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Everything You Need to Know About Having an MRI

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“You need an MRI.” No-one likes to hear those words. For many patients the thought of an MRI can be extremely frightening; for those with claustrophobia, the idea is even more disturbing. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), however, while not necessarily pleasant, is not painful. Here is everything you need to know about having an MRI.

Every year, more than 30 million MRI scans are conducted and of those 22% (6.6 million) are head scans. An MRI scan typically lasts between half an hour and two hours and will require you to lie very still. An MRI scan essentially takes a series of pictures, each lasting about 15 minutes. There are generally two to six series of pictures per scan. Such scans can be used to create 3D images to be viewed at different angles.

Some radiology centers do have access to scanners that can cut down on the claustrophobia. These open scanners work in a way that is like a normal MRI machine, but the benefit is that it is open on three sides. This openness can reduce anxiety and help patients better cope with head scans.

In cases when a doctor needs images of a limb such as a knee, foot, arm, elbow or wrist, an extremity MRI may be used. An extremity MRI is a special scanner that is specifically designed to provide images of such limbs. Such an extremity MRI would be scheduled if a doctor feels a mass in a limb during an examination, sees something abnormal in an x-ray or bone, if there is redness, pain or swelling in a leg or of an ankle joint, or in a number of other circumstances.

MRI radiology centers will issue detailed instructions to anyone scheduled for an MRI, indicating the requirements for preparation. This means that you should not eat for two or more hours before the scan. There are no other special precautions necessary. If you are pregnant, especially if you are in the first trimester, in most cases an MRI scan will not be scheduled. If absolutely necessary, though, one can be performed.

While an MRI might not be procedure that anyone wants to have done, understanding what happens, how it works and what is required of you can help you through it; open MRI scanners can also play a significant role in reducing stress and helping claustrophobic patients cope.

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Five Signs You May Suffer from Hearing Damage

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Like many signs of aging, hearing loss can be so gradual that we may not realize it’s happening to us. Our bodies grow accustomed to the incremental loss of sensation and we lose perspective of the accumulative damage. Among Americans, 1 out of every 5 adults suffers from hearing loss, and for those over the age of 65, numbers increase to 1 in every 3 adults. While it can be difficult to notice the change, there are always clues.

Here are a few signs that it is time to seek out hearing loss treatment.

    You have trouble following conversations in large groups.
    Do you struggle to keep up with the table talk in busy restaurants or crowds? Do you find yourself tuning out of a conversation when too many people are talking or when the room has lots of background noise? Hearing aids may help you rejoin the conversation. In spaces with lots of background noise or competing voices to follow, someone with hearing loss can have trouble distinguishing between important sounds and plain old noise. Digital hearing aids and assisted listening devices can help sharpen sounds and weed out background comotion.

    You can’t always tell which direction sounds are coming from.
    Not only do our ears help us hear, they also help with balance and location perception. Hearing well from both ears helps us place where sounds are coming from. If you’ve found yourself looking to the right when you hear a siren, but the ambulance drives up on your left, you may be suffering from hearing loss. People who have hearing damage in one ear will mistakenly assume that all sounds are approaching on their more perceptive side. Hearing aids and custom hearing protection can help restore normal perception.

    Your friends and family complain about the TV and radio.
    You think the volume is just right, but your fellow watchers ask you to turn it down. This one may seem obvious, but it even happens to people who have sought treatment for hearing damage. Hearing aid batteries begin to wear out, and often times we turn the dial up instead of checking our hearing aids. If you’re straining to hear when others are happily listening, it might be time to get your hearing checked.

    You have trouble understand young children.
    It’s true that sometimes children have trouble annunciating their words, and occasionally their parents are the only ones who can distinguish the child’s meaning. That being said, hearing loss can make it especially difficult to hear the high-pitched voices of young children. Their words may sound muffled and distant, but if you’re struggling to understand more than other adults, it may be a hearing issue.

    You frequently suffer from a ringing in your ear.
    Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, affects 50 million Americans. The noise can come and go, but when you hear it, it’s annoying and distracting. A tinnitus hearing test can help determine if the ringing is an internal auditory issue and can be resolved. Tinnitus can be linked to other health or hearing issues and a professional audiologist can help discuss all the options and possible solutions. Even sporadic ringing in the ears can be a big annoyance and it’s unnecessary to suffer through without a solution.

Any of these signs may be a tip that it’s time to check your hearing. Though hearing loss is a common and easily preventable health issue, many people avoid seeking help. On average, people with hearing damage will wait seven years before they pursue relief.

Hearing loss can be isolating and frustrating, both for those who are hard of hearing and the friends and loved ones trying to communicate with them. Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can make a big difference. Modern advances help audiologist fine tune hearing aids to suit the specific concerns of each patient. It never hurts to have your hearing checked.

Have you noticed these signs in yourself or a loved one? What other clues have helped you recognize hearing damage? Tell us about what made you seek help and the solutions that have given you relief.

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How to Heal Yourself and Avoid Having to Go to a Walk in Health Clinic

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When you’re feeling a bit under the weather in terms of your health and overall well being, what’s the first thing that you do? Do try to listen to your body’s needs in the form of symptoms or do you seek to dull the pain with over the counter medication? Do you slow down and rest or do you plow through and hope whatever it is goes away as soon as possible? Do you reach for a pill bottle or do you increase your intake of water? Do you seek medical help in the form of a doctor or another medical professional or do you walk into the produce section of your local grocery store to find foods that will naturally boost your immunity?

Whether it’s emergency care for a true medical emergency, a sexual health check up at a walk in health clinic, or consulting with a pharmacy, people should always, always, always, seek professional medical treatment for any ailments or conditions they’re suffering from that gives cause for concern. This decision, especially when made early, can help to get the healing process started sooner so the road to recovery is shorter! And as the case for most if not all medical conditions, the sooner a condition is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis. Keep in mind that many seemingly harmless symptoms are actually clues to a hidden chronic illness. Early detection is key to keeping illness at bay!

But many people don’t realize they have the power to heal themselves too, and that you don’t always have to get a prescription from a doctor at a walk in clinic in order to get better. First and foremost, it’s important to realize how truly amazing the human body is as an organism. It’s the perfect example of a well oiled machine, and with it’s ability to constantly renew itself in cycles, it has the capacity to heal itself of many common ailments with little to no effort.

For example, listening to your body and getting in touch with your intuition is one of the best ways to avoid having to go to a walk in clinic every time you’re sick. You might even be able to prevent getting sick altogether! Just take a look at the common cold, or its even sicker cousin the flu. As impolite and inconvenient as these illnesses are, they very rarely just walk in and punch you in the face. Rather, it’s more like a steady build of symptoms that worsen over time.

You may begin to feel lethargic or start lacking energy. Your appetite may begin to change. You may feel more irritable or sensitive than normal. Your may have a slight, dull headache, mild fever, trouble sleeping, and dull body aches. Then of course, there’s always the classics — sneezing and coughing. But the point is to begin treating the root of these symptoms by boosting the body’s immunity right away with the help of natural and organic produce.

Instead of ignoring symptoms, think of it as a way of giving your body a head start in healing by addressing them right away. Your body is trying to communicate with you, so listen to what it’s saying! If you’re feeling lethargic, it’s time to change up your routine. Slow down and rest, and begin increase your water and fluid intake immediately! Dehydration is a major contributing factor in many illnesses, such as the common cold and the flu, and stay hydrated helps the body heal on it’s own.

One of the most important things to realize about healing yourself is that food is medicine. You are are what you eat, and if you’re eating large amounts of sick, factory farmed animals, high levels of unhealthy fats, empty carbs, artificial sugars, and processed foods, you’re going to feel worse than all of those things! On the other hand, eating lean proteins, a plant based diet with plenty of fruits, and regular exercise can dramatically improve the way a body heals. People that eat this way also have more energy.

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How Used Medical Equipment Can Change Veterinarians’ Prospects

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Undoubtedly, veterinarians are a key part of life for many Americans. In 2013 alone, veterinary care accounted for $14.37 billion dollars spent on pet care. However, that doesn’t mean that vets are getting rich off of what they do. Far from it, in fact. Many veterinarians in this day and age are finding it difficult to stay afloat. This isn’t because pet owners are taking poor care of their animals. Nor is it because they can’t afford the services offered by veterinarians. In fact, sometimes the opposite is the issue. Veterinarians are not in this for the money, but rather for the love of animals. Nor are they monitored by the same oversight that doctors who treat humans experience. That is, when it comes to paying for human medical bills, insurance companies are often involved. This can result in a kind of regulation of fees in human medicine. Veterinarians do not have nearly as many patients with insurance; when pet owners do have pet insurance, it usually involves reimbursement, and doesn’t have to be “accepted” by the vet in the way human health insurance does. As such, vets perform medical services similar to those performed on humans for much less money, and out of the goodness of their hearts sometimes don’t make enough money to stay “in business”.

Why Do Vets Have Money Problems?

First of all, it’s important to stress that not all vets are experiencing cash flow problems! But it is something that many vets experience. It’s estimated that 62% of vets don’t use financial strategies to run their businesses, with many not using reviewing key metrics on a regular basis. Furthermore, vets come out of school with nearly as much debt as those who go to school to become “human doctors”. The American Veterinary Medical Association indicated that about 90% of vets left veterinary school with significant debt. So while combatting debt, veterinarians are at the same time dealing with high costs and the issue of charging fees to pet owners that are profitable but fair. Veterinarians aren’t always comfortable with the idea of turning away an animal because its owner can’t pay for its medical fees, and with good reason. Many vets experience financial problems simply because they’re trying to do the right thing. Yet doing the right thing doesn’t mean that things like veterinary equipment cost any less — at least, not when they’re brand new.

Used Medical Equipment Sales: An Option For Vets?

Some vets will immediately balk at the idea of used medical equipment sales — but they shouldn’t. For one thing, used medical equipment sales offer a variety of different types of medical equipment. A veterinarian wouldn’t have to buy all of their equipment used; simply the types they are comfortable with. Even that could save a significant amount of money. A used veterinary exam table is obviously not a product used for invasive purposes, but nonetheless is necessary and important. Through used medical equipment sales, a veterinarian can get his or her hands on equipment like this for a fraction of what a brand new piece would cost. This allows the vet to save money without hiking up their fees to a ridiculous degree. Thus, the same level of quality care can be provided to all patients. Furthermore, used medical equipment doesn’t necessarily have to show signs of wear and tear. Often the used equipment sold by such dealers is refurbished. As such there is no aesthetic sign of use, and certainly the equipment remains high quality and capable of excellent performance.

Veterinarians shouldn’t have to worry about their livelihoods. Nor should they have to leave patients uncared-for due to rising costs. Buying used and refurbished medical equipment is one way to cut costs without cutting quality care.

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How Much Sweat Is too Much Sweat? Identifying and Treating Hyperhidrosis

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Sweating is a normal part of life, and in most cases can even be good for you! It can help cool you down, as well as rid your body of dirt and toxins. Although sweating in moderation can be good for your body, excessive sweating is not. Unfortunately, excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, affects about 3% of the total population, and it can be a source of physical and emotional discomfort.

What causes hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, occurs when the sweat glands are over-active. There are two major types of hyperhidrosis, primary and secondary, and the causes for each vary. With primary hyperhidrosis, the causes are less well understood. Professionals used to think it was a result of mental and emotional state, but recent studies have proven that patients who suffer from primary hyperhidrosis have increased feelings of anxiety and uneasiness because of their disorder. Secondary hyperhidrosis, on the other hand, can be a result of a number of different related disorders or physical traumas, such as pregnancy, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism.

How can you stop hyperhidrosis?

Right now, there is no known cure for hyperhidrosis. Although anywhere from 30% to 50% of the population knows someone with an excessive sweating problem, there simply isn’t enough research to have a cure for this disorder just yet.

Is there any treatment for hyperhidrosis?

Although modern medicine may not be able to stop hyperhidrosis, it can be treated! A treatment called iontophoresis was introduced to the medical community almost 50 years ago as a solution to help people suffering from hyperhidrosis. This treatment involves placing the hands, feet, or any other part of the body into a shallow pool of water, into which a gentle electrical current is charged. This process lasts anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, and must be performed regularly to take effect and shut down the sweat glands temporarily.

If you, or someone you know, is suffering from excessive sweating, don’t lose hope! Although science can’t cure excessive sweating yet, it can be controlled. There’s no longer any need to hide your body away. With treatments like iontophoresis, anything is possible.

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How to Find a Medical Marijuana Doctor

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If you are considering seeing medical marijuana doctors in order to get a prescription for pain management, then there are a few things that you should keep in mind before finding medical marijuana doctors. In order to find a doctor, you can start your search in several different areas. Once you do find one, you’ll need to make sure they are accepting new patients in to the legal medical marijuana programs. Not all local medical marijuana doctors are accepting at this point so before you try to go to one of the walk in clinics, make sure this is not the case. Here are some tips to help you find medical marijuana doctors in your area.

Get a Referral
The best way to make sure that you are getting in with a reputable medical marijuana doctor is to get a recommendation for your regular family doctor. Doctors communicate with each other and if you are referred by another doctor then the chances of being seen are much more likely. That is a medical referral but you could also be referred to a medical marijuana doctor by a friend who already goes there. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising as every business owner understands. As long as the doctor is accepting new patients, if he already has a friend or family member of yours as a patient, you will likely get the VIP treatment as will your referral.

Use the Internet
If you don’t know of anyone that is seeing a medical marijuana doctor then there are a lot of websites online that will give you information to doctors in your area. It’s hard to tell whether the doctors on some of these sites are trustworthy and appropriate but doing research can tell you a lot about a facility. Check out their reputation and reviews before scheduling an appointment. Many clinics will offer a free consultation before actually giving out any prescriptions which would be a good idea for both you and the doctor to get to know each other. Remember, as skeptical as you may be of certain marijuana doctors, that same doctor probably sees several patients a day that are just trying to play the system to get weed. You will have to show him that is not you.

Think Beyond Tradition
Medical marijuana is still a controversial issues in the medical field because of the side affects smoking can have. If your regular physician is not comfortable signing your medical marijuana forms or giving you a referral, you may need to find an alternative office. Natural care, holistic and wellness center are all places that will probably be able to sign the papers for you. These centers are more likely to focus on natural remedies and treatments rather than surgery and medication like a regular doctor’s office.

Build a Reputation
If you have no patient history or diagnosis that shows why you are eligible for a medical marijuana card, you will need to build a firm reputation and even relationship with your doctor before asking about cannabis. Be willing to try other treatments before discussing marijuana as an option. Again, you don’t want the doctor to think that you are just in it for the high. There needs to be a solid foundation and history of tried and failed methods.

Don’t Give Up
It may take awhile to find a trustworthy medical marijuana doctor that will help you out but don’t give up the search. There are not a lot of licensed doctors but you will eventually be able to find one in your area if you take the time to research and look. You may even get shot down by a few before finding someone who will help you and evaluate you and see how imperative your need for a medical marijuana card is.

There are many clinical trials and research going on right now looking into the pros and cons of medical marijuana. Every day new evidence is showing up and little by little doctors are starting to understand the therapeutic benefits to this alternative therapy. It may just take a little time for them to see why its use is so important to you. Helpful research also found here.

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Pain, Pain, Go Away Homeostasis Through Acupuncture

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Chronic pain can be a massive hindrance in our lives. Whether it’s from an old injury or the side effects of medical treatment, it can sap us of our vitality and leave us feeling weak and empty, like a shell that washed onto a beach. It’s something we’ve learned to deal with, but does it have to be something we live with?
Acupuncture is one of the more effective forms of healing available to help our bodies maintain homeostasis, or internal equilibrium. Acupuncture is a 3,000-year-old practice that has become widely used today, even being incorporated into many physicians’ clinical practices.

    What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a form of “Traditional Chinese Medicine,” or “TCM.” The principle theory behind it is that there are 20 pathways, or “meridians,” in the human body, connecting by over 2,000 points. In a standard acupuncture session, one to twenty acupuncture needles are inserted into the body. They may barely break the surface of the skin or they may be several inches long, and they’re kept in the body for about 15 to 30 minutes. Acupuncture is used primarily to treat pain, and has been shown to reduce pain by up to 50%. Doctors working for the World Health Organization, or “WHO,” endorse acupuncture for treatment of at least two dozen different conditions.

Acupuncture works well as a complementary treatment — it can help alleviate many of the side effects of several diseases and their treatments, such as cancer or stroke. It helps with the nausea and vomiting that’s most often associated with chemotherapy treatment. It can also help with many mental illnesses, such as stress, depression, and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
Acupuncture is not a be-all and end-all fix to relieve pain and achieve homeostasis, though. As always, diet and exercise are hugely important for a healthy lifestyle. Eating better will help reduce mental stress and the physical stress on the inner mechanics of your body. Acupuncture, like most things, is best used in conjunction with a healthier diet and more active lifestyle.
Pain, stress, and general unhappiness have become commonplace in too many people’s lives. Our bodies have become out of sync with themselves, and the longer they stay like that the harder it is to once more reach homeostasis. Acupuncture, along with a healthy diet and a good amount of exercise, can help alleviate the discomfort we’ve all become too used to.

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Easy and Pain Free Ways to Drop Some Pounds

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America’s problem with weight is no secret. At least two-thirds of all people in the United States are either overweight or outright obese. When a person weighs more than 20% more than what might be considered to be a normal body weight, they are classified as obese. At the moment, approximately 30% of Americans are obese. This is one of the reasons that there seems to be a new weight loss program come out every season that promises easy weight loss without diet or exercise.

For people who want to lose weight, there is good news out there. Most people realize that fad diets do not work. That latest weight loss program that makes you eat nothing but cranberries for a month is a waste of time as well. You may not be able to lose 20 pounds in a week but you can lose weight and keep it off with a weight loss program that will not feel like torture.

Weight Loss Tips that Work:

  1. Lose the term “working out.” It is true that burning calories is a great way to lose weight. Most people who have tried to lose any amount of weight know that the key is to burn more calories than you take in. One problem is that this has driven many people to gyms around the nation where they work out once, over do it, injure themselves and never go back, Exercise should not feel like torture. Forget about working out and start having fun. Ride a bike. Take a tennis lesson. Play ultimate frisbee with your friends. Get out and get moving. You will be shocked by how many calories you burn having fun with your friends.
  2. Get our for a walk. Think you do not have time to get any exercise in? Think again! It is easy to work some walking into your day. Take the stairs and not the elevator. Park farther away from the entry way to the store you are going to. Weight loss experts recommend getting at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day. You do not have to get it done all at once. Get three short walks of about ten minutes each. Taking an afternoon walk around your office building can break up your day and get you some valuable exercise.
  3. Drink lots of water. The thirst trigger can be very weak in many people. As such, people think they are hungry when they are really just thirsty. Having a zero or low calorie beverage with you can hydrate you when you need to be hydrated but also give your hands and mouth something to do when you think that you want to eat.
  4. Eat lower calorie versions of your favorite foods. You do not have to give up your favorite foods to lose weight. You can find ways to make them have less calories. If you like eggplant parmesan, you can make a lower calorie version. Rather than saute the eggplant, roast it with olive oil instead. Sprinkle the eggplant with lower calorie breadcrumbs. These are examples for one recipe but you can apply similar principles to the other foods you love.
  5. Eat smaller portions. When you go to a restaurant, before you even start eating, get a box. Take half of your entree and put it in the box. This way you will be less likely to eat more than you actually want. This also means your one meal out will give you two actual meals. Another way to do this is to split your meal with a friend so you cannot eat more than you want.
  6. Keep a food diary. This will help you keep track of how much you are eating and inspire you to eat less.

Weight loss is such a big thing for many Americans that a lot of us seek out help at a medical weight loss center where they will be forced to adhere to a strict weight loss program. While many people who go this route do success initially at losing weight, many need follow up help to keep the weight off. These simple lifestyle changes can help you achieve weight loss for the long term.