Category Archives: Health

NFL Players Abuse Painkillers

On: July 23, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in chiropractor, Health, Hispanic, Information, spinal manipulation

opioid painkiller A study conducted by the Washington University shows that NFL Players are prone to abusing the use of painkillers, especially during Super Bowls. However, what seems to be quite alarming is that this habit continues into retirement.

According to the study, retired National Football League players who excessively use opioid painkillers while still playing tend to continue using the drug even after they leave the sport. Moreover, they have discovered that more than half of the NFL players are enslaved to the drug. In fact, there are more than 71% of the players who are abusing it while playing and 15% admits to continuously misusing the drug after they retire.

Frank Gifford, a former newscaster and member of NY Giants stated ‘Pro football is like nuclear warfare. There are no winners, only survivors.’ His statement is further supported by the findings in Cottler’s report. The rate of opioid misuse among NFL players is three times more than the lifetime rate of nonmedical use of the drug among the general public.

Misuse is defined as taking a drug more than what it is prescribed for. If you use it in a way other than it is prescribed, that is abuse as well. Finally, if you use it for a different reason then you are also abusing the drug.

To conclude the study, NFL players were misusing the painkiller during play for moderate to severe pain, undiagnosed concussions and drinking too much alcohol in one week. Undiagnosed concussions were reported to be at 81% among misusers.

What is Opioid Painkiller?

It is any chemical that resonate opiates in its pharmacological effects. It binds with opioid receptors that are found in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as in the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors control both the psychoactive and somatic effects of the drug.

Medical Uses of Opioid

Acute pain – opioids are effective to cure acute pain and they are usually prescribed to a person who has undergone surgery. They also play an important role in palliative care to help ease disabling pain that may be experienced by patients who have cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases.
Shortness of Breath – opioids are found to help with shortness of breath that is suffered by patients with cancer and COPD.
Chronic non-cancer Pain – although some people take opioids to relieve them from non-chronic conditions like headache and back pain, this is strongly discouraged by medical professionals. When used this way, opioids are said to do more than damage than good to the patient.

How to Detect if you Have a Fractured Bone

On: July 20, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in chiropractor, Health, Hispanic, Information

$fractured bone$ Did you know that you may have a fractured bone without you being aware of it? Find out the symptoms from this article and prevent the risk of developing serious bone fractures in the future.

Keep in mind that any crack or break in your bone is already considered a fractured bone. Being involved in automobile accidents is the most common cause of having a fractured bone. However, some injuries may also occur in the comforts of your home.

Having a fractured arm bone mostly occurs in children because they tend to hold out their arms to break a fall. For older people (age 65 and above), they tend to fracture their hips, spine, arm and leg more.

The symptoms of a bone fracture depend on the bone that is fractured and from what accident it was incurred. The shin bone is a long bone in the body that is often broken with symptoms ranging from mild swelling to a bone sticking out through the skin.

Types of Bone Fractures

Greenstick – this is a crack on the side of a bone but the damage doesn’t go all the way through.

Complete – this type of fracture goes all the way through the bone.

Stress – this is hairline crack that happens when the bone is overused. Most of the time, minor leg fractures result from this type of bone fracture.

Compression – this type of fracture often happens to the spinal cord when the bone collapses.

Open – this one is categorized by a broken skin. Also known as compound fractures, the bone goes out of the skin when this happens.

Comminuted – this type refers to broken bones in more than one part of the body.

Most Common Symptoms of Bone Fractures

Deformed bone or joint
Swelling or bruising around the affected area
Sever pain that gets worse when moving
Broken skin with the bone showing through
Sensation in the area is lost
Inability to move

Everyone is at risk of suffering from a fracture. However, individuals who are under the age of 20 or over the age of 65 are of greater risk of accidents. Middle-aged women and over are prone to experiencing fractured bones than men of the same age group because they easily develop osteoporosis. Undergoing menopause causes women to lose a significant amount of estrogen which lowers down their calcium level as well.

Cola Coloring Increases the Beverage’s Cancer Risk Factor

On: July 6, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in cancer, carcinogen, Health, Hispanic, Information, obstetrics and gynecology

carcinogen in cola The process of caramel coloring in soft drinks particularly the cola produces a carcinogen that is claimed to increase the risk of cancer to above the accepted threshold. According to studies, there is at least one extra cancer case in every 100,000 people that are consuming the beverage.

Consumer Reports conducted various laboratory tests on different types of soft drinks that Americans consume and they found out that drinking one can of cola a day is enough to expose an individual to higher cancer risks. The chemical responsible for this risk is called 4-MEI which is short for methylimidazole.

This chemical is formed during the manufacture of the caramel coloring that is added to cola and many other drinks. This is not necessary but is added for the purpose of aesthetics.

A law has been implemented in California that all beverages must carry warning labels if they contain excessive amount of 4-MEI to warn consumers of the cancer risk. An exposure to at least 29 mcg of the carcinogen every day is enough to pose great danger for anyone.

It’s not just big amounts of sugar that people should be worried about when drinking a can of cola. Consumers are now exposed to unnecessary cancer risk from an ingredient that is mixed with the beverage just for aesthetics. This is a great threat to the public as people may be drinking their favorite cola unaware of the grave danger that it raises to their health.

Over half of the American population, ages range from 6 to 64, consumes enough amount of soda each day to be exposed to cancer. Consumer Reports even believe that the limit is still too high for the average consumer. Their most recent report even concluded that a rise in the cases of cancer in the country (between 76 and 5,000) is expected in the coming years because of this exposure.

If people continue to consume cola and other beverages that contain 4-MEI, it is predictable that they elevate themselves to a greater risk of cancer over the course of their lifetime. The government should take steps to protect the health of the public. California is just one of the few government bodies that has already took action by setting a threshold for prompting warnings on food and drinks that contain the carcinogen.

Keep Your Body and Mind Healthy by Walking

On: July 2, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in doctor, Health, hippocampus, Hispanic, Information, obstetrics and gynecology

hippocampus Aerobic exercise has always been known to be good for the heart. But recent studies show that it is also beneficial for the brain. If you take regular walks, it can help protect the center of your brain. However, the same researches have also found that stretching exercises can shrink the hippocampus – the center of the brain.

Moreover, regular walking such as three times every week can help increase the volume of the hippocampus. This is important especially for the elderly as it will improve their memory as proven by a control group of mid-60’s men and women who’ve been walking regularly for about a year.

On the contrary, a control group who’ve been taking stretching classes for a year showed a decline in the volume of the hippocampus. This was reported by Dr. Arthur Kramer and his colleagues of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

This research is very useful, especially for the older age group because it shows that there is a way to overcome memory loss. By doing simple exercises such as walking, the age-related decline of the hippocampal can be prevented. It can also improve your health and well-being.

The Hippocampus

Hippocampus is a major part of the brain and is located on each side, left and right. It belongs to the limbic system and plays an important part in the processing of information from short term to long term memory. Unfortunately, it is one of the parts of the brain which is first to suffer damage such as memory loss and disorientation. Some of the causes of these damages are oxygen starvation and medial temporal lobe epilepsy. When there is extensive damage, you may experience inability to retain or form new memories.

The volume of the hippocampus tends to drop as you grow older, at least 1 or 2 percent every year. This can lead to impaired memory or even dementia if not prevented. Aerobic walking at least 3 times a week can improve your fitness and memory. There is around 2 percent increase in the volume of the hippocampus if simple exercises are performed. If you cannot walk around your village, you may walk on a treadmill and enjoy the same benefits too.

The study conducted by Dr. Kramer and his team showed that their control group showed better memory performance compared to individuals who did not participate in the walking exercise. Aerobic exercises is neuroprotective and a regimen that enhances the cognition of an individual.

6 Tips to Have a Successful Surgery

On: June 29, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in doctor, Health, Hispanic, Information, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery

Almost everyone is scared of the idea of undergoing surgery, especially a major one. What makes us really worry about surgical procedure? Why are we so hesitant about it? There could be many possible reasons and each of us has a different way of handling it.

Here are 6 helpful tips to ensure that we have a successful surgery and fast recovery. Preparing ourselves on what we can expect and seeking proper post-surgical care are big help to make the entire ‘stressful’ process bearable for us.

Understand Your Options

It’s quite understandable that some of us may have violent reactions and mixed emotions when told that we’ll need to undergo surgical procedure. But what we have to remember is that we must focus and think about our options. We have to carefully discuss with our doctor if we have a choice of alternative or if we have a number of surgical procedures to choose from. We must make it a point to schedule more than one consultation with our attending physician.

Select an Experienced Surgical Team

We should seek the help of our doctor to choose an experienced surgical team and facility that specializes in our particular condition. We should also ensure that we schedule our operation in a facility that has a high volume of surgical procedure of what we are having because this is one proof that they are trusted in the area.

Follow Pre-Surgery Prep Instructions

For a more successful surgical procedure result, let us always follow our doctor’s advice and take good care of ourselves before the ‘big’ day. Our bodies undergo great stress because of surgery so we need to be physically strong to handle that blow. We should always get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet and avoid bad vices like smoking.

Be Aware of Possible Complications

Having a positive mind is always helpful for our fast recovery. However, there are times when complications happen and we have to be ready for them. As good patients, we always have to be well-informed.

Get Proper Follow-Up Care

The real work begins after surgery – we have to recover from it! We should always get a better understanding of the follow-up care that we need after the operation. The process may require us, our family and caregivers to learn new skills and we should encourage everyone to help us to avoid experiencing any serious complications.

Our Road to the New Us

Let us not be afraid to ask our doctor everything we need to know after our operation. Our family should have immediate contact with our doctor in case there is further information that we need. Most importantly, we need to get enough rest and sleep to regain our strength. Eating the recommended diet for our condition is also prime! Our road to recovery will be easier if follow our surgical team’s advice before and after the operation.

Dangerous Bacteria Lurking Outside the Hospitals

On: June 25, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in clostridium difficile, doctor, Health, Hispanic, Information, obstetrics and gynecology

Most people think that the outside world is a lot safer than being contained in the hospital – where different kinds of bacteria and virus are living due to varying illnesses suffered by patients. However, recent study has shown that dangerous bacteria called Clostridium difficile is also present outside the hospital. The said bacteria can cause serious infections that can lead to death and other serious conditions.

What is Clostridium Difficile?

This is a deadly diarrheal infection that can pose deathly threats to anyone who is affected. Ileana Arias, principal deputy director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that the bacteria have caused many Americans to suffer and some even passed away. In fact, it has been linked to more than 14,000 deaths in the United States annually.

According to medical experts, people who are susceptible to the bacteria are those that often take antibiotics and also receive medical care from any health center. Generally, the illnesses caused by Clostridium difficile are treatable and can be prevented from getting serious if proper treatment is just seeked.

Most of the time, the bacteria’s rapid growth in a patient’s system is due to excessive use of antibiotics. People who lead unhealthy lives and diet are at higher risk of acquiring the bacteria.

Affected People

Based on the report, 50% of the patients who have Clostridium Difficile are under the age 65. But those who usually die are the ones in the older age group. Moreover, the other 50% of the patients were infected due to improper care from hospitals and other health care centers. These cases could have been prevented if only health care workers would follow simple infection control precautions.

For one, doctors can prescribe lesser antibiotics and wash their hands often especially before and after dealing with infected patients. Simple measures like these, when followed, can reduce the infections caused by Clostridium difficile by 20% as proven by hospitals in Illinois, New York and Massachusetts.

Why Does Too Much Antibiotics Trigger the Bacteria?

The study shows that too much antibiotic intake can diminish the body’s ‘good’ bacteria for several months. When the ‘good’ bacteria is absent in the body, this is when Clostridium difficile grow and make patients sick.

Symptoms of infection include diarrhea, fever, nausea and loss of appetite. Diarrhea can often lead to dehydration which can turn into a deadly infection. The medical experts highly recommend that proper treatment and tests should be conducted to a patient taking antibiotics who suffer from diarrhea thereafter.

Cognitive Disorders and Delirium

On: June 18, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in chiropractor, cognitive disorders, Health, Hispanic, Information

The information stated in this article is all based on what was provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Cognitive disorders and delirium are both neuropsychiatric syndromes that are often experienced by patients suffering from cancer and other advanced illnesses. The possibility ranges from 28% to 48% from individuals who have advanced cancer or has been admitted to the hospital. The patients usually undergo delirium hours or days before they die.

The syndrome is often referred to as acute confusional state and in the last days of a patient’s life, terminal restlessness represents delirium. Delirium is usually associated with the dying phase of a person’s life but some episodes are still reversible. There are therapeutic interventions that can reverse delirium or at least provide an improvement.

Moreover, prevention of the syndrome with cancer patients has not been systematically examined yet. But the early identification of the risk factors involved is a big help to lower down the occurrence of delirium episodes.

More on Delirium

This is known as a global cerebral disorder that involves difficulty in attention, focus and cognition. It is also associated with behavioral manifestations.

The patient finds it difficult to focus which lowers down his or her awareness and attention.
The patient undergoes disturbances in cognition and perception.
The patient loses track of reality, like what time it is. There’s a fluctuation over the course of a day.

There are other associated non-core clinical features included such as sleep-wake cycle disturbance, delusion, emotional instability and disturbance in the person’s psychomotor activity which is further subcategorized into three types.

Hypoactive
Hyperactive
Combination of hypoactive and hyperactive features

Furthermore, keep in mind that these facts are based on studies conducted among adult patients. These are supported by evidence and practice that relate to adults as discussed. The evidence and treatments may vary when it comes to dealing with children. The results and information vary greatly and should be studied separately. So if you’re concern is getting more facts about the syndrome for children, you better find a study under its own heading. Better yet, go to a specialist that will be able to discuss it to you face-to-face.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Your Health

On: June 15, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in anti-inflammatory diet, chiropractor, Health, Hispanic, Information

Anti-inflammatory diet involves eating minimally cooked and organic foods to achieve optimum health and desirable overall well-being. This diet program requires you to eat the following foods for 21 consecutive days to get desirable results.

Steamed Vegetables

Eat as much vegetables as you can but try to avoid potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and bell peppers. You may eat sweet potatoes and squash even yam. The main reason for recommending that you steam your vegetables is that this cooking process improves the utilization of food substances and lowers down the irritating residue in the gut which enables it to restore itself in time.

Nuts

You can eat all types of nuts except for peanuts. Your options range from almonds to cashews, walnuts to sunflower seeds – any nut that you fancy.

Legumes and Grains

Legumes are also recommended to be included in your diet. You can eat split peas, lentils, pinto beans, aduki and many more. Grains are also tolerable in this program as long as you limit your intake to two cups of cooked grains every day.

Here is a short list of the type of grains that you can eat:

Millet
Brown rice
Quinoa
Barley
Buckwheat
Oatmeal
Amaranth
Rice crisps
Wasa crackers

You cannot eat anything that has wheat in it. In other words, prepare meals that do not include bread in it especially the white one.

Fish and Chicken

If you want to eat some fish, make sure to choose a deep-sea fish such as salmon, cod, sardines and mackerel. Cooking options that you may use to prepare them are baking, poaching, steaming and broiling. As for chicken or turkey, you may not include the skin. Prepare the meat by baking, steaming or broiling and try to buy an organic chicken from the supermarket.

Stack Up on Fruits

There is a wide variety of fruits that you can include in your anti-inflammatory diet. If you already love eating fruits, then you will enjoy this diet more.

Cherries
Apples
Black currants
Blueberries
Pineapple
Kiwifruit
Guava
Lemons
Limes
Mulberries
Oranges
Papaya
Raspberries
Strawberries
Rhubarb
And many more…

Butter and Oils

If you want to use butter on your foods, mix one pound of it with one cup of extra virgin olive oil. Make sure to whip them together at room temperature before storing it in the fridge. If you need to use oil in any of your meal preparations, make sure to always use extra virgin olive oil.

How to Take Extra Care of Your Vagina

On: June 3, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in Health, Hispanic, Information, obstetrics and gynecology, personal hygiene

healthy vagina Your vagina is one of the most sensitive parts of your body. It deserves all the tender, loving care that you can give it every day. It does a lot of good things for you – like childbirth, and keeping it clean is just one way for you to return such favors. The following are helpful tips to keep your vagina in a happy, healthy state.

Buy Comfortable Underwear

Even though your lady part will appreciate wearing sexy lingerie, they also need the comfort that granny panties offer every once in a while. Your vagina has its own way of enjoying every type of underwear that you have in your drawer – so be sure to always have a variety!

Don’t Wear Any Underwear to Sleep

Sometimes, it’s good to let your lady part breathe freely without wearing any underwear to sleep. You can even ditch wearing one as you about your daily activities! However, try to avoid doing so if you’re planning to put on some jeans.

Spoil Your Lady Part by Eating Healthy Foods

Eating a healthy diet can also do a big thing for your vagina. Keep in stock fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and Greek yogurt for optimum vaginal health. Good food will also keep it smelling fresh and clean.

Don’t be Afraid to Check Yourself Out

It is a fact that many women are hesitant to grab a mirror and check their vaginas closely. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but keep in mind that it is important to keep a close watch to your private part. Being familiar with the way it looks will help you recognize unlikely changes and prevent potential problems from happening down there.

Always Shower After Workout

Never skip your post-sweat shower session as doing so may lead to serious yeast infections. You may find yourself caught up in more itchy situations that you can handle and you wouldn’t like that.

Do Kegels!

Kegels will help make your vaginal walls and tissues stronger. Doing this regularly will serve as an additional protection for your lady part to incur serious problems in the long run.

Wear Padded Bike Shorts

If you are fond of cycling, especially long miles, make sure to wear padded bike shorts to protect your vagina and to avoid suffering from any cycling-induced spasms and pains.

All You Need to Know About Transvaginal Mesh

On: June 1, 2015 By: Manuel Posted in Health, Hispanic, Information, obstetrics and gynecology, transvaginal mesh

What is It and Its Purpose

It’s a net-like implant that helps treat pelvic organ prolapse – a condition that involves the descent of your bladder, uterus or rectum from your vagina. Sounds horrifying, right? It can happen to any woman regardless of the age and body type. Its risk factors range from genetics to vaginal delivery. This situation should not be taken lightly as it can make going about your normal daily routine impossible.

The main purpose of the transvaginal mesh is to protect the native tissue of your vagina. The tissue may already have been stretched out and is not strong in the first place. Using the mesh is highly suggested by doctors to provide better suspension or support for the tissues.

The Reason Behind the Numerous Commercials

Transvaginal mesh has indeed made its own name in the industry as fast as wildfire. Many patients who have had the device implanted have experienced varying complications and injuries. They are looking for law firms to represent them in their complaints these days. It turns out, the device was not properly tested for long term treatment.

Prior to transvaginal mesh, doctors used a procedure that is referred to native tissue repair involving the use of absorbable sutures. Unfortunately, the medical procedure had a 30 percent failure rate which is why doctors looked for another way to correct incontinence and repair abdominal hernias.

The device was advertised to doctors as durable with high success rates and fast recovery outcomes. However, it was not tested for long-term use and no clinical data was present to support its claims. Some of the women who have had transvaginal mesh implanted in them experienced bleeding, pain and even erosion – this means that the mesh was moving around their vaginal wall and even through their organs.

What You Should Know

If you are still in your 20s or 30s, then there is no need for you to have a transvaginal mesh implanted. Although there are women who have complaints about the device, some have had successful surgery outcomes too. Some hospitals have also ceased the use of the device yet some still continue to conduct transvaginal mesh-augmented repairs.

If worse comes to worst and you experience a prolapse, ask your doctor for a different option. Some doctors insert a pessary, which is a rubber-like piece that holds things up, instead of a mesh. A great way to prevent this from happening to you is to strengthen your vaginal muscles. Performing kegels on a regular basis is a good start. Keeping your weight healthy through proper diet and exercise is also a good help.