Heartburn or GERD can Kill

Heartburn is a common annoyance. The busy lifestyle, quick meals, fatty or spicy foods all contribute to the occasional need of a chewable pain reliever. The acceptance of heartburn as an inconvenient, but natural, part of the daily grind can blind you to the warning that a severe heartburn symptom can bring.

Heartburn as a Disorder

Heartburn can be a symptom as well as a disorder. Simple heartburn or GERD can be controlled and dealt with. However, heartburn can signal the presence of a much more serious problem. If it’s heartburn, you will have a burning sensation in the chest usually after eating. There may be a spread of the burning to the throat, sometimes accompanied by a bad taste, difficulty in swallowing, belching, coughing, hoarseness and/or wheezing.

It can become worse by lying down or bending over or by eating. Relief can come from an antacid. While the more severe heartburn symptoms may be mistaken for a heart attack, simple heartburn is usually not made worse by exercise. If there is any concern that the pain may signal a heart attack, get help quickly.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Remove Wrinkles and Fine Lines

By Laura Larose

We are powerless to stop the process of aging. This does not mean, however, that we have to accept that aging means looking older. On the contrary; by using anti-aging creams in tandem with a few simple, health-preserving practices, you can keep your skin looking great and maintain your physical health for many years to come.

If a person's skin does not have enough collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, it will age prematurely. Sunlight, with its ultraviolet waves, is but one of many free radicals that increase this damage every single day. Therefore, to at once aid your skin in the fight against skin aging and assist in its restoration and preservation, you must seek out an anti-aging cream that contains the correct quantities of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Furthermore, while using the best quality anti-aging cream available, you should adhere to the following routines to protect your skin and your immune system from the ravages of free radicals and the aging process.

Get friendly with that parasol! A tan is best understood as a symptom of unhealthy skin. You have been led to believe that a bronzed body is a healthy body, but this is wholly inaccurate. A tan is in fact a minor sunburn, whereby maintaining a tan is a means to increase your risk for skin cancer, not to mention all the wrinkles that sun damage causes. Still, a person cannot avoid sunlight for their entire lives. Thus to preserve the youthful look of your face and body, you should always utilize a sunblock that is SPF 15 or greater when parts of your body are exposed to the sun's rays.

Your skin is an organ, so it should come as no surprise that practices which benefit your internal health will improve the appearance of your skin. So to keep your skin looking great, drink at least eight glasses of water a day (eight ounces each). Eat healthy, antioxidant and vitamin-rich foods. Take a multivitamin every day. Exercise on a regular basis: aerobic activity is great for your heart, your immune system, and especially your skin!

Do not smoke! Cigarettes and/or cigars ("cancer-sticks") are filled with carcinogens-toxins that exacerbate the aging process and wreak havoc on your heart, your immune system, and your skin. Some forms of alcohol are, however, actually good for you. Drink a glass of red wine and, as scientific examinations have demonstrated, you will imbibe a large amount of healthy antioxidants. Even so, avoid abusing alcohol.

Consider adding facial massages to your health regimen. In many ways, you are your face, and a plethora of age-lines and wrinkles are noticed by everyone around you. Numerous muscles are engaged in something as simple as a frown, and massaging them will ensure that they are relaxed and strong for years ahead. Keep your face from sagging and wrinkling by finding a facial masseuse.

It is imperative that you discover and use the best anti-aging cream possible. Such a cream will contain the perfect balance of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, allowing your face to experience a perfected balance of all three. Be sure that the anti-aging cream also is comprised of antioxidants; these are vital for their toxin-eradicating properties.

Steer clear of chemically-produced creams. These are usually ineffective, and even dangerous, generating the appearance of redness, inflaming and irritating the skin, or drying it out. Instead, use only natural, organic anti-aging creams made from natural ingredients. The proper anti-aging cream will soak into all seven layers of your skin, revitalizing it at the cellular level, helping you to maintain your youthful visage for decades into the future.

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Why Hospitals Use Credentialing

By Nate Henrie

Until a short time ago I honestly didn't know what hospital credentialing was. I had never heard of it. But now that I have I'll admit that I'm glad that hospitals across the country are doing it! So let's take a look at what this whole credentialing thing is and how it helps patients.

What Hospital Credentialing is All About?

So what is hospital credentialing? Basically, it's a process that doctors have to go through in order to do certain procedures at a hospital. If they don't have the credentials with that hospital, they can't do the procedure.

The fact is that hospitals have learned that it takes more than just going to school to be a competent doctor. So hospitals have implemented a credentialing system so that they can be sure to keep tabs on doctors and make sure they are competent in the right areas. The actual process will vary from hospital to hospital, but it usually at least involves peer reviews and other criteria.

These days most hospitals will use some kind of software system to keep track of which doctors have the right credentials and which don't.

How Credentialing Helps

One of the biggest risks that a patient faces when going in for an operation or other procedure is malpractice. I'm not talking about simple human errors, but a doctor that does something above their qualifications and competency. By using a credentialing system a hospital can reduce the risk of malpractice to their patients by making sure that their doctors are qualified.

Credentialing can also help reduce the amount of money that hospitals have to spend on lawsuits and investigations associated with mistakes, accidents and malpractice.

As I mentioned before, I wasn't really aware of this system until recently. My hope is that if any hospital has not adopted this type of system that they will start to. It only makes sense since it not only protects patients, but also doctors and hospitals.

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Natural Ways To Help Treat Your Bad Breath

By Patty Kojima

It is no fun to suffer from halitosis. Bad breath is an embarrassing problem to deal with. It causes problems when people cower away from the foul smell of your breath. It is important to cure bad breath as soon as possible. Here are a number of remedies which you can try to cure your halitosis.

Good oral hygiene will help remove bad breath to some degree. You should brush your teeth, gums, and tongue thoroughly after every meal. This will stop bacteria from feeding on the food particles left behind in your mouth. Bacteria that remain in your mouth and feed on food particles release volatile sulfurous compounds (VSCs) which stink up your mouth. Sometimes food particles stuck between your teeth cannot be reached by a toothbrush. Flossing between your teeth after every meal will help prevent halitosis.

A highly acid environment allows bacteria to reproduce quickly. One cause of your halitosis may be that your mouth is overly acidic. This can also cause an unpleasant bitter or sour taste in your mouth. Adjust your oral ph by neutralizing acid with baking soda. Use baking soda on your toothbrush. You can even add it to your toothpaste. This should help with bad breath issues.

Because halitosis can be associated with your digestive process, specifically inadequate digestion, it can also work to cure halitosis. In essence, apple cider vinegar provides the same function of digestion as stomach acid.

If you feel this may be your problem, or you know you have digestive problems, then take a little apple cider vinegar before or after every meal. It will help stomach acids completely break down your food. This helps eliminate the buildup of foul gases which can come out of your mouth as disgusting breath. If you need to, take the apple cider vinegar with water.

Chlorophyll, known for giving green plants their color, is another good remedy for halitosis. Many people are unaware of the benefits of chlorophyll when it comes to treating problems in your digestive system and intestines.

Because some halitosis is associated with digestive problems, chlorophyll added to your diet may be an effective way to get rid of bad breath. Chlorophyll is cleansing and will act like a deodorizer freshening your breath.

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Are You Suffering From Acid Reflux?

By Jonie Carpenter

Acid reflux can occur at any time, to anyone. If you have never had acid reflux before, you may not recognize the symptoms at first. You will probably brush it off as ?something you ate?.

Left untreated, acid reflux symptoms usually go away on their own. While one or two acid reflux episodes will likely not cause any harm, untreated acid reflux will cause damage over time.

If you have ever felt a burning sensation after eating, you may be suffering from acid reflux. Luckily it is easily treatable and most over the counter antacids eliminate it quickly.

There are different forms of acid reflux. A common one is called Dyspepsia, which may include stomach or abdomen pain, a feeling of fullness even long after you have finished, and occasionally nausea.

The second most common type of acid reflux is heartburn. This type is characterized by a burning pain that travels up your esophagus from the stomach to the chest and throat.

A third common symptom of acid reflux is regurgitation. Unfortunately, it sounds like what it is. This symptom produces a bitter or sour taste and can cause stomach acid to come back up into the mouth. If you suspect you may be suffering from acid reflux, analyzing the symptoms is a good place to start. Untreated acid reflux can cause damage to the lining of your stomach and esophagus.

If you think you may be suffering from acid reflux, try to define your symptoms as clearly as possible. Most mild antacids will take care of the reflux symptoms right away.

Acid reflux is a common occurrence among people of all ages, including children and infants. If you are experiencing acid reflux on a regular basis or the over the counter remedies are not working, consult with your doctor right away.

What we eat and how we eat is by far the biggest contributor to acid reflux. Large or heavy meals almost always trigger it. Try eating less or incorporating water or other healthy fillers into your meal to reduce the possibility for acid reflux when you finish eating. Taking an antacid before you eat will also keep the symptoms under control.

If you will be eating these foods, try to combine them with other foods that are lower in acidity. Drinking water helps to decrease the symptoms substantially.

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Medical Jobs Dealing With Law

By Amy Nutt

If you are looking for a job that combines medicine with the law, you have two basic routes you can take. Either you can choose medical jobs that deal directly with law enforcement, or you can choose a job in law that deals directly with medicine. The two may not seem much different, but there are differences.

For a job in medicine that deals with the law, you could choose to work as a coroner. Coroners frequently perform medical examinations on bodies that are connected with criminal cases. You will need to have a thorough knowledge of medicine, but you will also need to have a basic knowledge of the law.

A similar job is the job of medical examiner. These medical professionals also examine dead bodies to find the cause of death, but almost always when foul play is suspected. They work closely with the law enforcement officials to collect evidence from the body that can be used in court.

Another type of medical professional that deals with the law is a sexual assault nurse. These professionals are responsible for collecting evidence from rape victims that can be used in DNA testing in order to determine who the assailant was. Again, these professionals must know how to collect the evidence in compliance with the law so that it can be given as evidence in court.

If you are interested in pursuing one of these careers, you will need to pursue a medical degree as your primary degree. However, taking some law enforcement classes can help you get your foot in the door. You can minor in law enforcement or just take some electives in order to add some of that experience to your portfolio.

In some ways, all medical professionals deal with the law. Pediatricians must be able to spot the signs of child abuse and report them appropriately. General practitioners must do the same and also be able to spot signs of domestic abuse in adults. All doctors must be aware of the laws that surround medical malpractice so that they can protect themselves from any potential lawsuits. The law and medicine seem to go hand in hand.

If you are more interested in pursuing a law degree but wish to have some contact with the medical field, you can pursue a job an the clinical/medical negligence arena. This deals with malpractice lawsuits. Malpractice lawyers can represent either the doctor or the patient in a malpractice case. When representing the doctor, the lawyer's job is to prove that the doctor did, in fact, provide all reasonable and necessary care for the patient. When representing the patient, the lawyer's job is to prove the opposite.

While a malpractice lawyer needs to know the law primarily, understanding the medical field is helpful, as it allows the lawyer to relate to the terminology used by the physicians in the case. Malpractice lawyers typically study medical law and ethics, which gives them the tools necessary to decipher the tangled web of malpractice lawsuits, no matter which side they are fighting for. This career is typically chosen through the law school process as a future lawyer finds a proficiency for a particular field of law.

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