Important Health and Medical Topics 12





Medical Alert Services
Certain companies provide Medical Alert Services not only to senior citizens, but also to persons of all ages who suffer from critical medical conditions which may deteriorate suddenly and necessitate an SOS for immediate help. It may also be noted that such medical emergencies not only occur in case of sick persons, but may also overtake the perfectly healthy. Suppose you are in peak health, driving on the road and then someone driving under the influence of liquor crashes into your car, leaving you in need of urgent medical help. Or you may be sitting alone in your home and you feel suffocated, seized with a panic and in need of immediate medical help.

Medical Coding Certification
Careers in medical fields are full of responsibilities, and dexterity in the specialized line of medical affairs is important. As time goes by, a career in the medical profession becomes more of a challenge, adventure and competition.

Medical Coding Salaries
A career in the medical profession is a challenge, adventure and competition. One can belong to any of the fields of medical science. One can be a doctor, medical officer, pharmaceutical manager, administrator of a hospital, nurse, medical transcriptor, medical biller, medical coder and much more. However, medical careers are particularly related to the manufacturing, business administrative and management fields of medicine. Among all the careers, one of the most intriguing and interesting fields is that of medical coding.

Infants and Acid Reflux
Infant acid reflux is quite common. People of all ages, especially infants because they consume only liquids or soft foods, suffer from mild heartburn or acidic regurgitation on occasion. As in adult cases, infants experience acid reflux when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is relaxed. The LES acts as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. It opens up to allow food into the stomach and then closes in order to protect the esophagus and other organs from acidic reflux. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine if an infant has developed a chronic form of heartburn called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

What Causes Acid Reflux?
Though the root causes are often unclear, perhaps the most prevalent acid reflux cause is a poor diet. Acid reflux occurs during digestion, when the stomach churns up acid or refluxes it into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat. So if you eat too many highly acidic foods like tomato sauces and/or fatty, fried foods, the stomach has to process an overabundance of acid. Too much acid can push back through a valve between the stomach and the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Acid reflux culprits include but are not limited to tomato based sauces, fried and fatty foods, chocolate, alcohol, citrus fruits, peppers, and caffeinated beverages.

Neuropathy Medication
Neuropathy is disease of the nervous system. One or more nerves of similar length could be damaged, thereby causing severe pain, numbness or tingling sensations.

Diabetic Neuropathy
As the name suggests, diabetic neuropathy is a nerve disorder caused by diabetes. Over many years, diabetic patients suffer damage to nerves all over the body. The longer a person has been diabetic, the greater the danger of diabetic neuropathy. Such nerve damage can manifest itself anywhere in the body, such as the digestive system, sex organs, or heart. It can lead to lack of sensation, tingling in the hands, arms, feet or legs. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of people who have diabetes are affected by some type of neuropathy, and maximum rates of neuropathy are amongst the populace who have had diabetes for close to 25 years. It is not limited only to diabetic patients; it could also affect people who are not able to control their blood pressure, who are overweight or persons over 40 years of age.

Symptoms And Causes Of Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a disease that affects the nervous system. 'Neuro' means nerves and 'pathy' means disease. It affects the nerve pathways running between the central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord - and the peripheral nervous system - motor and sensory neurons. The major symptoms are serious pain, stinging, lack of sensation and inflammation, which affect diverse parts of the body, especially feet and toes, and sometimes hands too.

Alcoholic Neuropathy
Alcoholic neuropathy defines the nerve disorder associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Nerve function is reduced, it is believed, by the toxins in alcohol and nutritional deficiencies.

Neuropathy Treatment
Addressing the root cause of neuropathy, such as diabetes or alcoholism, is the focus of neuropathy treatment. Physical exercises and training is also helpful to provide stability and power to muscles. Aids such as wheelchairs and splints can be used for mobility in the case of a paralyzed leg or arm.

Neuropathy Symptoms
In general, neuropathy symptoms begin with lack of sensation, prickling in the toes or fingers, and continue to extend to the feet and hands, causing burning sensation and severe pain, which is particularly acute at night time. Neuropathy pain is usually symmetrical, meaning one would have the pain on both sides of the body -on both feet and both hands, for example. Peripheral neuropathy usually develops suddenly. Symptoms include numbness, where patients feel as if they are wearing invisible gloves, acute pain, excessive sensitivity to pain, muscle weakness, loss of balance, high or low blood pressure, trouble with moving muscles, lack of sleep due to pain, and atypical sweating. The type of symptom of peripheral neuropathy depends on the nerves that are damaged, and this depends on the origin of the disease. Two causes of neuropathy are diabetes and alcoholism.

Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to the peripheral nervous system, which carries all messages to the brain. Peripheral nerves, when damaged, cannot carry, or carry distorted messages, to the brain from the extremities.

Neuropathic Pain
Common pain is a reaction to any sort of detrimental stimulus that teaches us not to repeat the action that caused the pain in the first place. Neuropathic pain is very distinct from every other type of pain a patient may experience. Neuropathic pain, or chronic pain, is not a symptom of another disease, but is itself the disease. Usually if there is pain in any part of the body, nerves from there send signals to the brain about that pain. But when the nerves are damaged, they cause pain all the time.

Lasik Albany New York
Are you looking for a lasik surgeon in Albany? In general, you will find surgeons that fall into one of three groups. They may be affiliated with a teaching or research institution, such as Albany Medical College. Surgeons may also be part of a group practice. The third group is surgeons who have their independent practices.

Lasik Rochester New York
The University of Rochester Medical Center is probably the largest local resource in the Rochester area for lasik surgeons. Its website has a useful 'Find a Provider' link to help you find eye surgeons who specialize in corneal surgery. Most of these surgeons are affiliated with the Strong Memorial Hospital. On the 'Find a Provider' link, you should select 'Ophthalmology' under specialty and 'Cornea/External Disease' under subspecialty. You will then get a list of surgeons with their contact information. You can also check their medical credentials and find out who is accepting new patients. Outside of the University of Rochester, there are a few group and independent practices.

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