the woman has been experiencing pain due to overly large chest size.

Risk Factors for Ischemic Heart Disease

Risk Factors for Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease is defined as decreased blood flow to the heart due to narrowed coronary arteries. The obstruction results from cholesterol deposits sticking to the artery wall interrupting the flow of blood to the heart. The deposits harden causing hardening of the arteries. This is called atherosclerosis, which is a medical term sometimes interchanged with arteriosclerosis. Both have the same affect, whereby both impede blood flow to the heart.
Plaque buildup or arteriosclerosis is one common factor in the onset of Ischemic Heart Disease. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels are the cause for the plaque which in turn results in the blockage of blood vessels which feed the heart. As a result, blockage to the heart occurs which then leads to heart attack symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and irregular heart beat. However, some patients may not even feel these symptoms as heart disease can also damage the nerves surrounding the heart.
Angina will eventually occur as time passes. This affliction, commonly referred to as the strangling of the heart and known in medical terms as Angina Pectoris, is a result of the lack of oxygen due to poor blood flow to the heart as a result of blockage. Anyone with this type of heart disease is at a greater risk for experiencing a heart attack or cardiac arrhythmia.
Patients at risk for Ischemic heart disease are those with diabetes, family history of heart disease or have high blood pressure. Most often, these risk factors can either be lessened or eliminated completely with simple changes to lifestyle such as losing weight and quitting smoking. These changes are beneficial no matter the situation; however it is important to note that they will not cure someone who already has ischemic heart disease. In addition, anyone who has already undergone a heart attack will most likely experience another one within five years. Visiting a healthcare provider on a regular basis will allow them to monitor its progression as well as alleviate or eliminate any future problems from occurring.
There is good news regarding ischemic heart disease. It is able to be prevented or its severity lessened with proper healthcare and lifestyle changes. Though these changes may seem a daunting task after being set in your ways for twenty to thirty years, the results of these changes are well worth the effort.

Acne Scars Treatment

Acne Scars Treatment

Are you plagued with scars? Do you look at them and feel like they define you? When you meet a new person, you may feel like your scars are the first thing they see. Although most people do not see someones scars as a definition of the person, we tend to feel that way about our own scars. So, what can you do about it? Can you get rid of your scars. One person may heal extremely quickly while others take a longer period of time.
Teenagers as well as an adult may take several days to completely heal. While the treatments work the red marks are what take the longest to depart. In most of the cases, the treatment for cystic acne is restricted to oral medicines and therefore, it is preferred that all the cases required to be treated by some skin experts.
But there are some preventive measurements and remedies that can be helpful against cystic acne. For those people who look for some natural remedies for cystic acne should try some homemade remedies and other products that contain some potential herbs that have natural skin healing properties.
1.Chemical peel the best solution against acne scars:
Acne and acne scars has many solutions as the list will never end, from natural, herbal, or chemical creams to surgery; laser, light, masks, soaps, and many other stuff that will help you get rid of acne and the scars caused by acne.
2.Heal Acne Scars Naturally:
Biological acne cream for acne scar removal and acne treatment.Heals micro-tears in the skin, softens coarse areas and opens constricting pores, plumps up ice-pick acne scars, shrinks raised or hypertrophic scars, reduces keloid scar tissues and stops their itching.
3.Improving and Balancing Skin Tone:
One method for doing this is to apply fresh urine to the skin. Urine is completely sterile and very nutrient-rich, which is why it has been used for thousands of years to treat illnesses and skin disorders. Soak a washcloth or cotton pad with fresh urine, and apply the cloth or pad to the areas of the face with the acne scarring and discolorations.
4.Fillers:
This type of treatment involves injecting some sort of filler substance, such as collagen, into the acne scars. This basically "fills in" the craters in the skin, making it look and feel smoother.
5.Drink more water:
When your body doesn't get enough hydration, blood circulation slows down, which in turn can slow healing. To prevent acne scars, make sure you always drink enough liquids (especially water), as the water will increase circulation and contribute to the healing process.
6.Treating Early Acne Scars:
The post-inflammatory changes caused by acne are part of the skin's natural healing process. There are certain practices and medications that can help facilitate this healing process.
Unprotected exposure to the sun causes more skin damage and delays healing, therefore wearing a good sunscreen is important.
Using tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) speeds up the skin's remodeling process and helps heal post-inflammatory changes.

Back Pain and Irritable Bowel

Back Pain and Irritable Bowel

Is there a correlation between lower back pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Researchers have long argued that IBS may be caused by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. No indication or explanation is ever given as to why this malfunction might occur. To my knowledge there has been no adequate evidence to support this assumption. More over, I have not seen, heard of or read about any studies which were specifically implemented to test this hypothesis. Because of my own observations about my own IBS symptoms, I am inclined to believe and support this hypothesis.
Some of us who suffer Irritable Bowel Syndrome have tried for many years, without success, to eliminate the often debilitating affects of this mysterious disorder. Generally those who suffer have spent a great deal of time and money, having test after test only to be told that nothing conclusive was found.
Often after years of diagnostic procedures and expensive studies, patients are told there was nothing wrong with them. Their complaint of symptoms are brushed off as imaginary or more properly put in medical terms, psychosomatic. But with the ever increasing number of patients complaining of the same generalized list of symptoms, the medical community has been forced, in at least a small part, to acknowledge the malady as something more then imaginary symptoms of hypochondria.
So what can we surmise about IBS? It is a condition or disease in and of itself? Or is IBS is a condition caused by or a symptom of some other physical, neurological or possibly even psychological problem that is as yet undetected or undiagnosed as being relative to the IBS condition? I find this to be a more plausible conclusion and will provide some insight for my personal belief that IBS is a secondary condition rather then a condition unto itself.
For years doctors have proposed the secondary condition concept in relation to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Unfortunately, they have not yet been able to successfully document any evidence to conclusively say what might be the root cause of IBS. Moreover, I believe there is not just one cause, but several causes, all with the same secondary symptoms, which make up what is termed as IBS.
Please don't think that it is my intent to say the IBS condition is not real, or the symptomology is psychosomatic in nature. I know from painful experience the condition and symptoms of IBS are very real. I also would venture to say because of the sheer number of reported cases, the medical community had been forced to re-evaluate their approach while dealing with patients with complaints of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms. I am merely going to express what I personally have concluded about another possible causation for IBS which may be overlooked by the medical profession.
I would like to also toss up for consideration that IBS, with its list of many symptoms, may be a traceable progression of symptoms stemming from a single causation. I believe, in my case, this is a very valid assumption. I have as yet been unable to get any physician to agree with me, at least to the point of taking up the position on the record.
Before going any further, I think it would be a good idea to review a partial list of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. IBS may be characterized by a combination of any or all of the following symptoms:
• Abdominal discomfort or pain, usually in the lower abdomen
• Altered bowel habit
• Chronic or recurrent diarrhea, constipation, or both. May be mixed or in alternation.
• Bloating
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Abdominal fullness
• Feelings of urgent need to evacuate the bowel
• Feeling of "incomplete" bowel emptying
• Low back pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Sleep disturbances
• Sexual dysfunction
More and more it is generally believed that the symptoms of IBS are produced by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. More and more I personally agree with this as a valid and plausible perception of at least one of the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. With some personal observations, I hope to give light as to why I believe this to be a possible causation for many IBS sufferers. Unfortunately, what I have come to believe as the causation for my particular brand of IBS, most assuredly will not be a diagnosis for all cases of IBS.
I think we who have suffered Irritable Bowel Syndrome tend to minimalize our symptoms and pain. We have been led to believe that other than common sense changes to diet and exercise there is nothing we can do because there is no cure. Many people who suffer will suffer in silence for years before seeking medical treatment. By then, and I include myself in this group, we may have subconsciously lessened or even put aside some of the lesser symptoms that IBS causes, focusing only on the ones that cause the most pain and discomfort.
Worse yet, we are less likely to bring symptoms to the attention of a doctor by mere assumption that it is just another facet of our complex disorder. This could become a dangerous scenario for anyone who suffers from IBS. We may ignore persistent symptoms that have gotten more intense or new symptoms that seem to be related only because we are discouraged by being told there is nothing anyone can do.
Doing these kinds of things could lead to serious life threatening symptoms being overlooked. Symptoms of conditions that, unlike IBS, can be treated if caught in time. Things like colon cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer or many others, might be missed because we want to ignore our IBS symptoms after so many trips to the doctor.
My story of IBS starts over 20 years ago when I was a young man of 26. While helping lift a very heavy cast iron wood burning stove from the back of a pickup truck, the other person lost their grip and the load all shifted down hill onto my back. I felt my back give way as the stove went crashing to the ground at my feet. I knew I had sustained a serious injury. I couldn't erect myself from the 90 degree bent forward position I was in. I had to literally pull my self up by using my hands and arms against the side of the pickup.
Being 26 and stubborn and thinking that I was invincible, I had my wife help me home and to bed, not bothering to go to the emergency room. I had some left over pain killers which numbed the pain enough to allow me to sleep. When I awoke in the morning I was horrified as I could not feel my legs. They were both cold and numb to the touch. I could move them, I just couldn't feel them. After about 30 minutes of movement the feeling began to return to my legs and at that point I knew it was time to get to the doctor.
After the examination and x-rays what the doctor had to say wasn't pleasant to hear. He told me I had two options. One was to go to a surgical specialist and have fusion surgery on several of my lower lumbar vertebra because the discs between them had been severely compressed. He mentioned that having this type of surgery would reduce my physical mobility by as much as 30% or more. At best, he explained, the surgery was about 40% effective.
My other option, he told me, was time... time allow let my body try to heal itself. He explained I would probably never be as good as I was before the accident, but with time my body should partially heal it self. He told me the inflammation which was causing the pain and partial paralysis should lessen. At age 26 loosing permanently 30% or more of my mobility was an unthinkable option. At least the second option offered some hope of recovery. He gave me muscle relaxants and pain pills and that was that.
I trusted this doctor...we were good friends. We had a good personal and professional relationship. I took him at his word. By today's medical standards, his medical advice probably wouldn't hold water, but over 20 years ago, it was most likely a very good perception of my problem.
For the next 6 months, I would wake up to cold, numb legs and each day, but as he said, the symptoms gradually got better. I was so focused on my back injury improving; I didn't pay attention to other, minor things going on which had become bothersome.
The first and most prevalent symptom was a change in my bowel habit. Not a big change, but it seemed that instead of a daily movement, it was now once every other day, and it took a bit more effort. But with the back issue, it seemed minor in comparison and for several years seemed to be the only symptom. My back continued to get better but my bowel never did return to normal.
I have always been a large person, in 1986 at the age of 26: I weighed about 220 pounds, standing 6 feet tall. Slowly, my weight began to rise. I attributed my initial weight gain to a lessening of physical activity over the first year or two of my back problem. By the end of the second year, my physical ability and activity had almost returned to normal. I learned to deal with the pain and my legs no longer went numb. I was able to function fairly well. Only occasionally did the pain in my back become such that I was unable to function in my "new" normal fashion, and usually only lasted a day or two. I now had added 70 pounds to my weight with no real explanation.
Only in the past couple of years (over 20 have passed since my back injury) have I begun considering the original injury being related to my bowel and stomach problems. Because I believed there was little I could do to rectify the situation, I have done as well as I could to manage the pain mentally. I did this well until the pain in my back started to worsen to the point that again my legs started going numb again. Not that this happened all the time, it was only occasional, but these bouts of pain have gotten much worse.
Only now that the back pain is impossible to ignore have I come to realize the cycle of events which have taken place. Now when I notice my legs are beginning to go numb on a more frequent basis, I have also noticed an increase in my IBS symptoms. More frequent and painful symptoms seem to begin with chronic constipation, lasting for many days. This is followed by the gas distress fatigue, head aches, bloating, acid indigestion, heartburn and eventually explosive diarrhea. Along with other symptoms, all interwoven into a cycle I now believe to be directly related to some type of nerve injury due to my original back injury.
I have since gone to a neurosurgeon and been diagnosed with severe disk compression and degeneration and spinal stenosis in the lower lumbar region. The treatment is as yet to be mapped out, but I now have at least one doctor who agrees that many, if not all, of my symptoms could be tied directly to nerve dysfunction resulting from my present spinal condition.
If you have sustained a back injury, or have IBS with lower back pain, it may be prudent to have a spinal study, to find out if an underlying back problem might be involved in the causation of your IBS symptoms. It stands to practical reason that if there is injury to the spine or lower back from where the nerves controlling lower bowl function stem, there could also be bowel dysfunction. With bowel dysfunction, the progression of symptoms in logical sequence right up the line to the top of the digestive tract would be a very plausible scenario.
If you have IBS and low back pain you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having a spinal examination. At the very least you may find out that there is no problem with your spine thereby eliminating one more source.

Women Body Building Diet


Women Body Building Diet
A good bodybuilding diet and nutrition are key components that will determine how successful you are in your bodybuilding program. Training without proper nutrition is like rowing against the current. At best, you would remain on the same place or even move forward a little bit, but in the end, you get nowhere.
A Definition of Diet
Usually people associate the word diet with days of starvation and pain. However that is not the correct definition of a diet. The word diet refers to the food choices that we make on a daily basis. Even if you don’t think you that you are on a diet, guess what?! You already are following a diet. Whether you eat candy all day everyday, or oatmeal, that is your diet.
You Don't Have to Starve When You Diet
A good bodybuilding diet needs to follow 3 rules:
1. It should favor smaller and frequent feedings throughout the day instead of smaller ones.
2. Every meal should have carbohydrates, protein and fat in the correct ratios: 40% carbs, 40% protein, 20 % good fats.
3. The calories should be cycled to prevent the metabolism from getting used to a certain caloric level.
While my article on Bodybuilding Nutrition Basics further elaborates on the reasons why the rules above need to be followed, in addition to a discussion on carbohydrates, proteins and fats, I'll move now to present you with two examples of good bodybuilding diets.

Ovarian Cyst Removal


Ovarian Cyst Removal

Ovarian cyst removal is usually recommended when cysts are large, solid, shaped in irregular forms, suspected of being cancerous, twisted, ruptured, or causing severe pain. Older patients with ovarian cysts are more likely to need to have them removed since the likelihood of having a cancerous cyst increases with age.
Before removing an ovarian cyst, a physician will typically conduct a comprehensive physical exam with the patient. Along with the exam, they will also review the medications a patient is taking and order urine and blood tests. A CT scan and abdominal x-ray may also be conducted to confirm the presence of an ovarian cyst before surgical removal.
In order to remove an ovarian cyst, a doctor may choose to perform either laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, depending on the type of ovarian cyst that is removed. It is common to perform open surgery on larger cysts.
During laparoscopic surgery, a small tube conveniently called a laparoscope will be put into the body through a small incision in the lower part of the abdomen helping to find the ovarian cyst so the surgeon can then take steps towards it’s removal.
Large ovarian cysts are usually removed through surgery under general anesthesia. Post-operative experience usually includes some abdominal pain. Other complications like bleeeding and infection may also be experienced. In a few rare cases, removal may cause infertility and blood clots. There is also a chance that a new cyst will still develop after ovarian cyst removal surgery.
Where a surgeon finds no sign of ovarian cancer during the procedure, it is not anticipated that the patient will experience complications. The patient should be fully recovered within several weeks. That said, if the doctors do find ovarian cancer, it may be necessary to remove either one or both ovaries while the surgery is going on or in a later surgical procedure. This would need to be combined with a treatment for ovarian cancer.
Surgery for ovarian cyst removal may result in high fever or chills, abdominal swelling, vomiting, excessive pain or bleeding or any other ill feelings. If you experience any of these after your operation, contact your doctor immediately. You may or may not experience any complications post-surgery but nonetheless, it should be closely monitored.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Natural Dandruff Treatment


Natural Dandruff Treatment

Dandruff is a problem of great concern and requires immediate treatment. The problem of dandruff in the hair is really very embarrassing. The white flakes of dandruff on the shoulders are very much visible in case an individual is wearing dark colored clothes.
This really puts an individual in an embarrassing situation. The presence of dandruff in the hair causes a lot of itching and irritation in the scalp. There is reddishness in the scalp due to dandruff. Dandruff may occur due to constipation, intake of improper foods, and any kind of infectious disease. Use of harsh shampoos, general exhaustion, and emotional disorder can also lead to the problem of dandruff.
Let us here have a discussion on dandruff treatment options.
The problem of dandruff can be cured by making use of lime juice. After the hair are washed with the shampoo, lime juice is used as last rinse for the hair. This helps in removing any kind of stickiness in the hair and helps to get rid of dandruff. The hair also becomes shiny with the help of this natural treatment.
Massaging the hair for around ½ hour with the curd also helps in getting rid of dandruff.
One can also massage the hair with a mix of lime juice and gooseberry juice each night to deal with the problem of dandruff in the hair.
Rinsing the hair with a solution of apple cider vinegar and water in the last stage of washing the hair helps in getting rid of dandruff.
Green gram powder is also considered to be an effective remedy for dealing with the problem of dandruff. Mixing together curd (half cup) and green gram powder (two tablespoons) and washing the hair with this mix twice in a week helps in removing dandruff from the hair to a great extent.
Also, it is very important that an individual chooses a nice anti dandruff shampoo to wash the hair, so that the problem of dandruff is dealt effectively.

Natural Back Acne Treatments


Natural Back Acne Treatments

Back acne, like other forms of acne is caused by hormones acting on the oil producing glands in the skin. This interaction leads to clogged pores and outbreaks on the surface of the skin. Natural back acne treatments are available to help deal with both the external outbreak and the infection that occurs under the surface of the skin.
The following list of natural remedies for back acne has provided relief and comfort for many. Try them out for yourself:
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is applied directly to the surface area of the infected skin. The oil penetrates the skins surface helping to control the infection while keeping the surface skin supple and hydrated. Tea tree oil soap may be used to treat the whole back and prevent further breakouts.
Capsule Supplements
Some evidence indicates that supplementing the diet with capsules containing Brewers yeast, potassium, magnesium and zinc help as a natural back acne treatment.
Lavender Essential Oil
When used as a natural back acne treatment lavender essential oil is rubbed on the skin surface. It stimulates circulation to the infected area, helping to naturally cleanse the tissue. It is also a natural antiseptic and is used to treat wounds and burns to prevent scaring.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel has strong astringent properties and may be helpful in cleansing the skin area around a breakout of back acne or as a cooling toner that can be applied to the back as a natural acne treatment.
Aloe Vera
While aloe vera does not stop outbreaks, it is a very effective natural back acne treatment for skin repair and reducing redness, swelling and scaring. Aloe vera is applied in gel form after a thorough washing of the affected area.
Natural Apple Cider Vinegar
This product, found in most health food stores, can be effective in treating back acne. Apply the apple cider vinegar, diluted with three parts water, to the acne at least twice a day. After a week increase the strength of the solution to half and half. If there is no irritation you can dab on the apple cider vinegar full strength. The astringent properties of the vinegar help clear up the acne. Discontinue use or go back to a weaker dilution if skin becomes irritated or burns after application.

Types of acne

Types of acne

There are many variations of acne, ranging in severity from mild to severely disfiguring. The Regimen works well to combat moderate to light acne. Severe acne may require more aggressive treatment. Visit the Types of acne message boards to seek further help from other members.cne Vulgaris is the most common form of acne which includes several types of pimples. These acne lesions include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.
Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris consists of the following types of acne spots:
Whiteheads:
Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface. These types of acne lesions sometimes seem to be begging to be popped. Make sure you read about how to pop a pimple before you attempt this. Whiteheads are normally quicker in life cycle than blackheads. You can view a diagram of a whitehead on the what is acne page. The Regimen provides a step by step program on how to treat a whitehead.
Blackheads:
Blackheads result when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The black color is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. A blackhead tends to be a stable structure, and can often take a long time to clear. You can view a diagram of a blackhead on the what is acne page. The Regimen provides a step-by-step program on how to treat blackheads.
Papules:
Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head. Do not squeeze a papule. It will do no good, and may exacerbate scarring. The Regimen provides a step-by-step program on how to treat papules.
Pustules:
A pustule is similar to a whitehead, but is inflamed, and appears as a red circle with a white or yellow center. Pustules are your garden variety zit. Before you pop or squeeze such a lesion, be sure to read about how to pop a pimple. The Regimen provides a step-by-step program on how to treat pustules.

Chlamydia Causes

Chlamydia is an infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The infection is transmitted in 2 ways:

From one person to another by close personal contact such as through sexual intercourse (not by casual contact such as a handshake).

From mother to child with passage of the child through the birth canal. Chlamydia can cause pneumonia or serious eye infections in a newborn, especially among children born to infected mothers in developing countries.