Health Archives

Did you know that research studies show people with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to have coronary artery disease? Yes, the evidence is in, and if you have bleeding gums there is a high likelihood that you have, or will have, problems with your heart.

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Not only that but this low-grade persistence infection in your system will lower the birth weight of your baby if you have periodontal disease while you are pregnant. So obviously periodontal disease, which is frequently characterized by bleeding gums, is a very serious situation.

When you look into a mirror you want to see gums that are pale pink, nice and smooth, and firm, and that form a cone or peak between the teeth. You will be looking for gums that taper to a fine edge at the point where they touch the teeth.

Identifying periodontal disease is very important and the sooner one begins treatment for periodontal disease so much the better for that person. The treatment options available to someone with periodontal disease do vary somewhat depending on the individual’s dental health history and how severe the periodontal disease is when it is first discovered.

Supplemental dental insurance can help you deal with the high cost of treatment.

The good news is that as with many diseases when it is caught early treatment for periodontal disease is very effective. Quite frequently the first stage of treatment involves a deep cleaning which is much more than your normal semiannual cleaning and can be quite expensive.

In order to help patients recognize periodontal disease early many general dentists now perform periodontal screening and recording using a painless probe to measure pockets. Larger pockets making it more likely that you are susceptible to suffering from periodontal disease.

Even though this screening is an additional cost to your semiannual or annual dental examination the benefits to your dental health specifically and your overall health in general are tremendous and well worth the small additional cost necessary to diagnose the problem early.

Hair is constantly going through cycles of growth, resting, shedding. When hairs that are lost are not replaced, or when more hair follicles go into the resting phase, hair loss becomes noticeable. Let’s talk about hair loss. The list below shows many of the common contributing factors.

Ageing – the period for hair loss is between the 20 and 50 years of age. Some individuals arrive at the advance stages of hair loss sooner than others.

Drugs/Medications/Radiation included are anticoagulants, antidepressants, contraceptive pills, amphetamines, some arthritis medications, some antibiotics, some blood thinners, medicines for gout, drugs derived from vitamin-A, certain drugs for ulcers, beta blocker drugs for high blood pressure. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy halt the growth phase of hair follicles which results in a sudden hair loss as those follicles all shed their hair at about the same time. This is how medications influences the hair.

Heredity androgenetic alopecia is the term used to describe a genetic predisposition in men and women for pattern baldness or pattern hair loss. Although there is a dominant tendency for male pattern baldness, female members of a family can be transmitters as well.

Hormonal imbalance – if the male and female hormones, androgens and estrogens, are out of balance, hair loss may result. Also an overactive or underactive thyroid gland can contribute to hair loss.

Illness and severe infections – like scalp fungal infections, Thyroid disorders, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Diabetes, Lupus

Immune System Disorder Alopecia areata is an immune system disorder which causes hair follicles to stop producing hairs. Advanced forms of the disorder are identified by the terms alopecia totalis when all head hair disappears..

Menopause – due to hormonal changes after menopause, some women find their hair begins to thin. There are a variety of treatments available involving hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Pregnancy – three to six months after delivering a child, many women notice a degree of hair loss as the hair goes into a resting phase because of the physiological impact of the pregnancy on the body.

Pulling Traction alopecia is the term used to describe loss of hair from constant pulling, as with tightly braided hair styles such as pony tails.

Sebum Buildup – sebum buildup in the follicles attacks the hair bulb. Sebum causes the hair bulb to shrink so the hair is not as well rooted. After the hair falls out the new hair strand growing in that follicle is weaker and thinner and the process is repeated until the hair follicle is so damaged it dies. (Sebum is a fatty substance secreted from the sebaceous glands most of which open into hair follicles.)/dies.

Stress and Nervous Disorders Telogen effluvium is the term used for a slowing down of new hair growth because of sudden or severe stress. The stress triggers a large number of hair follicles to enter the resting stage, so a few months after the stressful event, those follicles shed hair at about the same time. Read more about yoga and stress relief to make sure that you know how to handle the problem.

If somebody was to suddenly suffer a heart attack in your presence and you did not know what to do, it could lead to loss of a life that could have been saved had you only taken the trouble to learn about CPR first aid. It is also quite normal for mishaps and serious illnesses to occur in one’s presence though at the same time it is just as common to come across many people that are not aware of how to deal with such situations.

Save Victims

It is also a well known fact that a majority of illnesses as well as injuries occur at home, in the community as well as in the schools and offices as well as in public places. And, it is also an unquestionable fact that proper CPR first aid can help save victims and make a real difference to their well being.

Mercifully, CPR first aid training is widely available and thus you can easily learn about the required techniques that will help save lives and which can make a stricken person regain their ability to resume their normal bodily functions following administration of proper and appropriate first aid care. Typical instances when CPR first aid becomes necessary are when a person stops to breathe or their hearts stop. In fact, these situations are when Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR helps in getting the victim to begin breathing again and it also helps restarts the heart once more.

The simple fact is that CPR first aid is something that all of us should be acquainted with and there is no excuse to not learn these simple techniques. To be sure, the Red Cross has brought CPR first aid training to each and every different hospital in widest possible areas in the world and even a local community center would have people and facilities geared to providing CPR first aid, and people can also learn these techniques from such sources.

CPR first aid certification is another aspect to providing proper first aid and of course it means that you will need to avoid taking courses that are ‘blended’ and opt instead for one that is truly worthwhile and effective and which requires that you take an exam (practical) to ensure that you are thoroughly grounded in this form of CPR first aid as well.

Basically, CPR requires that you learn mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as and when it becomes necessary and you also need to learn about what chest compression is. To be sure, CPR first aid training is absolutely a requirement for those engaged in certain kinds of jobs including in nursing home facilities and schools, though it is just as useful under all situations and to a lesser extent, vitally important that an average person too becomes acquainted with its techniques as well.

More Articles About CPR

Rheumatoid Arthritis, an auto immune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own connective tissue is a chronic condition with no known cure. The protective cartilage that acts like a cushion between the joints is affected, causing pain, inflammation, and damage; injury to other organs such as lungs, heart and eyes may occur as well. Recognizing and identifying the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis is extremely important in order to provide proper diagnosis and treatment before this disease causes irreparable damage.

Depending upon the activity of the disease, or the individual patient, the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis can be mild or severe. Common symptoms may include:

- Joint pain and stiffness in joints usually on both sides of the body (symmetrical)
- Fatigue
- Fever or flu like symptoms
- Morning stiffness lasting more than 20 minutes
- Muscle aches
- Swelling, redness of joints
- Chest pain that comes with coughing or deep breathing
- Chest pain when laying down or bending forward
- Nodules under the skin around the joints where there is frequent pressure

Diagnosis should be done as quickly as possible by a specialist called a Rheumatologist. The doctor will review symptoms and medical history with the patient. A physical and x-rays will possible be performed in order to determine possible joint damage and severity of joint damage. Blood work is ordered to detect the abnormal antibodies called Rheumatoid factor (Rhf), which is commonly found in over 80% of rheumatoid patients. Arthrocentesis is a procedure which may be done in the doctor’s office. Fluid is extracted from the affected joint by a needle and syringe. It relieves pressure and provides a sample of joint fluid to determine whether another cause of arthritis is creating the problem such as gout or infection.

Treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis is commonly done in two ways, “first line” medication and “second line” medication. “First line” or fast-acting drugs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or cortisone, are used to reduce pain and inflammation. Slow acting class or “second line’ drugs are used to bring the disease into remission and prevent joint damage. “Second line” medications such as methotrexate, gold shots and plaquenil are known to be effective treatments. Surgery may be required to repair joints in some patients with severe joint deformity.

There are several other options a sufferer has to keep discomfort at a minimum. Regular physical activity aides in maintaining a healthy weight which relieves joints from unneeded pressure, it also prevents muscles from atrophying and becoming lax. Many foods such as night shade may cause painful flare ups, keeping watch on what is being consumed may aide in preventing pain as well. Topical rubs and heating pads are known to provide comfort and soothe painful joints and muscles. Glucosamine, Vitamin D and calcium are just some of the dietary supplements that can be taken to promote healthy joints and energy.

Consulting with a health professional is very important before beginning any new exercise or treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can provide a happy, healthy and active life can be had despite Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Learn more about dealing with the painful Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms at http://www.anaudlife.com where I share my thoughts, experiences and insights of living with this often crippling condition such as how to recognize Arthritis Food Triggers