News for March 24th 2009
5 KEYS TO FIND A GOOD COSMETIC SURGEON
The most recent statistics show that well over 3 million Americans undergo plastic surgery each year. Most of the people who have such surgery—to improve their appearances or correct damage caused by accidents or disease— report that they experience no serious side effects and are completely satisfied with the results.
Even so, experts are recommending that anyone who is considering cosmetic surgery should take some common sense precautions in finding a qualified and skilled practitioner. Since this is an almost $4-billion-a-year industry, some unethical and unqualified people have “taken up practice”. The result has been tragic for the thousands of people who have been mutilated and swindled out of millions of dollars.
There are only about 4000 physicians who are properly board-certified in plastic surgery, and finding one of those can be quite time-consuming. How can you be sure of getting one of these properly certified, skilled doctors to perform your cosmetic surgery? Here are several expert suggestions to help you make the right choice:
1) Inspect the doctor’s credentials. You can find out if the doctor has been certified by calling the American Board of Medical Specialties at 800-776-2378 or the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons at 800-635- 0635. If the doctor objects to such a background check, mark him or her off your list and find someone else.
You can also find out whether or not the doctor is a member of the staff of a major hospital— practically all hospitals require that their doctors carry malpractice insurance. If the doctor is on the staff of a hospital, you can ask if he or she has the hospital privileges to perform the procedure you want, even if the surgery is to be done in the doctor’s office. If the doctor has no such privileges, find another doctor.
2) Ask the doctor to give you “references”. Request the names of people upon whom the doctor has performed the same procedure that you are considering. Talk with these former patients and find out whether or not they are satisfied with the doctor and their surgery.
3) Be suspicious of any doctor who talks exclusively of miraculous results, and a safe, quick surgery, never mentioning any possible risks and complications.
4) Make sure there will be adequate emergency equipment and an experienced anesthetist on hand if the surgery is to be performed at a doctor’s office or at a surgical center.
5) The doctor should take your complete medical history and give you a thorough physical examination. It may also be prudent to bring along to the consultation an objective friend or family member to provide another perspective.
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Edited: March 24th, 2009
FOOTACHES: NATURAL CURES PROVIDE FAST RELIEF FOR SORE FEET
According to medical experts, most footaches are caused by an imbalance in the muscles. If your feet hurt, you may be using your foot and leg muscles improperly. Or you may be wearing shoes that go against the natural shape of your foot. Here’s what you can do to alleviate most footaches:
1) Elevate and relax— after a long day, treat your feet by elevating them at a 45 degree angle on an ottoman or chair, etc. , and exercise your toes. Twenty minutes a day should do it.
2) Try a salts-water-soak— this is a proven method of easing the discomfort of a footache. Just put your feet in a basin of warm water and two tablespoons of Epsom salts. Afterwards, rinse with clear, cool water; pat your feet dry; then massage on a moisturizing product.
3) Give yourself a foot massage— it’s also nice if you have someone to massage them for you, but either way, getting your feet massaged with baby oil can turn your day around completely. Here’s how you do it: gently squeeze your toes, then proceed to press in a circular motion over the bottom of your foot. Once you get started, the right technique will come to you.
4) Switch to low-heel shoes— wearing high-heels tends to tighten the calf muscles. The result is usually foot fatigue.
5) Get thick soles— shoes with thick, shock-absorbing soles can protect your feet from just about every surface, no matter how rough.
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Edited: March 24th, 2009
4 WAYS TO BE PREPARED FOR HOME EMERGENCIES
1) Know where to call— this means locating and posting telephone numbers for your local emergency medical service, your local poison control center, your doctor, and the nearest hospital emergency department, next to your telephone. Many communities now have the 911 phone number for emergency response, but in some communities you must dial a seven-digit number to call for an ambulance.
When you call for an ambulance, give your name, address, and telephone number, and then clearly and calmly explain the situation and describe any obvious injuries. Stay calm and follow exactly all the instructions you are given.
2) Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit— your first-aid kit should contain several basic items usually required in emergencies. A good first-aid kit includes such items as a first-aid manual; disposable, instant cold packs; antiseptic wipes; antibiotic cream; aspirin and acetaminophen; gauze and adhesive tape; a triangular bandage (for making splints); a roll of cotton; an adhesive bandage; waterproof bandages; an elastic bandage; a thermometer; scissors, tweezers, safety pins; and syrup of ipecac. Such basic kits are available at most drug stores.
3) Know your medical history— this requires keeping a record of the medical history of each member of your family. The information you should have recorded includes all medications being taken (including dosages); any allergies, such as medications and/or insect bites; and when immunizations were given.
4) Get training in basic first-aid and CPR— such training will help ensure that your actions in an emergency situation will be both appropriate and effective. Groups such as the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association and the National Safety Council offer first-aid and CPR courses and information.
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Edited: March 24th, 2009
HERBS TO TRY FOR VARIOUS AILMENTS
Many people have reported excellent results from the following herbs – available in any good health food store. Try them – they could work wonders for you!
Aches
Catnip, peppermint, valerian, black haw
Anemia
Comfrey, dandelion, raspberry leaves
Bed-wetting
Plantain, hyssop, red sage, camomi
Boils
hops, comfrey, slippery elm, sorrel, wild cherry bark, burdock
Bronchitis
Coltsfoot, golden seal, mullen, white pine, red sage, chickweed,
Cuts
Comfrey, hyssop, goldseal
Constipation
ginger, blue flag, balmony, rhubard root, chickweed
Dandruff
nettle, sage, burdock
Diarrhea
birch, comfrey, peppermmint, red raspberry blackberry root, mullein
Eczema
Beech, bloodroot, strawberry, white poplar bark, nettle.golden seal
Gas
Anise, mint, dill, sassafras, yarrow, sage
Bad Breath
Golden seal, rosemary
Headache
Catnip, coltsfoot, peppermint, rosemary, camomile
Heartburn
Beech, poplar, majoram, resemary, wild cherry bark, golden seal
Hiccoughs
Dill, orange juice
Hoarseness
Golden seal, mullein, wild cherry
Parsley, balm, borage, fennel, hyssop, penyroyal, black cohosh
Itching
Yellow dock, borage, marjoram, chickweed Nerves
Camomile, dill, golden seal, red clover, rosemary, thyme, red sage, wild cherry, sage, peach leaves, Solomon’s seal
Obesity
Chickweed, white ash, sassafras
Pimples
Gentian, plantain, valerian
Poison Ivy
Golden seal, myrrh, bloodroot, lobelia Arthritis
Blue flag, elder, willow, wintergreen, lobelia, nettle, poplar, black cohosh, cayenne, wild yam, yellow dock
Ringworm
Golden seal,lobelia, blood root
Burns
Bitterseet, chickweed, elder
Sinus Problems
Plantain, golden seal
Sore throat
Ginger, hyssop, mullein, sage, sassafras, borage, golden seal, wild alum root
Swellings
Burdock, comfrey, white oak bark, yellow dock, camomile, mugwort Toothache
Pennyroyal, plantain, cloves, savory, balm
Urinary Problems
Squaw vine, peach leaves, dandelion, comfrey, chicory, carrot, poplar bark, white ash, marjoram, yarrow, burddock
Vomiting
Spearmint, clover, peach leaves (small doses)
Warts
Mullein Worms
Bitterroot, lobelia, red clover, red clover, coltsfoot Improve Appetite
Red raspberry leaves, peppermint, clover, sweet basil
Improve Sleep
Hops, mullein, peppermint, Stimulants
Cayenne, ginger, peppermint, nettle, rue, pennyroyal
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Edited: March 24th, 2009
ALARMING DANGERS OF GROUP B STREP AND CHILDBIRTH
Every year, 12,000 babies suffer brain damage or die after being infected with the common bacteria known as Group B Strep (GBS) during delivery. Until now, most obstetricians did not regularly test women for GBS, but new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) may change that. The new guidelines encourage screening for GBS between weeks 28 and 30 of pregnancy. If a woman tests positive, ACOG recommends that she be given intravenous antibiotics during labor to protect the baby, but only in the event of another risk factor, such as premature labor or premature rupture of membranes, present during labor.
Since as many as 40 percent of all pregnant women carry GBS, and less than one percent of their babies get sick, not all mothers who test positive are treated. According to medical experts, giving antibiotics to all mothers carrying GBS would increase the danger that the bacteria would eventually become immune to the drugs, making it even more dangerous.
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Edited: March 24th, 2009