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.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Zimmer Durom Cup Lawsuits are Pending

By Maxwell Schmickman

Zimmer Durom Cup Hip Implants had been used successfully in Europe for 3 years prior to being approved for use in the United States in 2006. Less than two years later, the device had already been implanted in more than 12,000 American patients, and numerous problems with the implants were already beginning to surface. American doctors started searching for reasons the procedures had failed and pinpointed the cup as a defective product that was prone to problems.

Most states within the U.S. have laws designed to help patients who incur pain and suffering caused by defects in prosthetic devices. Per these laws, patients are entitled to compensation for their pain, medical expenses, and lost wages if it can be proven that a defective implant was to blame for their problems. Although Zimmer still stands fully behind its device based on its track record in Europe, it voluntarily pulled the product from the American market in July, 2008 in order to develop better training methods for doctors who insert the implants.

By using Google to search the Internet for "Zimmer Durom Cup Lawsuits" you can find many websites of attorneys who feel that patients have a case against Zimmer and offer to help them file lawsuits. The number of implant failures continues to grow, and these attorneys who have taken it upon themselves to become involved truly believe that Zimmer is at fault. Physicians tend to agree and estimate that hundreds of the devices will fail within the next few years.

Some physicians have performed exploratory surgeries to try and determine what is causing their patients so much trouble. In some cases they have discovered that the cup has become so loose in the socket that it just pops out when touched. In other cases, the entire device has been found to have migrated a short distance away from where it should be located. Since the device has reputedly been so successful in Europe, Zimmer continues to deny any wrongdoing. Even so, physicians have estimated that almost 6% of the Durom Cup implants will fail and need revision within the next few years.

Zimmer stockholders take the position that Zimmer should have announced a suspension of U.S. sales before January 22, 2008 instead of waiting until July. Because of this belief, they have filed a class action lawsuit in Indiana requesting damages for those investors who purchased stock between January 22 and July, 2008 when the product was finally pulled from the market.

Zimmer is still taking the position that its product is not defective. Instead they believe that the inadequate training given to physicians prior to performing the procedure is to blame. With this in mind, Zimmer announced in October, 2008 that it would be setting aside $47.5 million in order to pay off lawsuits resulting from the surgical failures referring to a July report which said that as much as 5.7% of the surgeries could require revision. This fund has been earmarked to pay for "revisions associated with surgeries that predate the company's voluntary suspension and which also occur within two years of the original surgery date.

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Mindpower Secrets Revealed

By Brian Parry

Did you know that we only use 10% of our mindpower? It's pretty amazing to think about what we could accomplish if we could somehow tap into the 90% of our minds which usually go unused. Certainly, there is a lot of unexplored potential right there in our own minds.

The scientific opinion has long been that those who have psychic abilities and extra sensory perception are able to use these abilities by tapping into those great unused mental reserves. Some seem to have been born with these abilities, while others learn later on in life how to start using this potential mind power.

We're not sure yet how it works, but there is ongoing research into how our own mindpower can influence the world we live in.

Some studies even point towards the ability of our own minds to change reality. Our minds may be molded by the world less that they mold it, it seems.

And with films such as 'The Secret' which explains the theory of the law of attraction, people are realizing that by changing the way they see things and by using their mindpower, they can attract abundance and anything they want into their life.

In case you have not come across it before, the law of attraction concerns the whole universe and states that there is a cause and effect for everything we do. So whatever you think about you will get! You must however communicate with your subconscious mind to tell it what you want; otherwise it presumes you want everything to stay as it is. Scientifically this is known as a state of homeostasis.

The subconscious mind appears to be out means of communicating with the universe and channeling universal energy as well as being the source of psychic abilities like telepathy.

In order to develop your mindpower, you need to get your conscious and subconscious minds in communication with each other. There a number of different methods to build this link and help you increase your mindpower.

Affirmations:- A staple of positive thinking, affirmations are repeated until they sink into the subconscious mind, where they influence your behavior to achieve the desired outcomes. Your subconscious can make things happen by using your unused mindpower.

For example, you could increase your self esteem with affirmation such as 'I am a confident, successful person'. You can also use affirmations to break bad habits, using sayings like 'I do not smoke and have no desire to have a cigarette'.

Affirmations produce results with repetition. You need to repeat the message until it reaches your subconscious and begins to make you change your behavior to get the results you've wanted.

Follow this line of reasoning and you'll see that you can change everything; not just your own behavior but reality itself can be molded by your own mindpower!

Visualization:- Using visualization to develop mindpower involves closing your eyes and imagining what you want to happen. Your subconscious mind reacts strongly to pictures. Visualize yourself being successful. Imagine yourself will everything you have ever dreamed of! Visualize that new house, that new car. You can even make a scrapbook beforehand containing pictures of everything you want to manifest to help you focus. Visualize consistently and it really will appear in your life.

You can even visualize yourself using some of your other latent mental abilities. For example, visualize yourself communication with someone else telepathically or being able to use remote viewing. Using your mindpower in this way will help these natural psychic abilities to develop.

Hypnosis:- Hypnosis is a very effective means of boosting mindpower through communicating with the subconscious. You can work with a professional hypnotherapist who will place you into a state of deep relaxation and then supply suggestions to your subconscious mind which it will begin to work on once you wake up from your trance.

You don't necessarily have to go to a professional hypnotist either. You can use the technique of self hypnosis, listening to a hypnotherapy session which has been recorded. This is far cheaper than going to a hypnotist yourself and of course, you can use this recording anytime you like.

Brainwave entrainment:- This is an audio technology which uses specially recorded frequencies to synchronize your brainwaves to improve memory, alleviate pain or any number of other beneficial effects.

There are frequencies which help your mind to reach the meditative state needed to communicate with your subconscious and develop your mindpower.

You can also listen to frequencies which are designed to build mindpower by stimulating the chakras " the energy centers located throughout the human body. The 'third eye' chakra located in the forehead is especially important, since this is the chakra which is responsible for psychic powers.

All of us already have these psychic powers; but they must be developed by enhancing your mindpower. Unless you make the effort to develop these abilities, they remain locked in your subconscious mind and are never used.

So when we talk about developing mindpower we really mean unlocking all of the latent powers and true potential of every human being.

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Stop Smoking Remedies You Need To Quit smoking for Good

By Denzil De Vries

After years of trying to quit smoking, you may be looking for different stop smoking remedies. "The patch", the most common stop smoking remedy which can be bought from many drugstores, helps smokers in their battle with the difficulties of quitting smoking and enables them to be able to better endure withdrawal symptoms.

In order to achieve the desired result, the patch must be used consistently for three months, each and every day. More than half of the smokers who use this particular stop smoking remedy are successful in quitting. There are some side effects and some people have trouble sleeping, and also the skin may become irritated due to the patch. Quitters are also advised to seek counseling while they are trying to kick the habit as well.

Stop smoking remedies are also available as prescription medication. One such medication is popularly referred to as the "pill." Bupropion, which is the generic form of Zyban, is a prescription anti-depressant. Although its primary purpose is that of an anti-depressant, it also curbs nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Several studies claim that Zyban has twice the effectiveness of a nicotine patch. Zyban is non-addictive, but can have some mild side effects, including sleep disturbance and dry mouth.

Less effective but still popular stop smoking remedies include gum and nicotine inhalers. Gum, which is an oral remedy, helps smokers who suffer from cravings during withdrawal periods. When symptoms begin to take their toll, individuals can chew nicotine gum instead of smoking. It is best used for three months and can be chewed often. Some individuals have even been known to chew 24 sticks of gum per day. On the other hand, nicotine inhaler allows individuals to take a dose whenever they get a craving, making the transition between smoking and not smoking easier by mimicking the effects of smoking. Side effects include throat and mouth irritation.

Some people prefer natural stop smoking remedies. Many individuals put salt on their tongue whenever they feel like they need a smoke. This psychological remedy mimics the theory of behaviorism, which claims that people can be trained to respond in certain ways. By putting salt on their tongue, these individuals come to associate the urge to smoke with the distasteful taste of salt, and thus, this helps them quit smoking,

Drinking lots of water is vital for people who are trying to quit smoking. A blend of celery and carrot juice can also help a person resist nicotine cravings. Another option which can help people quit is exercise, which both distracts the person trying to stop smoking from his or her cravings and releases endorphins to relax the body.

Stop smoking remedies will only be effective if individuals follow them. Smokers who attempt quitting must have the desire and motivation to conquer their addictions. It's imperative that quitting be their top priority. Only people who are dedicated can let go of the habit permanently and successfully.

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Choosing A Home Health Care Agency Should Be Done Carefully

By Jen Parsens

When you have a loved one that is ready for some extra care, yet you do not feel right placing them in a nursing home, you might want to find them a home care agency that can come out and evaluate their needs.

Finding the right home care agency isn't always easy. You have to meet with the organizations staff and figure out what kind of services are offered by the agency, and what kinds of services your loved one needs.

For instance, if your loved one is capable of being by themselves for part of the day, yet cannot be alone at night, you may need a home care agency that provide a nurse's aide or nurse to stay the night with your loved one. If your loved one is capable of being by there selves at night yet need help during the day, a nurse's aide during the day might be reasonable.

Sometimes you might find that a persons needs are more than a nurse's aide can provide. Perhaps they get IM injections of medications or need specialized care for a G-tube or an IV. In this case, a registered nurse might be required to come in daily and take care of them so they can remain in their own home yet get the medical care necessary to carry on.

Most of the time, a home care agency can give you a list of the services they can provide, depending on the type of staff they have, and you can decide if they are right for the job. Once you find that you have an agency in mind, you need to check the licensing and make sure everything is in order. Your insurance has to be accepted, and most of the time if the person they will be caring for is elderly, it is.

A good home care agency will be willing to discuss everything with you in detail without withholding any information. This is a good thing because you are going to be entrusting the care of someone you hold close to your heart to these essential strangers, and you should be aware of any problems that might arise.

Choosing the right home care agency is definitely not a decision to be taken lightly or done quickly. There are plenty of agencies out there, all of whom provide some of the same services and different services at the same time. Just choose carefully and wisely, and your loved one should be well taken care of.

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Getting Familiar With The Acai Berry

By Dana Hawkes

The acai berry seems to have reached a sudden dizzying level of superstardom, but the fact is that this berry has been present on mother earth since centuries and has been used for its health benefits too. The acai is a native Brazilian fruit. It has been known in the rainforest region since several centuries. It is one of the staple foods of the region. But, it is only in the recent times that this berry has become popular outside this geographical region.

Acai berries are most popularly known for their high antioxidant content. They have the highest amount of antioxidants of all foods known today. Other foods that have a good antioxidant presence are grapes and blueberries. But the acai berry supersedes both these foods in terms of antioxidants. It has 10 times higher antioxidant property than grapes have and twice that of blueberries.

Apart from the antioxidants, acai berries are also known for the presence of other nutrients such as omega fats (which help in building up the helpful cholesterol in the body and reduce the harmful cholesterol amount), fibers, amino acids, proteins and vitamins A, B1 and E. Some health experts call acai berries as complete foods because of the high concentration of all these nutrients in them.

So, why is the acai berry so popular? The main reason for that is its high-potency nutrient content. There are various health benefits that are ascribed to the acai, including weight loss, mitigating aging signs, improving vision, improving cardiac health, controlling blood sugar levels, correcting cholesterol imbalances, improving mental health and sexual effectiveness and so on.

However, the acai berry is not a very stable food. It has a very short shelf life. The berry doesn't endure for more than 24 hours after it is plucked. That is the reason the berry was not gettable outside of its geographical region until lately.

Today, we have advanced in ways of preservation. That makes it possible to import acai berry around the world in the form of numerous products. The usual products that are made from the acai berry include pulp, squash, freeze dried powder, juice and so on.

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