Osteoarthritis - Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment & self-help

Osteoarthritis is also referred as degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, OA, or osteoarthritis. It is a form of arthritis caused due to inflammation, breakdown, and the eventual loss of cartilage in the joints - the cartilage wears down over time.

It is a progressive disease, in which the signs & symptoms gradually worsen. Even though there is no permanent cure, but with the help of certain therapies the patient’s movability can be kept active. Considering experts advice and taking the necessary steps can help you lead an active lifestyle and gain control over their symptoms.

Osteoarthritis is likely to affect almost any part of the body. Some of the commonly affected parts are hands, hips, knees, lower back, and neck.

Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

·         Your joint may hurt during or after movement.

·         Limits your range of movement

·         Tenderness in the affected joint

·         Joint stiffness, when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity.

·         Loss of flexibility

·         Affected joints are larger than usual

·         Joints are warm

·         Loss of muscle bulk

·         Experiencing a grating or crackling sound/sensation in the affected joint.

·         Bone spurs - a hard lumps form around the affected joint.

Factors that may increase the risk of osteoarthritis include:

·        Ageing

·      Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn't clear why.

·     Obesity

·    Joint injuries - playing sports or from an accident

·    Certain jobs or repetitive stress on a particular joint that may eventually develop osteoarthritis.

·    Genetics - 40% to 60% of cases of hand, hip and knee arthritis can have a genetic link.

·      Bone deformities - born with malformed joints or defective cartilage

Osteoarthritis Diagnosed

Since there are several factors contributing to Osteoarthritis, thus your doctor may recommend you to consider one or more tests to diagnose Osteoarthritis they are;

·         Medical history

·         Physical exam

·         X-rays

·         MRI Scans

·         Blood tests

·         Joint fluid analysis (arthrocentesis)

Osteoarthritis treatment

As we know there are a number of factors contributing Osteoarthritis, due to which your doctor may offer you a number of treatment or a combination of treatment that fits the patient’s needs, lifestyle and health. The 4 main goals of offering an Osteoarthritis treatment include, pain control therapy, improving joint functionality, maintaining a healthy body weight, and adapting a healthy lifestyle for long lasting benefits.

An effective Osteoarthritis treatment plan involves:

·         Exercise & Yoga

·         Physiotherapy

·         Weight control

·         Rest and joint care

·         Non-drug pain relief techniques to control pain

·         Medicines

·         Complementary and alternative therapies

·         Surgery

Considering self-care and good-health attitude can help the person improve their condition in the right direction. Such lifestyle modifications have clear and long-lasting benefits. Lastly, remember, early treatment means less time in pain, and more time living life to its fullest.

Osteoarthritis - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Self-help by Health Care on Scribd

Things you need to know about senior care (elderly care)

Old age is like a second childhood and must be treated like one. During this phase of life, an elderly person is physically helpless and totally depends on others like an infant. Physically they may look grown-ups, but in some incidences you will realize that tend to behave like babies. And, just like babies, the elderly too have their special requirements.

There are a number of aspects involved in dealing with elderly care. It is of extreme importance to be aware about the various needs and requirements of the elderly for those who have the responsibility of taking care of their aged parents or relatives.

In this blog, we will be discussing about different type of elderly care and the help that elder people usually require, along with some special needs.

Health Care facilities

Failing health due to advancing age is a common problem among elderly individuals. Under such circumstances getting appropriate health care is among the top priorities. Old age is an unavoidable, undesirable and problem ridden phase of life. However, through proper care and nursing facilities, one can certainly help in keeping most of these health issues in check, and prevent them from leading to serious health conditions. Considering regular health checkup can help you monitor serious health condition at the initial stage.

Housing Needs

Senior citizens often prefer staying at home, surrounded by their loved ones. Your family living space can be modified as per their changing needs and requirement. Most importantly, it is about providing them with a safe environment so that somebody from the family is around them at the time of emergency. However, if they don’t have their own place, there are government housing schemes and other private senior care facility or nursing care that work for elder citizen care and take care of their health and other necessities.

Dietary needs to be taken care

Experience dietary issues or weak digestive system is also among common condition faced by aged or elderly people. There is a need to make certain modification such that it remains nutritious, balanced diet and contain foods that does not cause any discomfort to their digestive system. Many a time, there is a need for alternation in the elderly diet as per their medicinal prescription.

24X7 Nursing care facility

If you have an elderly person in your family facing mobility issue which has limited his or her daily routine. If it is impossible for someone in the family to be around, then you may consider having a full-time nurse to assist the elderly person in basic activities such as walking, eating, bathing and dressing.

Financial Needs

If an elderly person decides to live on his/her own, without any support, then it is obvious that they will require some amount of financial requirements to fulfill the basic necessities of life such as; food, grocery, basic supplies, medication, etc. Some elderly individual can avail financial help through pension as a monthly source of income. On the other hand, some senior citizen do not have any source of monthly income hence, have to live entirely on their saving or depend on their family or on special senior citizen administration funds.

Other social needs

Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible part of ageing. As a responsible relative or friend, one should always keep in mind to show all the love and care that you have for that elderly person. Spend some time with them, chat and make them feel wanted, cared and loved. If possible you can even choose to plan a senior citizen get-together or take them out for such gathering.

These are some of the basic elderly needs that should keep in mind while taking care of an elderly person in your family. In certain situations it becomes difficult for you to help them with their basic necessities then it is advisable for you to consider various senior care facilities available in your vicinity.

Things You Need to Know About Senior Care (Elderly Care) by Health Care on Scribd

5 ways to prevent pregnancy - Effective Birth control methods

Most young couples face this dilemma – “how to prevent pregnancy without disturbing your sex life”.  It is easy to feel lost as someone without adequate knowledge of various birth control management option available. Today we have many safe and effective birth control methods that allow you to enjoy your sex life and delay pregnancy until you are ready for it.

This blog will educate you on the various methods of birth control.

1.      Fertility awareness.

Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) also known as natural family planning or rhythm method is a way to predict fertility and infertility times in your cycle.  This is a natural method that does not use any drug or device neither has any effects on the male & female reproductive functioning. This fertility awareness method can be used both for preventing pregnancy as well as to target to most fertile time to get pregnant.

A pregnancy starts with fertilization, when a woman’s egg joins with a man’s sperms. FAM reduces the chances of pregnancy by informing the days are your most fertile, and then abstain from sex or you may use other preventive methods.

There are many online tools and applications available that can help you track your menstrual cycle. It is difficult to measure its accuracy rate; hence, it is advisable for you to take expert advice to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

2.      Condom

This is the easiest and the most readily available option for birth control. These are the thin sheet made of latex meant to be worn over the male reproductive organ during the time of intercourse to prevent the semen from coming into contact with fertile eggs. The biggest disadvantage of using a condom is, it might break, leaving you at risk of getting pregnant or contracting ISD. It is also an effective method to avoid infection from the viruses that cause AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s).

3.      Birth Control Pills

The Birth control pill prevents pregnancy by a combined action of hormones - estrogens and progestin that prevents ovulation, so that pregnancy can’t take place. When taken properly under proper prescription, they are extremely effective. Depending on person to person, one may or may not experience side-effects such as, nausea, headache, breast tenderness, weight gain, irregular bleeding, and depression.

4.      Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) can be a very helpful solution if you are seeking for a long-lasting protection for delaying pregnancy. It is a small metal device inserted into the uterus by a health care provider. Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) stands out to be the most suitable and durable option for women to plan their pregnancy. It does not have any side-effect and can delay pregnancy for up to 8 to 10 years and can be removed when the couple is ready. However, there are two variations of this device – one works by releasing hormones and other affects the mobility of sperms and stops them from fertilizing the eggs. This option is usually preferred by women who already have delivered a baby and does not wants to plan their second child immediately.

5.      Emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills help prevent unwanted pregnancy after an accidental or spontaneous intercourse. However, you need to reach out for this pill within 48 to 72 hours of having an unprotected sex. Any delay in taking these pills could lead to an unwanted pregnancy.

Different Birth Control Options by Health Care on Scribd

Top 5 Plastic Surgery Procedures

Every decade has its own look! The fashion industry, of course, has a detailed history. However, the people themselves seem to change over the years too. It’s funny but it shouldn’t be a surprise. After all, every year we see changes in dieting trends and beauty ideals. In 2016, for example, everyone was swept away by big lips. Remember the Kylie Jenner lip challenge? Yikes! Thankfully, when it came to making large cosmetic changes, most people know to trust a professional. When it came to plastic surgery, there were some noticeable changes in procedure popularity.

Not all plastic surgery is the same. Comparing reconstructive surgery to Botox isn’t a fair comparison. One is about returning to health after serious damage, while the other is focused on creative a pleasing aesthetic. That is why, when looking at plastic surgery trends, it’s good to divide plastic surgery procedures up into different categories.

Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

Plastic surgery is, as the name implies, surgical. These procedures will make a bigger, longer lasting impact than less invasive procedures; however, they also require more recovery time.

1.       Breast Augmentation

·         Breast augmentation is an invasive surgical procedure that increases the size and improves the shape of breasts by placing implants.

·         There were 290,467 breast augmentations in 2016. During 2015, there were only 279,143. That is a 4% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 37% increase in the number of breast augmentations done annually in the United States.

2.       Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)

·         Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery or an eye lift, removes excess baggy tissue around the eyes.

·         There were 209,020 eyelid surgeries in 2016. During 2015, there were only 203,934. That is a 2% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 36% decrease in the number of eyelid surgeries done annually in the United States.

3.       Facelift (rhytidectomy)

·         Rhytidectomy, also known as a facelift, removes excess skin and fat around the face to make the skin more taunt and remove wrinkles.

·         There were 131,106 facelifts in 2016. During 2015, there were only 222,051. That is a 4% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 2% decrease in the number of facelifts done annually in the United States.

4.       Liposuction

·         Liposuction removes fat around the body to reshape it.

·         There were 235,237 liposuction treatments in 2016. During 2015, there were only 222,051. That is a 6% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 34% decrease in the number of liposuction treatments done annually in the United States.

5.       Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)

·         Rhinoplasty, also known as nose reshaping or a nose job, reshapes the nose to correct disfigurement or improve function.

·         There were 223,018 nose reshaping surgeries in 2016. During 2015, there were only 217,979. That is a 2% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 43% decrease in the number of breast augmentations done annually in the United States.

Cosmetic Minimally-Invasive Procedures

Minimally-invasive procedures allow patients to see results without needing to undergo a surgery that will require them to take a significant amount of time off to recover. Understandably, since these procedures involve minimal trauma, the number of cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures per year is significantly more than other, more difficult procedures.

1.       Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin)

·         Botox, Dysport, etc. paralyzes muscles to remove wrinkles.

·         There were 7,056,255 botulinum toxin type A treatments in 2016. During 2015, there were only 6,757,198. That is a 4% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 797% increase in the number of botulinum toxin type A treatments done annually in the United States.

2.       Chemical peel

·         Chemical peels come in a variety of types. Their goal is to remove acne scars, wrinkles, discoloration, and sun damage.

·         There were 1,360,850 chemical peels performed in 2016. During 2015, there were only 1,310,252. That is a 4% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 18% increase in the number of chemical peels done annually in the United States.

3.       Laser hair removal

·         Laser hair removal uses a beam of highly concentrated light to destroy hairs at the follicle. This prevents the need to shave, tweeze or wax in the future.

·         There were 1,109,385 cases of laser hair removal in 2016. During 2015, there were 1,116,708. That is a 1% decrease. Since 2000, however, there has been a 51% increase in the number of laser hair removal procedures done annually in the United States.

4.       Microdermabrasion

·         Microdermabrasion uses tiny crystals to exfoliate the skin.

·         There were 775,014 microdermabrasions performed in 2016. During 2015, there were 800,340. That is a 3% decrease. Since 2000, however, there has been a 11% decrease in the number of microdermabrasions done annually in the United States.

5.       Soft tissue fillers

·         Soft tissue fillers are injections that are used to make lips more plump, contour the features, and decrease signs of aging.

·         There were 2,600,868 soft tissue filler procedures performed in 2016. During 2015, there were only 2,550,987. That is a 2% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 298% increase in the number of X done annually in the United States.

Reconstructive Procedures

Unlike the plastic surgery procedures mentioned above, reconstructive surgery focuses on repairing damaged caused by a trauma. Plastic surgeons need the same skills for these surgeries as others. However, the starting point and ultimate goals are different. These surgeries are about returning to normalcy and health, whereas the popular surgeries above focused on visually improving an otherwise healthy body.

1.       Hand surgery (excluding microsurgical)

·         There were 135,250 hand surgeries in 2016. During 2015, there were only 130,280. That is a 4% increase. Data is unavailable regarding the increase from 2000.

2.       Laceration repair (other than facial)

·         There were 253,361 laceration repairs in 2016. During 2015, there were 253,441. That is a 0% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 29% decrease in the number of laceration repairs done annually in the United States.

3.       Maxillofacial surgery

·         There were 202,688 in 2016. During 2015, there were only 200,550. That is a 1% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 155% increase in the number of maxillofacial surgeries done annually in the United States.

4.       Scar revision

·         There were 181,190 scar revisions in 2016. During 2015, there were only 179,066. That is a 1% increase. Since 2000, however, there has been a 18% decrease in the number of scar revisions done annually in the United States.

5.       Tumor removal (including skin cancer)

·         There were 4,473,238 tumor removals in 2016. During 2015, there were 4,472,153. That is a 0% increase. Data is unavailable regarding the increase from 2000.

Overall, the prevalence of minimally-invasive procedures cannot be ignored. Plastic surgery is a safe option that can help meet a patient’s cosmetic needs without requiring significant time off from work. Cosmetic surgical procedures rose from 2015 but the most popular surgeries have been decreasing in popularity since 2000.

Here are some plastic surgery procedures that did not make it into the top five of their respective categories but have seen a dramatic increase in popularity since 2000.

·         Breast lift (mastopexy)

o   Mastopexy, also known as a breast lift, raises sagging breasts higher on the chest.

o   While 52,836 breast lifts were performed in 2000, there were 101,264 in 2016. This is a 92% increase in the number of breast lifts in the United States annually.

·         Buttock lift

o   Buttock lifts enhance flat or sagging buttocks areas.

o   While 1,356 buttock lifts were performed in 2000, there were 4,251 in 2016. This is a 213% increase in the number of buttock lifts in the United States annually.

·         Dermabrasion

o   Dermabrasion “sands” the skin to remove the superficial layers.

o   While 42,218 dermabrasions were performed in 2000, there were 88,182 in 2016. This is a 109% increase in the number of dermabrasions in the United States annually.

·         Lower body lift

o   Lower body lift, also known as a belt lipectomy, removes extra tissue from the abdomen, hips, outer thighs, and buttocks.

o   While 207 lower body lifts were performed in 2000, there were 11,299 in 2016. This is a 5358% increase in the number of lower body lifts in the United States annually.

·         Thigh lift

o   Thigh lifts remove extra fat and skin from the thighs.

o   While 5,303 thigh lifts were performed in 2000, there were 9,929 in 2016. This is a 87% increase in the number of thigh lifts in the United States annually.

·         Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

o   Tummy tucks remove extra skin and fat from the belly. It also often restores weak or separated abdominal muscles.

o   While 62,713 tummy tucks were performed in 2000, there were 127,633 in 2016. This is a 104% increase in the number of tummy tucks in the United States annually.

·         Upper arm lift

o   Upper arm lifts remove extra fat and skin from the upper arms.

o   While 338 upper arm lifts were performed in 2000, there were 17,860 in 2016. This is a 5184% increase in the number of breast lifts in the United States annually.

·         Laser skin resurfacing

o   Laser skin resurfacing, sometimes known as a laser peel, removes sun damage, acne and signs of aging.

o   While 170,951 laser skin resurfacing procedures were performed in 2000, there were 586,662 in 2016. This is a 243% increase in the number of breast lifts in the United States annually.

While the popularity of a particular plastic surgery procedure may bring awareness to it, patients should determine what is best for them by consulting a doctor, not any online materials.

Top 5 Plastic Surgery Procedures by Health Care on Scribd

Gynecomastia Procedure

The surgical treatment for Gynecomastia is essentially a routine surgery. Just in case you've this situation then it is likely that you've seen the after and before images that show the amazing results that the operation can provide. Gynecomastia calls for an aesthetic surgical strategy and is almost always performed on an outpatient basis. First, your physician should schedule a complete CBS, that is a complete blood count. You will likely also be asked about the medicines that you've been taking. They're particularly intrigued in any aspirin ingestion for preventative bleeding possibilities. This procedure might be done in a lab and maybe even at your physician's office. Getting ready for the operation will start a number of weeks in advance.

This can be when the physician will need that you keep from practically all medicine, particularly aspirin, Advil or ibuprofen, any herbal treatments, and E vitamin. No smoking is allowed for at least fourteen days prior to the operation. After the operation is complete and it normally requires several hours, you'll go to the recovery room for another 2 hours or so and after that you'll be able to go home. The strategy that's usually utilized in operation for the therapy of Gynecomastia is open removal of the glandular tissue and it liposuction of the chest and surrounding region.

There are a couple several types of liposuction that doctors use, but with Gynecomastia they use tumescent liposuction. In this process the surgeon enlarges the region where the liposuction may be done with an adequate percentage of sterile solution and epinephrine that can help reduce bleeding. In case the patient has too much of enhancement in the chest region then the more invasive procedure will be used. The physician might then do a procedure that's comparable to a mastectomy followed by the liposuction. The anesthesia that's administered prior to surgery was designed to keep you comfortable for about twenty four hours. After that you'll use analgesic prescribed by the surgical doctor. Many people claim that there is really no pain involved, but rather a tenderness that may be expected after any such surgery. Many physicians use what's called a drain when performing Gynecomastia operation. That is a small tube that's inserted at the site of surgery that connects to a little bulb. This allows any fluid to drain directly into the bulb that is quite simple to empty. This process had a very favorable outcome with regards to healing time.

Gynecomastia Procedure by Health Care on Scribd

Liposuction Procedure Explained

Male liposuction cost can't be taken as a fixed sum to pay for a particular type of procedure in a certain area of the world. Costs differ from one state or nation to another and although in a few portions of the world male and female liposuction processes increase at about the same quantity of money, in other areas the difference may be important. Judging by the primary factors that determine the price of this kind of operation, we might notice that male liposuction cost might be somewhat higher than what a female has to buy a comparable procedure. Firstly men are better quality than females as well as the total amount of fat that could have to be taken off specific parts of their body is larger than what could be gathered from a woman's body.

Male liposuction cost can also be increased by the distinct construction as well as higher density of the fat tissue that makes the procedure more strenuous. The most famous body areas that need adjustment in guys are the abdomen, the chest as well as the love handles. These are crucial in women also, when compared to the chin and chests, for instance. Potentially higher male liposuction cost doesn't imply you'll go bankrupt if you begin financing your beautification. Actually, to recover your satisfaction you can take a look at male liposuction price estimates accessible on many web sites encouraging this form of operation.

In this way you can compare costs for different portions of the body with various professionals in a large number of clinics where one might be operated on. The type of procedure used may also influence the total quantity of cash to be paid by the patient, let alone the individual characteristics of the individuals which might decrease or increase male liposuction cost. Aside from the aforementioned popular areas treatable with liposuction, increasingly more men faces undergo this type of operation nowadays for the aim of slimming and rejuvenation. The cost of fat removal from all of these regions is quite close to that of girls facial feature improvement.

The amount of fat tissue in the face is never as large as that within the body, man or woman. The difficulty of this kind of procedure is piece of cake when compared to the comparable done on a female. Male liposuction cost can be much lower than one expects. The expenses implied by the chosen process together with any additional costs required shouldn't be the main preoccupation when you're seeing a surgeon to pave the way to good looks.

Liposuction Procedures Explained by Health Care on Scribd

Breast Augmentation Surgery

Even after the kid's birth, diet and exercise might not be enough to bring the body to its pre infant appearance. It's led to many women choosing a mother makeover. In case the skin isn't elastic enough, stretch marks will appear. Fat gain in the low body, particularly the hips, waist and upper thighs is common. Breastfeeding could also take a cost on a mother's body. Breastfeeding pulls on these fat deposits to provide nourishment to the kid. The extra fat in addition to the heaviness of the milk may cause the breast to droop. When the fat stores are exhausted, the chests usually appear deflated.

A mother makeover was designed to correct these problems, enabling mothers to recover their pre infant body. In many cases, this surgery is in fact a series of surgeries. Based upon the person issues, it might include a breast lift or enhancement, liposuction, a belly tuck or a butt lift. Some mothers may only need a couple of the procedures, while others might find they need most of them. A breast lift is a surgical process to correct sagging breasts. Throughout the procedure, the surgeon removes excess tissue, fat and skin. The operation allows mothers to recover their perky breasts.

In case the breasts are seriously deflated, the breast lift may be along with another process called a breast augmentation. In this procedure, improvements are inserted to the chests to give them a fuller appearance. When done couple with a breast lift, the surgeon is definitely usually able to utilize the same incisions for both, cutting back the number of scars. An abdominoplasty, better known as a belly tuck, is usually contained in a mother makeover to remove the oft lamented fat. The surgery may repair and reinforce lose muscles while also eliminating excess skin and tissue. If there's just a small fat and no weakened muscles, the plastic surgeon might recommend a mini belly tuck, which leads to an inferior incision.

Weight reduction might help remove some of the excess weight that remains after having a baby. Fat loss doesn't always occur where it's wanted. This could be done in a wide range of areas, allowing patients to locate the specific area they want to lose weight. Liposuction might be used during a belly tuck to help recover a flat stomach. The buttocks are another problem region for many women after having kids. A butt lift is an alternative to correct this problem. During this procedure, excess skin is definitely removed from the top part of the buttocks to raise them.

Breast Augmentation Surgery by Health Care on Scribd