Battling For Health

I’ve been fortunate in the last month to be blessed with with some really good circumstances:  a relocation to a new city with great opportunities, employment in a situation that lets me blend the two things that I’m most interested in (science and writing), and the welcome surprise of moving into a great apartment that me, my husband, and my two parrots love.

My family has always instilled in me the sense of giving back when one has been so blessed, so in that spirit of giving, I signed up today to be a volunteer at my local hospital.  Incidentally, my local hospital happens to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic, America’s #1 Best Hospital for cancer treatment according to the 2007 US News & World Report.  My orientation session is this Friday, and I’m really excited to start. . . and I’d like you to come and join me as a new volunteer!

Why volunteer?

1. Volunteer because you or someone you know has cancer.  I have one aunt who is a survivor of breast cancer and one close friend who is battling a particularly rare form of uterine cancer.  Even though deaths due to cancer are now on the decline, the physical and emotional impact of each new diagnosis is huge.  Volunteer your time because as a current patient, survivor, friend or family member of a cancer patient, you know what the face of cancer looks like.

2. Volunteering helps you invest in your community.  Call it “The Golden Rule,” an exercise in spirituality, karma coming back to you, or whatever you want — giving back to the place where you live makes your community a better place.  The benefit that you give to a place isn’t just in measured in dollars, but in a sense of pride.  And who doesn’t want to be part of a community that they’re proud of?

3. Volunteering gives legs to the existence of hundreds of non-profit organizations.  They educate about prevention and early detection, they help current patients through financial and emotional support, and they fund a huge number medical and scientific advances in research through grants.  However, non-profit organization organizations can’t exist without volunteers to spread their message. Find an organization you can get behind, and volunteer your time. It can really make a difference.  

4. Volunteering can give you a chance to meet new people.  As mentioned before, I’ve recently moved to a new town.  Since I telecommute, I don’t often get a chance to talk to that many people face-to-face.  By signing up as a volunteer at my local hospital, I get the chance to interact with other volunteers, patients and their loved ones, and health care professionals.  It’s a win-win situation!

5. Volunteering can help you learn new skills.  I tend to be a behind-the-scenes organizer in my work life, but volunteering often forces me to take the reigns and lead in ways I never thought I could.  After my first year of graduate school, I took time off to serve as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer.  I spent the first three months getting a crash course in developing, organizing, and implementing an after-school enrichment program for elementary school students.  Spending day after day hiring tutors, working with teachers to develop curriculum, creating class schedules, and recruiting high school volunteers, I often joked that having a highly specialized background in genetics didn’t give me many useful skills.  Luckily as a volunteer, I learned a lot “on the job.” A self-proclaimed geeky introvert, I was forced to work outside my comfort level when I had to speak to parents, comfort agitated children, and hustle for donations. I honed skills in public speaking, working with children, and grant writing — things that I would never have encountered in graduate school.  Incidentally, I also learned that working with children was not the best fit for someone who thrives in calm and quiet environments and I promptly went back to graduate school after my service term. Still, it was a good lesson learned!

Want to start volunteering your time?

There are plenty of organizations out there that are looking for people like you.  Many of these places will allow you to sign up online to volunteer for direct patient interaction, clerical help, organizational skills, ability to participate in educational aspects, and other opportunities.

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I’ve compiled a list of organizations focused on breast cancer that are currently looking for volunteers.

Local Cancer Clinics / Hospitals

Contact your local cancer clinic and ask for their Volunteer Services department.  The National Cancer Institute has a listing of cancer clinics in the US state by state.  A list of cancer hospitals in Canada is also available online.  

Organizations in the United States:

The National Breast Cancer Foundation

The NBCF Mission is “to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need.”

The NBCF has partnerships some of America’s major cancer clinics, including The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, The Taussig Cancer Center at The Cleveland Clinic, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore. 

Contact the National Breast Cancer Foundation to see if there’s a site near you.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

In 2006, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series raised nearly $70 million dollars dispersed throughout all 50 states in America.  According to their website:

Funds raised through the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer event series are managed by the Avon Foundation, an accredited 501(c)(3) charity, to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.  The Avon Foundation supports a virtual national network of research, medical, social service and community-based organizations, each of which is making a unique contribution to helping patients or advancing breast cancer research. The Avon Foundation awards funding in breast cancer education and awareness; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services; and scientific research into the possible cause, prevention, treatment and cure.

2007/2008 walks are scheduled in nine major cities in the US, including Boston, Los Angeles, and New York City.  Thousands of volunteers all throughout the year to provide office support, host participant outreach nights, lead introduction meeting and other tasks.

Register to be a volunteer at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer website.

The American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society has multiple branches in each state. Not specific to breast cancer, it aims to ”empower and mobilize communities to prevent cancer, save lives, and diminish suffering by distinguishing the Society as the organization of choice for meaningful volunteer engagement.”

A significant portion of funds raised by the American Cancer Society goes straight back into research initiatives.  Almost every cancer research laboratory that I’ve worked in has had at funding at some point by the American Cancer Society, so I can personally assure you that the money is well spent.

Volunteers can fill out applications at the American Cancer Society volunteer page.

Organizations in Canada:

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is a grass-roots organization with a vision to create a future without breast cancer.  Volunteers assist in a range of activities that include everything from answering phones, to making pink ribbons, to organizing community Run for the Cure fund-raisers. Money raised by the CIBC goes to funding research, education initiatives, and awareness programs.

Sign up today to be a volunteer at the CBCF website.

Rethink Breast Cancer

This is a Canadian charity that focuses specifically on women under 40 both with and without breast cancer. Money raised by Rethink Breast Cancer goes to education, research, and support programs.  Unlike many organizations, research money is focused on finding young investigators in breast cancer research for longer periods. 

Interested in volunteering? Visit Rethink Breast Cancer’s volunteer page.

Are you currently volunteering working with cancer foundations? Battling for Health: Cancer wants to know why and how you started donating your time. E-mail me at Lesly (at) BattlingForHealth (dot) com with your story or leave it here in the comments and I’ll highlight the best stories in a future post!

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If you search the web for the top 10 online resources for arthritis, the following will come out:

1. Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) whose tag lines are: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention Tips and Pain Relief Advice — A foundation whose mission is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. From the page’s about section: The Arthritis Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organization that supports the more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions with advocacy, programs, services and research.
2. Arthritis definition at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia — who wouldn’t know wikipedia? It will come out up in the results page whatever keyword you put in the any search engine. Have you read wikipedia’s about page? It says there the wikipedia is a multilingual, web-based, free content encyclopedia project. The name Wikipedia is a portmanteau of the words wiki (a type of collaborative website) and encyclopedia. Wikipedia’s articles provide links to guide the user to related pages with additional information. Wikipedia is written collaboratively by volunteers from all around the world. Since its creation in 2001, Wikipedia has grown rapidly into one of the largest reference Web sites.
3. Arthritis at MedlinePlus — a trusted source of health information on the web that is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The credibility of this page is backed by the NIH, so how can you not trust the information on this page, right? From MedlinePlus’ about page: MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.
4. Arthritis.com, your online arthritis resource — from the website’s disclaimer that can be found at the bottom of the home page: This Web site is intended for residents of the United States only. The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. Decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
5. Arthritis article at Medicinenet — MedicineNet.com brings doctor’s information to the readers. From its about page: MedicineNet, Inc. is Owned and Operated by WebMD and part of the WebMD Network. MedicineNet.com is an online, healthcare media publishing company. It provides easy-to-read, in-depth, authoritative medical information for consumers via its robust, user-friendly, interactive web site.
6. WebMD Arthritis Health Center — who doesn’t know the giant WebMD? With their taglines - Better Information. Better Health - i really wonder why it ended up number 6 in the Google results page after searching for the keyword arthritis. From the WebMD about page: WebMD provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information. You can trust that our content is timely and credible. The WebMD content staff blends award-winning expertise in medicine, journalism, health communication and content creation to bring you the best health information possible.
7. About Arthritis Guide at About.com — if you have been surfing the web long enough, you know About.com because you will definitely bump into it. And then if you have been blogging long enough, your ultimate dream would be becoming an About Guide. Am I right, or am I right?!
8. Arthritis at NIHSeniorHealth — the NIH or National Institutes of Health is divided into various medical conditions and diseases. Arthritis falls under National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
9. Arthritis Society of Canada — obviously is the arthritis resource page of the Arthritis Society of Canada. From the disclaimer page: Any of the information contained within The Arthritis Society’s Web site is not presented as a substitute for informed medical advice. Visitors to this Site should not engage in self-diagnosis nor act on information contained in the Site without seeking specific advice on the particular matters which are of concern to them from qualified health professionals and advisors.
10. Last but not least is the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)’s Arthritis Program website — that shouldn’t e overlooked even though the page ended up number 10 in this list. The CDC will always be the CDC. From their about page: The goal of CDC’s Arthritis Program is to improve the quality of life of people affected by arthritis. CDC and its partners are working to implement recommendations in the National Arthritis Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy* (PDF-394K).

There you go folks. However, do not forget to visit this blog after I’ve given you the top 10 online resources on arthritis. On the nest edition of Resources on Arthritis, I will enumerate other arthritis blogs on the web.

I’ve tried looking when I started this blog and only found About.com: Arthritis. So, please help me out by directing me to other arthritis blogs you know.

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Women:  Are you looking for the newest tool in early breast cancer detection?  If Dr. Elias Siores had his way, you might not have to look further than your own lingerie drawer.

According to ABCNews.com, a team of researchers led by Dr. Siores at the United Kingdom’s Centre for Research and Innovation at the University of Bolton has developed a new “smart bra” that they hope will alert women of any microscopic changes in body temperature.  Small changes in temperature such as these may be correlated with early tumor development, and this new foray into women’s clothing design hopes to take advantage of that fact by using passive microwaves that are embedded into the fibers of the bra.

But is such an easy solution accurate?  The Mayo Clinic thinks that women should be weary of such one-size-fits-all approaches to tumor detection.

Sandhya Prudhi, MD, a breast health specialist at the Mayo Clinic, had this to say about the use of thermography for early breast cancer detection:

“There is no evidence that breast thermography is an effective screening tool for early detection of breast cancer. . . This technology is most effective in detecting tumors that are close to the skin surface but not tumors deeper in the breast. Also, breast thermography is not sensitive enough to detect small cancers. Breast thermography is not routinely used for breast cancer detection and should not be used instead of mammograms.” 

New research suggests, however, that more advanced integrated techniques in breast cancer thermography still have a lot of promise. An August 2007 study reviewing recent advances in breast cancer thermography in the Journal of Medical Engineering Techology states:

“Technological advances in the field of infrared thermography over the last 20 years warrant a re-evaluation of the use of high-resolution digital thermographic camera systems in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer. . .   Of particular interest would be investigation in younger women and men, for whom mammography is either unsuitable or of limited effectiveness.”

I recognize the value in having an easy-to-use early cancer detection tool, but I’m still not sure that I would rely on a thermography in an undergarment. It seems like there could be a lot of room could be attributed to human error, especially for a klutz for me who routinely spills coffee down the front of my shirt.  Readers, would you consider using a tool like this?

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The recent approval of Voltaren® Gel makes it the first USFDA –approved prescription NSAID (non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drug) treatment that can be applied directly to site of osteoarthritis pain.

Voltaren® Gel is the only prescription topical medication proven to significantly reduce osteoarthritis pain in both the knees and the joints of the hand that offers highly effective pain relief with minimal drug absorption throughout the body - shown to be 94% less than comparable oral diclofenac treatment.

Voltaren® Gel (diclofenac sodium topical gel) 1% is a product of Novartis.

Previously, we only know Voltaren® (diclofenac sodium) (a pdf file) as a popular treatment for osteoarthritis pain. Voltaren® Gel is its topical gel version.

According to Roy Altman, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology at UCLA in Los Angeles and past President of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International:

“Voltaren Gel is proven to be effective for osteoarthritis of the hand and knee and has a favorable safety profile.

The combination of benefit and safety provides a welcome new treatment approach for osteoarthritis, offering patients an alternative to oral therapies.

Voltaren Gel delivers the proven efficacy of diclofenac with significantly less systemic absorption, minimizing the risk of side effects.”

Indeed, most often it is safer to apply a topical treatment instead of taking in an oral pill.
Apparently, Voltaren® Gel is the first prescription topical osteoarthritis treatment that has shown effectiveness in both the knees and joints of the hands from the clinical trials conducted.

Voltaren Gel delivers effective pain relief with a favorable safety profile as its systemic absorption is 94% less than the comparable oral diclofenac treatment.

Given the choice, what would you prefer: topical or oral treatment?

Voltaren Gel provides 1% diclofenac sodium in a topical gel formulation. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication indicated for the pain of osteoarthritis in joints amenable to topical treatment, such as the knees and those of the hands.

Voltaren Gel delivers highly effective pain relief with a favorable safety profile as its systemic absorption is 94% less than comparable oral diclofenac treatment.

However, may it be oral or topical treatment, remember always, always to consult your doctor. Avoid, self-prescription, as most people do especially if the drug can be bought OTC or even online from foreign countries.

Remember that Voltaren® Gel (diclofenac sodium topical gel) 1% is a prescription treatment.

To be on the safe side, consult your doctor all the time before administering treatment.

Source: CNN Money

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By J. Trevey

If you have a loved one who has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you may initially be filled with questions about what the diagnosis means for your family. If you have spoken with the doctor and performed your own research about Alzheimer’s disease, you have likely realized that the diagnosis will undoubtedly bring about some changes in the lifestyle of your loved one. Your loved one will need more care and support as time goes on, not to mention the financial implications of medical visits and eventual fulltime care. Though you may be faced with a barrage of emotions at first, it is important to remember that you are in the company of millions of other people in the same situation, as made evident by the plethora of organizations, support groups and associations that exist to help people like you understand and respond to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Besides educating yourself about Alzheimer’s disease, it may also be beneficial to begin planning for the future now, while your loved one is the most independent and able to provide input about decisions affecting his or her future. Creating a plan for your loved one’s medical and other care expenses and establishing how decisions will be made on his or her behalf in the future can help ensure that your loved one has access to proper care and prevent you from encountering a gray area that leaves your hands tied in the future.

Arranging for healthcare is an important stage of planning for your loved one’s future. Establishing a situation in which long term medical care is available and affordable can benefit anyone, but is especially important for people with a long term illness such as Alzheimer’s disease. If your loved one currently has a long term care insurance policy, carefully read over the policy as it relates to progressive or long term illnesses. Clarify with the provider any portion of the policy about which you or your loved one have questions. If your loved one is uninsured, you may consider the possibility of obtaining the best policy that is affordable, paying particular attention to the coverage of medical care for long term illness outlined by the policy.

If your loved one is over the age of 65, he or she should qualify for Medicare, a federal health insurance program that covers some hospital, medical and prescription expenses. You may want to investigate your loved one’s eligibility for Social Security and Medicaid benefits as well to ensure that he or she receives the maximum assistance for which he or she qualifies.

The progressive nature of Alzheimer’s disease results in a decreasing decision-making ability over time. For this reason, it is important to discuss financial planning with your loved one as early as possible, and establish how and by whom he or she would like financial decisions to be handled. The procedure through which future financial, medical and other decisions will be made on behalf of the patient can be officially established by a document called a power of attorney. A power of attorney, often a component of a person’s estate plan, gives an appointed person or organization the authority to make decisions on behalf of your loved one when he or she is no longer able to do so. Talk to a trusted lawyer about the type of power of attorney that is appropriate for your individual situation.

Planning for the future is an important step in caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Taking the initiative now to plan for future financial, medical and decision making needs will provide numerous benefits to yourself and your loved one moving forward.

About the Author: John Trevey is the manager of The Breckinridge, a Kentucky assisted living home specializing in Alzheimer’s care. For more information, please visit www.thebreckinridge.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Trevey

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By Christine Groth

A good Multiple Sclerosis diet is believed to help control and possibly eliminate many of the symptoms that come along with the disease. This can help slow the progression of the disease. While you should check with a doctor for specific suggestions or guidelines, there are some basic tips to a good MS diet.

A key factor in a healthy multiple sclerosis diet is to eliminate all gluten. In general, you should avoid eating anything with flour, but you can check package ingredients if you are unsure of their content. Many diets besides the MS diet do not allow gluten, so this is now easily found on many packages. Avoiding wheats, barley, oats, or rye is another way to cut gluten.

For a successful diet you should also limit or avoid animal fats, including dairy products and margarine. Olive oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil are suitable alternatives for cooking or salads. For good digestion, you should try to avoid fried foods in general.

Avoid highly saturated fats in your diet. White meat skinless chicken, seafood, and fish are the best meat choices. Make sure to always completely remove any fat. Try to replace the saturated fats you cut out with unsaturated fats.

Anyone, but especially those on a Multiple Sclerosis diet, should try to completely eliminate refined sugar. There are many healthier alternatives. Honey, fructose, or natural unsweetened fruit or vegetable juices would be ideal for a person on this diet.

Obviously, any foods you are allergic to should be cut from your diet. If you are unsure of allergies, try consulting a doctor or allergy specialist. You may also try eliminating all of the most common problem foods from your diet, and after two weeks bring them back one at a time. If you have a bad reaction to any food, then you should probably eliminate it from your multiple sclerosis diet.

You should increase the amount of fresh vegetables and fruits in your MS diet. Try to always eat freshly cooked food when you must cook it. This will increase the amount of vitamins and minerals your body absorbs. This will help to make up for some of the nutrients you lose by cutting certain things from your diet. Vitamin supplements may also be beneficial or even necessary for your Multiple Sclerosis, but you should consult a doctor to make sure you take the right vitamins.

Always drink lots of water. It is very easy for a person with Multiple Sclerosis to become dehydrated, so make sure to drink at least 8 large glasses of water every day. As strange as it sounds, this may help to improve the incontinence that many people with MS suffer from.

These tips for improving your Multiple Sclerosis diet are intended to help you control many common problems such as fatigue, incontinence, and constipation. Adjusting your diet may also help to avoid making other problems worse. Many of these tips are included in other diets, and even people without special dietary needs may benefit from following these suggestions.

(C) CG Groth Inc 2007

The “Daycare Diva”, Christine G. Groth, is the creator of “The Guide to Instant Daycare Profits”. To learn more about this step-by-step program and to sign-up for her FREE “How to Start a Daycare” tips and articles, visit www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Groth

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In the fast-paced world nearly everyone lives in today, stress is an ever-present possibility. Just-in-time manufacturing, instant news from around the world, computers and a host of other modern technologies are a great benefit. But along with them comes quicker deadlines, instant notification of bad news and more communication to deal with.

But no one is going to slow down the world, nor would many of us want to. At the same time, it’s helpful to realize that with more technology comes more options. Some of those options allow us to find new ways to deal with the internal and external factors that can form the basis of stress.

You may be unlucky enough to have a boss who imposes unreasonable deadlines to meet pointless work milestones. But many have the option now to telecommute, work flexible hours and take extended leave for pregnancy and other family situations.

There may be myriad challenges in the modern world, but there are a variety of new tools to deal with them. Computers can pile up work faster, but they also allow us to get more done with less labor. They also enable us to find those with similar interests who may live thousands of miles away. In decades past, that would have been nearly impossible, except for the occasional convention in a distant city.

Psychology, though still in its infancy as a science, is starting to compile a set of good data on neurobiology, nutrition and a host of other factors relevant to stress. Figuring out useful treatments from this bewildering array of studies will take time, but progress is being made.

Sports and diet have become much more scientific than they were a generation or two ago. As tools to fight stress, exercise and a proper diet are now recognized as twins in one of the most effective strategies for combating stress.

While millions still work hard, basics like housing and food, transportation and medical treatment constitute a smaller percentage of income for most than they did in generations past. It’s not uncommon for two-driver families to have more than two vehicles today.

Certainly there is no shortage of potential stressors. To listen to the nightly newscast is to see a picture of a world about to come apart at the seams. And, yet, we endure. It may be that there is more to the lives most people live than we see on the TV.

Dealing with difficult problems is, well, difficult. But that need not lead to stress. That results from a viewpoint that sees the dilemma between “I must” and “I can’t” as unsolvable. But there are many more methods available today to overcome “I can’t” and much more freedom to deny that “I must.” Toss the dilemma aside and declare your independence from stress.

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Image: Hypnotic Seance, Richard Bergh (1887). Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

Looks like it’s time to break out the dangling watch — a new article in the The Journal of the National Cancer Institute reports this week that women who participated in a brief hypnosis session prior to breast cancer surgery experienced fewer reported side effects such as pain, nausea, and fatigue. Also intriguing was that the surgical costs per patient were on average $772 less than for patients who did not undergo hypnosis prior to surgery.For certain types of cancers where surgery is the first line of defense like breast cancer or head and neck cancer, this mix of eastern and western medicine has the potential to make a wide impact.

As reported at the American Cancer Society website:

“Such findings argue strongly for making hypnosis part of standard care for breast cancer patients,” says lead study author Guy H. Montgomery, PhD, associate professor of Oncological Sciences at Mount Sinai.

“Breast cancer patients are going through a lot,” he explains.

“It’s a distressing and difficult period to get through. They’re worried about themselves, they’re worried about their families. So if there’s something we can do to make them feel better …we should translate this from a research protocol to actually doing something for breast cancer patients every day.”

Two hundred women participated in the study, each undergoing lupecteomy or excisional breast biopsy. Randomly assigned patients received either a fifteen-minute session of true hypnosis or a control intervention within an hour of their procedure.

Hypnosis, as practiced by the health care professionals within this scope of this study, included a series of guided imagery, visualization and breathing techniques. Montgomery hopes that the study will lead to more studies exploring the feasibility of medical staff conducting hypnosis sessions in person or whether instructional CDs may even help patients benefit from the effects.

Obviously, we’ve all practiced mild forms of self-hypnosis before, whether we take a few deep breaths before plummeting headlong into a task or we closing our eyes and picture a happy outcome to motivate ourself to finish. I think that extending these tips to surgeries look like a harmless but really promising way to reap on some major benefits. I’d be interested to see whether the benefits of hypnosis extend themselves to other non-cancer related surgeries.

Would you consider undergoing hypnosis prior to a procedure? Have you had it one yourself? Let’s hear about it in the comments!

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Routine eye exams are important even for people who are not experiencing eye trouble. These are in-depth procedures that are usually performed by either an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist. How often a person needs an eye exam depends on a number of factors including age, overall health and whether or not eye disorders run in the family.

Children with no eye trouble need only have their eyes checked during routine visits to their pediatrician. This evaluation is commonly referred as a vision screening and should take place at a minimum, every 2 years. A vision screening is not as comprehensive as an eye exam, but it is invaluable in detecting early signs of eye/vision trouble.

For adults without eye trouble, eyes should be examined one time between the ages of 20-29, two times during the next 10 years, 2-4 times during the next 10 years and after age 65, eyes should be examined once every 1-2 years. People wearing corrective lenses should have their eyes examined yearly. Those with eye disorders should work out an examination schedule with their eye doctors.

What to expect from an eye exam

Using a light source, an external examination ensures the eyes ‘look’ right. You’ll follow the doctor’s pen (or other object) with your eyes to ensure the eye muscles function properly. When you read the illuminated chart with letters that get smaller the further down you go, your doctor is checking your visual acuity. If you need corrective lenses, you’ll get a refractive assessment, a test that determines how light wave bend. The results of these tests help the doctor determine your prescription. He may put a Phoroptor, a device that resembles a big black mask, over your eyes in order to fine-tune these measurements.

Your peripheral vision will be tested. A slit lamp exam uses a microscope that emits a sharp beam of light to evaluate the cornea, lens and iris. The back of the eye is also examined and finally your eyes will be tested for glaucoma.

Ophthalmologist vs. Optometrist

The responsibilities and skills of an Ophthalmologist and an Optometrist are usually different, yet most people mistakenly use these terms interchangeably. Both professions involve eye care however the primary difference between the two is the presence of a medical degree. It is this degree that designates an Ophthalmologist as a medical doctor who has been trained in all areas of eye care including the ability to diagnose and treat eye disorders and diseases.

Ophthalmologists are qualified to perform eye surgery and they also know how to take proper eye measurements so they can accurately prescribe corrective lenses. Their training helps them dispense advice for preventing blindness and also enables them to assist those who are blind. In addition to advanced educational training, Ophthalmologists must be trained in clinical and surgical settings.

Optometrists routinely perform eye examinations. During such eye examinations, Optometrists will also determine the need for, fit and prescribe corrective eyewear and/or lenses. Optometrists can also screen patients for certain eye disorders.

Diabetes - An Introduction to Diabetes

Diabetes, a disease characterized by chronic high levels of glucose in the blood, is not the major problem it once was. Prior to the end of the 19th century, it might well have been a death sentence for many. Excess glucose can have a number of ill effects, including poor cut healing or kidney damage, even coma. With the advancement of monitoring and insulin delivery methods, it’s often now little more than another daily task to perform.

Though the underlying causes are not fully understood, diabetes results from either too little insulin being produced or ineffective use of it by the body. In Type 1 diabetes, for example, the islet cells of the pancreas fail to produce an amount of insulin adequate to allow blood glucose to enter cells where it’s used for energy. In Type 2, the cells may resist insulin’s action, once again leaving too much glucose in the blood.

But though they’re not completely known, experts agree that the causes of the different types of diabetes are generally a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental or lifestyle factors. In some cases, one or the other may dominate. Gestational diabetes, for example, affects about 3% of pregnant women usually from around 24-28 weeks into term. But it goes away after birth. Type 1, on the other hand, affects mostly juveniles and is largely genetic.

In all cases, the symptoms are usually roughly the same: excessively frequent urination, unquenchable thirst, sometimes accompanied by dizziness or stomach pains. Naturally, these common symptoms can have a number of causes. Anyone suspecting he or she has diabetes should be tested by a physician.

Those tests are simple and relatively painless, only requiring a small blood sample. Blood glucose level is measured, with normal running around 99 mg/dL, while diabetics have a level of 126 mg/dL or above. It may require more than one test to confirm the disease.

Once confirmed, regular blood glucose monitoring is a must. Fortunately, there are today many convenient ways to do that. Testing devices the size of a cell phone are common. A small sample of blood is smeared on a strip fed into the instrument, which delivers a number within seconds. Some recent devices measure glucose level through the skin using an infrared beam.

Treatments are equally easy for most diabetics. In some cases careful diet and appropriate exercise may be enough to keep the right glucose-insulin balance. In the usual case, insulin delivery is called for. But that too is much easier than in generations past. Small insulin-containing pens can deliver the exact right dose painlessly. Newer oral inhalers are on the market that have met with success.

Though no one wants to have to deal with diabetes, managing the disease is now easier than ever. The possible long term complications of untreated diabetes remain what they always were. By keeping them at bay with simple techniques, most diabetics can enjoy an active fulfilling life just as anyone else.

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