Monthly Archive

Occasionally for most, distractingly often for others, unidentified floating objects (UFO) appear in the line of sight. Officially they are known as vitreous opacities.
Ophthalmologists reassure patients that these floaters are harmless. The debris floating in the clear, gelatin-like fluid that fills the eyeball is bits of membrane that have been dislodged.

Approximately 5% of the people, who have this problem, choose to do something about it. For severe cases, where the floaters are distracting and interfere with the functions of daily life, there is a technique of using lasers to eliminate the floaters to replace the common procedure of emptying the fluid from the eye.

Tags: Eyes, laser treatment, vitreous opacities

Much is still unknown about why stutters stutter. Stutters have non-verbal communicating skills like writing, typing, and reading abilities that are within normal ranges when tested. Verbal communication is impaired though.

Stuttering is a condition that affects a person’s speech. A stutterer will  become “stuck” on some sounds. The more serious the stuttering the longer the list of sounds that cause problems and/or the frequency that the stutterer becomes stuck. It is known that stuttering can be hereditary.

A device called the SpeechEasy is helping many stutterers speak normally and reducing the severity of stuttering. It aids speech in the same way that glasses aid sight. The device fits easily in the ear, similar to a hearing aid. It is known that stutters who speak in unison with an individual or in a chorus, they don’t stutter. This is referred to as the “choral effect”. The SpeechEasy device replicates the choral effect by delaying playback of their stutter’s own voice and changing the pitch.

Famous people who have overcome stuttering problems:

• Bruce Willis
• Julia Roberts
• Jimmy Stewart
• Johnny Damon
• Tiger Woods
• John Updike
• Kenyon Martin
• Carly Simon
• Marilyn Monroe

The mystery of why stuttering occurs hasn’t been solved yet, but there is relief available.

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Seniors should take special precautions to remain healthy and safe throughout the winter.

Avoid bone fracturing falls-fractures can lead to more serious complications and nursing home admitance.

• Be sure walkways are shoveled
• Hire someone to do shoveling
• Use salt on commonly used areas
• Put fresh lightbulbs outdoors avoid burnt out lights and diminished visibility

Prevent hypothermia-seniors’ blood is thinner due to age and medications increasing hypothermia risk

• Wear an extra layer of clothing
• Store an extra jacket and a blanket in car (use if stranded)
• Avoid tiring activity if outside in the cold

Tags: falls, safety, Seniors, winter

There is an overwhelming amount of choices and information available to anyone with a computer. With that, there is an increase in anxiety as people try to pick the right product, service, etc.

Anxiety starts with an imbalance of brain chemicals. It can be mild or so severe it interferes with daily life. When it interferes with functioning, professional medical help can provide relief.

Types of anxiety disorders:

• Panic disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Specific phobias

Symptoms include heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, and extremity numbness.

Tags: Anxiety, brain, mental health

Women, who were participating in a trial to test if a topical microbicide used during sex would prevent HIV infection, were found to be at an increased risk of getting HIV when using the microbicide gel than the women who used a placebo gel.

Two full-scale trials were stopped yesterday after this huge setback. For the safety of the women involved, the tests could not be continued when and independent scientific committee found there was an increased risk using cellulose sulfate. The tests were done in Africa and India.

The motivation to find a product that a woman can use to protect herself from infection is a high priority. In some countries where HIV/AIDS is rapidly increasing, the men still refuse to wear condoms. There is a push to provide the women in these countries affordable protection the form of an insertable gel, cream, film, tablet, or sponge.

Until a vaccine is found, it is hoped that a safe microbicide can be discovered. The ideal one would kill the virus in the vagina and cervix, prevent viruses from attaching to a woman’s cells, and keep the enzyme that HIV needs to replicate, from being available to do so.

Tags: HIV/AIDS, medical trials, STD

Testicular cancer has a survival rate of 99% when detected early. So why is it estimated that nearly 400 men going to die of testicular cancer this year?

It’s about denial. No man wants to believe that anything could be wrong with “the twins”. Once denial is overcome (because of the pain or prompting from a partner), men tend to be shy about making an appointment to get checked, let alone showing up for the appointment!

Facts:

• When there is lymph node involvement, there is a 70% survival rate.
• When detected early (repeat early) testicular cancer has a 99% survival rate.
• Of all diagnosed cases, there is a 96% survival rate.
• Age group risk is 16-39 year old men.

Symptoms:

• Added weight in your scrotum
• Weird lump on your testicle
• A strange swelling of your testicle
• A change of the hardness of your testicle
• An ache in your lower abdomen, testicle or scrotum

Some risk factors that contribute getting testicular cancer include age, family history, having an undescended testicle, race (whites have a higher incident of testicular cancer), and having gonadal dysgenesis or Klinefelter’s syndrome.

Early detection is easy with a regular self-exam.

Source: American Cancer Society

Tags: cancer, cancer facts, Testicular

Stress affects fat storage on a body. Both the person who looses their appetite when experiencing stress and the person who over-eats when stressed, will still store fat around the middle.

The hormone cortisol is responsible for this happening. When cortisol is released by stress, the body responds by protecting vital organs. In times of food scarcity, the body will respond in the same why.

What happens when fat is stored in the middle:

• Energy is stored
• Vital organs are protected
• Fat is readily available to burn

Stress can trigger over-eating and then there is more fat to store. When a person under stress releases adrenaline, which is a strong appetite suppressant, the body becomes deficient and to protect itself will start to store fat around the vital organs.

Exercise is a more valuable component in weight loss for people who lead stressful lives. Exercise will provide the duel benefit of burning calories and reducing stress. During exercise, a hormone is released that relaxes and gives a feeling of wellbeing. Simply having an effective way to deal with stress in a healthy way may be the boost you need on the road to reach optimal weight.

Tags: cortisol, exercise, fat storage, Weight loss