Posted by weissheiss on January 26, 2012
It is reported that there are over 2 million users of hearing aids in the UK however it is thought that it is closer to 4 million who could benefit from using one. Hearing loss is something that affects people of all ages for a variety of different reasons. The most common of which are listed below.
Age
The most common cause of hearing related issues is age – this type of loss is known as age related or presbycusis. Just like every other part of our bodies, our hearing deteriorates with age. It is thought that the initial deterioration can begin as early as 30 years old. Between the ages of 30 and 40, hearing deterioration is very small; however it worsens as you get older with most people noticing a definite reduction in hearing ability by the age of 80. It is thought that by this age over 70% of people suffer from hearing loss. This type of hearing related issue is caused by the sensitive hair cells inside the ear becoming damaged or dying over time. As the hearing loss begins to become noticeable it becomes harder to hear consonants like the letters s, t, k, p, and f.
Noise
After age, the next most common cause of hearing loss is damage from loud noises. The technical term for this kind of hearing problem is acoustic trauma. Acoustic trauma can occur in two different ways. It can be caused immediately following an extremely loud noise such as an explosion. The other way is when the ears are exposed to loud noises over a long period of time such as a builder working day in and day out on a building site with lots of heavy machinery. In both cases the delicate inner structure of the ear becomes damaged due to inflammation of cells inside the ear.
Other
Whist age and noise are the most common causes of hearing loss, there are other factors that can lead to the deterioration of your hearing ability. Firstly there is conductive hearing loss, this is when sounds are not able to reach the ear canal. Usually caused by a blockage of wax, an ear infection or a burst ear drum. Secondly there is sensorineueral hearing loss; this refers to any type of damage that is caused to the hearing system. Whilst age related loss and acoustic trauma fall into this category, there are also many other factors that can cause sensor neural hearing deterioration. Infections, meningitis, multiple sclerosis and strokes can also all cause hearing deficiency.
Posted by weissheiss on January 26, 2012
This topic came up because my mom was bitten by a brown recluse spider (so the doctor thinks) and the wound that she ended up with was quite amazing! What started out as two red dots turned into two large blisters that later burst, leaving two open wounds. She was curious as to how she should clean her wound. At first, she was scrubbing it – not a good thing to do because the site became more irritated. I discussed the matter with her, and once she understood what to do, her wound started to get better.
This is what I told her:
There are two goals that we keep in mind when we take care of a wound – (1) we want to help it heal and (2) keep it from getting infected.
Treating a minor wound involves three steps:
1. Clean the wound.
2. Use an over-the-counter antiseptic solution and/or a topical antibiotic.
3. Cover the wound with the correct bandage.
Using normal saline solution (sodium chloride 0.9%) to wash out the wound is the best option there is when cleaning the site. You can simply pour it over the wound or use a blue bulb (most commonly found in the baby section of a store) for gentle cleansing. A product that is found in most drugstores is called Wound Wash Saline. This product comes as a spray in a can and it allows for gentle cleansing of the wound.
First-aid antiseptics are substances that are put on the unbroken skin surrounding the wound (up to the edges of the site) – they should not be put right on the wound because they can damage the new skin that is trying to grow. The purpose of using an antiseptic is to prevent infection of the area around the site. Be sure to get rid of any blood, pus, etc. that may be leaking from the wound onto the unbroken skin around the wound – this will allow the antiseptic to do its job to the fullest.
NOTE: Hydrogen Peroxide is the most popular antiseptic solution, but it offers little help to the unbroken skin surrounding a wound.
First-aid antibiotics are useful in keeping infection of the wound from happeningput. These products are applied directly on the wound. After 5 days of using an OTC first-aid antibiotic, if you notice there is no healing of the wound taking place, you should have your doctor look at it. Also, long-drawn-out use of these products may lead to a fungal infection, which can slow healing.
In order to cover the wound in the best way possible, you should use a bandage that will keep the wound site moist. The bandage should be able to fit well no matter where the wound is located on the body and you should use a size that is appropriate. Believe it or not, gauze is not always the best option for open wounds because it can dry out wounds and tear away new skin when you take it off – this slows healing and can lead to scarring.
NOTE: The information in this article is for taking care of minor wounds. If you have a chronic wound (it has been around for a while), a serious laceration (a cut caused by a sharp object), or a puncture (a deep wound caused by sharp object), you should see your doctor.
There you go…that’s my blurb on wound care!
Posted by weissheiss on January 25, 2012
Are you not satisfied with your look because you are overweight? Obesity and overweight have always been associated with human appearance and physical beauty. Most of the time overweight people are considered unattractive and in worst cases they turn into laughing-stock in the society. There are many occasions in the life of an obese person when he is ashamed of his own physical appearance and suffers from inferiority complex. At times he does not even have a social life. But the curse of obesity does not end with the deformation of a body. Obesity or being overweight is not just a matter of physical beauty; it has the power to have a menacing affect on your health that may be life-threatening.
Yes, this is true! Obesity has the power to succumb your health condition. You will be horrified if I tell you that according to CDC researchers, an estimated 300,000 American deaths per year are related to obesity. Obesity experts say that the patients with morbid obesity which is of BMI 40+ or malignant obesity of BMI 50+ remain at a high risk of premature death.
Let me tell you about the diseases which come along with obesity;
Posted by weissheiss on January 25, 2012
One of the most prevalent communications gaps is between doctors and clients. Many clients develop “white-coat brain lock” when it comes to asking questions during appointments. Some feel inferior and are intimidated by what they believe to be the doctor’s superior expertise. Still others, when leaving the office, wonder what alien language the physician was speaking.
How well do your clients communicate with their mental-health medication prescribers? Whether that’s their primary-care physician, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, the more open a client’s communications, the better the chances at receiving optimal care. Clinicians can help. Here are 10 tips to share with your clients to assist them with communicating more effectively with prescribers during office visits.
1.
Posted by weissheiss on January 24, 2012
Women are very sensitive when it comes to their bodies, most specially with their skin. This is because the skin is the largest part of our body. It also serves as the first line of defense, which is why we have to take care of it.
Having healthy and beautiful skin is as easy as eating pie. Instead of spending too much money on cosmetic surgeries and treatments, here are some easy and pocket friendly ways to get that beautiful skin:
Tip #1: Water Therapy. Water washes away any harmful toxins that may have been eaten or applied on the skin. The foundation and makeup that you apply on your skin, for example may contain certain toxins that can ruin your skin. Washing it with water will help lessen or diminish its effects. Drinking water will also help wash out any toxins inside the body.
Tip #2: Clean and Moisturize. Using water and your choice of facial wash will help further remove any remnants of makeup on your face. This will also thoroughly clean any unclogged pores. After washing, a moisturizer cream should be applied. Moisturizing will help hydrate the skin and can also prevent wrinkles and pimples from developing.
Tip #3: Eating and Exercising Right. Eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetable will indeed help brighten up your skin. Foods like tuna, broccoli and eggs contain essential vitamins and minerals that help speed up the regeneration and hydration of our skin. Moreover, when we exercise, we sweat. During perspiration, the clogged pores will open. And because of this, there is easier ‘ventilation’ for our cells and body.
Tip #4: Beauty Sleep. This just might be the easiest thing to do to achieve that smooth and healthy skin. Sleeping for a good 6-8 hours can do wonders for your skin and cells. When you sleep, the cells will also be ‘sleeping’. What this means is that the cells will be able to rest and restore to its normal state.
With these easy skin care tips, ladies, even gentlemen, can now have that flawless and healthy skin.
Posted by weissheiss on January 23, 2012
Derived from the nectar of the flowers that grow on the Manuka tree, native to New Zealand, Manuka Honey is gaining ever increasing worldwide recognition for its healing properties. There are many ways in which Manuka Honey can be used, particularly for topical use on the skin. There is growing anecdotal evidence that Manuka Honey is effective for therapeutic use, even against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA. Manuka Honey has shown great promise in the treatment of wounds, leg ulcers and burns.
The use of Manuka Honey for wound care is the area receiving the most attention from researchers. It is important to know that all honey has some antibacterial activity that is effective in the treatment of wounds, primarily due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The additional healing properties found in bio-active Manuka Honey (such as UMF and methylglyoxal) make it even more suitable for medical use. Not only can Manuka Honey destroy existing bacteria in an infected wound, but it also creates a protective barrier over the wound area, preventing more bacteria from entering.
With the range of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, trace elements and sugar, Manuka Honey has a positive nutrient effect on newly regenerating tissue in a healing wound. Equally important in regard to new tissue growth in wounds, is the process of changing dressings. Wound dressings containing Manuka Honey create a moist healing environment that prevents direct contact between the dressing and newly formed tissue so that damage or disturbance to it is reduced from the changing of dressings.
More serious wounds such as Leg ulcers are a frustrating occurrence that can detrimentally affect mobility if worsened. The same healing properties that make Manuka Honey effective for the treatment of wounds also apply to leg ulcers. There are many anecdotal reports indicating that active Manuka Honey is effective in treating leg ulcers that were not responding to conventional treatments. It has also been noted that Manuka Honey is successful at reducing the malodor associated with leg ulcers and chronic wounds.
Manuka Honey’s effectiveness in healing and preventing infection is also helpful for the treatment of burns. A reduction of pain associated with burns has also been reported, due to the anti-inflammatory properties present in Manuka Honey. As part of Manuka Honey’s ability to keep a wound area moist and its positive nutrient effect on tissue regeneration, it also helps to reduce scarring by lifting scabs and dead tissue, allowing the burn or wound to heal flush with the surface of the skin.
