You don’t know what you got till it’s gone; you don’t appreciate it until it happens to you…blah, blah, blah. Such are the clichйs and sentiments of those of us who get into a major accident and the insurance company of the offending driver, the drunk who slammed into you, refuses full retribution

Those are the tunes played by those of us who lose a partner or spouse to another because we were too demanding, too difficult, too different. And those are the hackneyed statements, the only trite and obvious things we can come up with to utter when we find out our best friend of twenty-nine years has a unique form of cervical cancer that might allow her to live, oh, another year at most.Yes, my friend has cervical cancer, what is less familiarly known as invasive endometrial adenocarcinoma. You understand “invasive” and from human sexuality class way back you get the “endometrial” part. But what you cannot seem to wrap your brain around is carcinoma…cancer. She is your age, which, last time you knew, was NOT old, was not dying time. But the condition she is in is that of what 5% of all other cervical cancer patients have survived. The other 95% had lesser complications: the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes, which are very soft, very fleshy, very vulnerable to a corrosive agent chomping its way through human tissue.If you are smart or have a strong stomach, you do a search for the causes, effects, symptoms, treatments, outcomes, support groups, and residual fallout of cervical cancer. You might find statistics: 500,000 cases worldwide; 300,000 die. 10,370 in US will be diagnosed with it; 3,710 will die. Mortality rates have declined by 50% over the last three decades.Treatment includes cryogenics-freezing of the dysplasia, which is the culprit in its earliest stages (which was in your best friend when she was 20). Treatment might be preceded by a colposcopy-the use of a special scope (with a 40X magnifying power) that allows for examination of the cervix. It might mean laser surgery-wherein the offending growth (also called metastasis) is burned off/out. Treatment might include early conization-meaning a biopsy is done by taking a cone of the cervical canal. It might also require or point to the need for radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, depending upon the severity, urgency, and choices the cervical cancer patient makes.Cervical cancer works its way in stages, or exists in areas that are measured in stages: in stage I, the cancer invades the cervix beneath the top layer of cells. In stage II, the cancer extends beyond the cervix into nearby tissues, to the upper part of the vagina, and/or to the pelvic wall. In stage III, the cancer extends to the lower part of the vagina, and may be spreading into the pelvic wall and nearby lymph nodes. And in stage IV, the cancer has extended to the least protected or defensible parts of the body-the bladder, rectum, and/or other organs and parts of the body.My friend has been found to have stage III cervical cancer, which may have reached the lymph nodes in the lungs. If this is the case, which we will know in six days, when the latest tests come back to her brilliant staff of oncologists and specialists. In some respects, she is lucky. She has been a health care provider to the elderly (as she is a clinical nurse specialist in the top of her field) for twenty years. So she will have that Florence Nightingale Clara Barton karma returned tenfold. At the same time, the numbers are not good for her stage of cervical cancel, despite what I think is a shockingly young age-45. In other respects, then, she aint so “lucky” and I am reeling from the surreality of our friendship coming to an end in the corporeal sense after we have been through so much worse it seemed at the time

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

Original source here

Internet pharmacy or online pharmacy usually refers to a registered pharmacy that has a retail outlet and also offers to sell or supply medicines and/or other professional medical services over the Internet. Customers can order drugs and medical products online being connected to the Internet or even visit the store in person. An international or mail-order pharmacy may or may not have a physically existing brick-and-mortar store. High drug prices have produced alluring incentives for consumers to look for alternative resources to fill their prescriptions.

Essentially, there are three types of Internet pharmacies:

1) Pharmacies that only supply drugs for prescriptions written by a patient’s physician;

2) Pharmacies that charge for a physician, and the drug is provided after the patient completes a simple questionnaire and then the cyber-doctor writes a prescription; and

3) Pharmacies dispensing prescription drugs without a physician’s prescription.

A recent study finds that sale of drugs through cross-border Internet pharmacies to consumers in many countries has seen a significant and rapid growth. Convenience and cost saving have been the top reasons for online prescription-drug purchasing. Internet pharmacies offer a host of benefits. They are convenient and allow customers to avoid nuisances such as going out in bad weather, parking hassles, standing in line, and the inevitable wait for the prescription to be filled. Many Internet pharmacies offer fast shipping of drugs, allowing customers to avoid the delay of regular mail.

Some Internet pharmacies offer lower prices on medications than those charged by traditional pharmacies, as they do not have to bear the fixed costs such as property leases, maintenance, and property taxes. Another major advantage is that the Internet pharmacies can offer privacy that is often lacking in a traditional pharmacy. Many patients feel uncomfortable in purchasing some drugs and asking a pharmacist questions in front of other customers.

The customer or patient is entitled to expect the same quality of pharmaceutical care irrespective of whether the service is provided online or face-to-face on the pharmacy premises. To ensure public protection and confidence in the profession many Internet pharmacies have a licensed pharmacist available 24 hours a day to answer questions by phone or by e-mail. Eventually the most helpful benefit associated with online pharmacies is that they offer perks not found in traditional pharmacies, such as e-mail alerts when the prescription is due for a refill and more. Consumers frequently utilize the Internet to obtain health information and products, and Internet pharmacies join a wide variety of healthcare-related websites to provide authentic information related to the drugs they supply.

Online Canadian drug pharmacies have emerged as the leaders in the industry. Internet pharmacies in Canada are enjoying a booming business selling prescription drugs to consumers in U.S. and other leading nations taking the advantage of strict drug patents in these nations. Canadian Internet pharmacies offer substantial savings to American consumers, particularly those with chronic conditions – such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol – requiring regular, predictable doses of medicine over long periods.

The Internet has revolutionized the way in which ordinary people conduct their everyday business. A significant number of people currently utilize the Internet as a health resource, and it is likely that this trend will continue. The Canadian online pharmacies are proving greatly advantageous to the modern healthcare system.

A vast majority of online purchasers of prescription drugs through Canadian pharmacies have reported satisfaction both in terms of quality and speed of delivery.

About the Author:

Christine is an expert Internet marketing professional with years of experience in various industries such as: Business, Finance, Real Estate, Web-Design, Health & Medicine and many more.Site: http://www.buylowdrugs.com/

Most people around the world today are familiar with the term Lasik (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) and know that it is some kind of vision correction surgery. However, many people don’t know that this specialized method of correcting vision with the use of a laser light uses different methods to achieve those goals.

For example, there is a method called Lasik, Epi-Lasik and Wavefront Lasik. While they all employ the use of the laser light beam to correct curvature of the cornea to improve eyesight, many people don’t understand the difference. Wavefront Lasik is also known as custom Lasik. It utilizes the use of three-dimensional measurements that show doctors how your individual eye processes images. Those measurements are imported into a computer system that guides the laser to reshape the front of your eye, or cornea.

The Wavefront Lasik method uses the three-dimensional map that is created to seek out and find every little nuance that makes your eyesight what it is. While you may be farsighted, another person who is farsighted may have different degrees of the condition than you, as well as accompanying factors. Wavefront Lasik enables each individual to receive specialized surgery to correct unique vision problems that are independent of everyone else’s.

This surgical method offers an increase in not only how much a person can see, but how well you can see, taking into consideration depth, peripheral vision and contrast sensitivity and contrast details as well. This surgery reduces the effect of post-operative halos and sensitivity to glare as well as increasing night vision acuity.

Wavefront is a new method of Lasik surgery that allows surgeons to provide extremely precise improvements to the shape of the cornea, which allows your eyes to better adjust and see near and far objects as well as improving depth and clarity. Such beneficial outcomes are not possible with the traditional use of eyeglasses or contact lenses, nor original forms of Lasik eye surgery.

Wavefront Lasik is recommended for people with astigmatism, myopia and hyperopia in degrees ranging from mild to moderate. While traditional vision correction methods such as eyeglasses and contact lenses can correct some problems, additional irregularities sometimes prevent optimal vision correction by these methods. Wavefront Lasik is able to not only perform the basic corrections, but also to enhance visual acuity, without cutting into the surface of the eye or requiring lengthy recovery time.

If you’re looking for a Lasik procedure, wait until you visit your eye doctor to discuss which method of Lasik he or she suggests for your vision correction problems. While Wavefront is capable of treating multiple vision issues, since the surgery is so individualized, you may have one or even several options open to you. Any kind of Lasik eye surgery is expensive, so make sure you get more than one professional consultation if possible to determine which course of treatment is best for your situation. Plan on spending at least $1,500 per eye for any kind of Lasik treatment, and ask if your vision insurance plan will help pick up a portion of the tab.

Wavefront Lasik is capable of increasing and improving eyesight in most candidates for the surgery, but always remember that your eyes are irreplaceable and care and caution must be practiced to ensure that you find the best Lasik method to suit your needs.

About the Author:

Is Wavefront Lasik the right solution for you? Find out more at http://LasikRevealed.com .

Lasik surgery is the preferred vision correction surgery these days, despite its high cost. The procedure has grown in popularity since the 1980s and is used to improve eyesight in those suffering from vision problems like myopia, presbyopia and astigmatism. In English, that means far or near sightedness and general decrease in visual acuity brought on by age. At any rate, Lasik surgery is fast, relatively painless and can be done on an outpatient basis. No hospital stays, no delayed recuperation and best of all, no knives that actually cut deep into the surface of the eye.

That doesn’t mean that just any doctor can perform Lasik eye surgery however, so make sure you find someone well trained and experienced in this method of surgery before deciding on the one who will be working on your vision. The only drawback to Lasik eye surgery is the prohibitive cost. In most cases, the cost of Lasik surgery can range from $1,000 to $2,500 an eye, depending on your particular vision problems.

Sometimes, we all see ads in magazines and newspapers that advertise a much lower price for the procedure, but such a price is offered for those with the most minor vision problems. Also keep in mind that you get what you pay for. While it’s nice to save money on things, you might want to leave that to retail sales, automobiles and things like that. Your eyes are priceless, and you want only the best when it comes to eye surgery. That doesn’t mean that the most expensive procedure is the way to go, however. Some doctors just charge more than they should, but that price doesn’t mean that they’re better than the next guy. Always check with your local medical association for reports on malpractice and complaints filed against any particular doctor or surgeon before you choose them to perform your surgery.

Unfortunately, most vision insurance companies in the United States don’t offer coverage or reimbursement on Lasik eye correction surgery, as they still are of the opinion that Lasik is an elective procedure. They feel that eyeglasses and contact lenses will provide the same results, so why pay for Lasik? Perhaps, with pressure, they will eventually change their minds, but for now, very few vision insurance providers pay for it. Another option to confront the cost of Lasik surgery may be to save up for it in a separate savings account. If both eyes need to be done, figure saving at least $5,000 to be on the safe side.

Why does Lasik cost so much? Basically, you’re paying for the technology that allows surgeons to correct vision without damaging eye tissues with traditional operating tools. The Lasik procedure is completed with the use of a laser light that is able to adjust the curvature of the cornea to better refract light rays for optimal vision acuity. At any rate, talk to the provider of Lasik surgeries in your area to see if they will agree to payment plans. Most of them will. Eyesight is a gift that many of us take for granted, and no one should have to suffer when the procedure is available.

About the Author:

Is the cost of lasik surgery stopping you from having your vision corrected permanently? Find out more at http://LasikRevealed.com .

Hip arthritis usually affects people who are middle age, overweight, or hereditary (tends to run in your family history). Hip arthritis tends to progress as the condition worsens over a period of time. Some people have better months than others, and often feel the changes in the weather. Other common symptoms include feeling pain, as you continue your daily routine. You may not be able to move around as often as you would like to as you may feel pain and stiffness in the hip joint, or you might walk with a slight limp.

Arthritis commonly affects, feet, knees, hips and fingers. The common symptoms of hip arthritis include inflammation, stiffness and pain in the joints. The earlier symptoms include pain and stiffness in the hip, groin, inner thigh or knee areas.

The classic sign of arthritis is joint pain. Pain is usually worse in the morning and lessens during the day. However, increased vigorous activity can result in your back pain getting stiffer and worse as you progress your activity.

If your hip arthritis symptoms are severe, it is better to go and see your doctor.

During the examination, your doctor will find out where the pain is and how to treat it. X-rays and blood work will also help determine your diagnose of hip arthritis.

Over the counter medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen may help the pain. Assistive devices, such as a walking cane, walker, a shoe horn or reacher (to help you reach stuff that are higher than you normally could reach) may make it easier for you to continue your daily activities of daily living.

If these treatments do not work that surgery may be recommended. The surgery depends your age, the condition of the hip joint, type of inflammatory arthritis and the progress of the disease. Your doctor will discuss what options are available to you and what the outcome you will expect to happen.

Hip surgery is the most common surgery and often recommended. Hip surgery will help provide pain relief and reduce the inflammation of hip arthritis.

Arthritis of the hip makes moving, bending and walking difficult through out your daily routine. Hip arthritis can cause problems with walking and can also lead to a disability if it is left untreated. It is better to see your doctor at the first on sight of trouble. Most people can lead a normal productive life with treatment and medication.

For more information please check http://www.arthritisreliefhelp.info

About the Author:

Roger Thoompson writes on Arthritis Relief for a Website dedicated to arhritis & pain relief information

Insomnia prevention is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, particularly if you have been battling insomnia for any amount of time.

As you know insomnia can interrupt your quality of life and can impact both your social and professional life.

There are some choices you can make when you are looking to prevent insomnia. Tips for insomnia prevention include the basics, such as, eat a light meal and plan to have dinner at least four to five hours prior to the time you intend to retire for bed. A light snack prior to bedtime is known to help you sleep; however, a large meal may have the opposite effect. So remember, snack, yes, large meal, no.

Here’s an easy tip to preventing insomnia, remember not to drink too much prior to going to bed so that you are not constantly getting up throughout the night because you have to urinate. While staying well hydrated is important, do it during the day since getting up and down throughout the night to urinate is a really poor idea.

Eliminating smoking, caffeine, and other stimulants, particularly late in the day, are also important tips for preventing insomnia.

Eliminating smoking is very important for insomnia prevention when you are looking to enjoy a good night’s sleep. Smoking has a negative affects on the overall circulation of the body, on the heart and lungs, on the sinuses, and most important in this discussion, is that smoking interferes significantly with your sleep.

Nicotine is a common and known stimulant that keeps the brain from resting. How on earth do you think that you can take in nicotine and then get a good night’s rest? It simply makes no sense. Your brain is to stimulated to sleep! It is basic biology.

Avoiding alcohol can also help you to prevent insomnia. At first it seems that alcohol can help you relax and fall asleep more quickly, but actually alcohol causes insomnia to worsen because it results in shallow and unrefreshing sleep leaving you feeling worse for the wear in the morning.

Insomnia is a brutal beast to fight and the prevention of insomnia is a fight that you will have to win if you ever intend on getting a good night’s sleep.

So if you are up for the fight then pay attention to the many tips available for the prevention of insomnia and figure out what works best for you.

About the Author:

For more important information on getting a good night’s sleep be sure to visit
www.sleep-good.com where you will find advice and tips on sleep habits insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, and more.

Good grief!

Constipation relief is a delight like few others if you are the one who has been fighting the battle of the poop.

There are way too many patients seeking help from their healthcare provider for a bout of constipation. It is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) complaints heard in physician’s office.

The cramping, the bloating and of course the embarrassment of admitting that you are struggling to get things moving again is often more than some can admit to owning.

When waste remains in your colon for too long and too much water is sucked up into the intestines you are left behind with rock hard, dry stool which can leave you straining to relieve your constipation.

When constipation occurs, your bowel movements can cause you a lot of pain and discomfort when you try to pass them. You may even experience some bloating as a result of the dry, hard stool being locked up in the colon.

Ok, let’s put one thing to rest right now. There are many who feel something is wrong if they don’t have a bowel movement every single day. But this in fact is not true. Every individual has a differing regularity pattern and so there is not need to worry if yours is different from your best friends or your mothers. You are an individual, so live like one! As long as you know what is normal for you and pay attention to that pattern then you are ok.

One of the most common causes of constipation is dietary. An adequate amount of fiber is necessary if you want to have a regular pattern of bowel movements. But when you eat a diet that is loaded with fat or refined sugar and slim on whole grains and vegetables, then you are headed for trouble.

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) teaches that the average adult should take in a minimum of 20 to 35 grams of fiber every day. But is seems that most folks only get between 12 and 17 grams of fiber a day. When you get enough fiber, it works to keep your colon from absorbing too much water and so helps your bowel movements to remain softer and moist.

Other possible causes of constipation include lack of exercise as well as certain types of medications. There are many medications on today’s market treating a variety of conditions that have constipation as a side effect. Also a lack of physical activity can also lead to constipation. So if you want to get moving, review your list of medications and then get moving!

Here’s another important constipation relief tip. If you have to poop, then by all means, take the time to go to the bathroom and relieve your bowels. Ignoring the urge to defecate can actually cause constipation.

While extreme cases of constipation require laxatives in order to obtain relief, other cases of constipation may be resolved by simple lifestyle changes. Easy changes in your day such as taking in enough water, getting enough fiber and taking the time to exercise can help you to find constipation relief.

Start out by working on the things that you can easily change to give you constipation relief and then if those things aren’t working then see your healthcare provider in order to get the constipation relief you need.

About the Author:

For more important information on stomach pain visit a-stomach-pain.com where you’ll find advice on common stomach pain causes such as constipation, ulcers, and more.

Athlete’s Foot is a skin infection on the foot caused by the ringworm fungus known as trichophyton.

The medical name for athlete’s foot is tinea pedis. Affecting up to 70% of people during their lifetime, athlete’s foot is definitely a condition that can cause incredible irritation that can lead you to believe you are going to go stark raving mad from the itching, stinging and burning of athlete’s foot attacking the soles of the feet.

Typically athlete’s foot grows along the soles of the feet, in the area between the toes, and can often be found spreading to the toenails. Unfortunately, athlete’s foot can also spread to the palms of the hands, the under the arms or even the groin area if you are crazy enough to touch your feet and then touch another area of your body. Don’t even think about it!

Unlike its name suggests athlete’s foot does not just affect athletes. No, athlete’s foot can affect any one at any time with the right conditions.

Those particularly susceptible are the people whose feet tend to be damp or sweaty. The fungus associated with athlete’s foot particularly loves the warm moist environments such as the kind found on the floor, in socks and shoes, around the swimming pool or in the shower, especially in those areas shared by a group of people.

The ringworm fungus can be spread from person to person by contact with the objects which are hosting the fungus in the first place. But unless the fungus has the appropriate environment that promotes growth, such as a warm and moist environment, the fungus will simply lie dormant and not invade the skin. If the fungus does invade the skin, then it can lead to blistering, peeling, cracking and flaking of the affected skin.

Athlete’s foot is an irritating and frustrating fungal infection of the feet. Trying to avoid the warm and moist environment that is conducive to fungal growth is a smart move.

Don’t let the itch of athlete’s foot control your life. Get and appropriate diagnosis and then take action!

About the Author:

For more important information on sore feet visit sore-foot-remedies.com where you will find advice on foot pain causes such as athletes foot, ingrown toenail, and more

A diagnosis of arthritis can literally challenge even the strongest.

Meaning joint inflammation, arthritis encompasses over 100 different arthritis conditions. It, in fact, does not just simply define one type of disease.

Arthritis, seems to often result from a malfunction of the autoimmune system, and causes inflammation of the joints and the surrounding tissues. This inflammation leads to joint swelling, redness and ultimately pain in the affected area.

The over 100 different arthritic conditions have differing underlying reasons for the disease. The root causes of arthritis vary and it is very important so that your physician identify the exact cause of your condition so that appropriate treatment can begin. With the impact on your body, and the invasion arthritis makes on the joints, muscles and connective tissues the ravaging changes can seriously impact your daily life.

A chronic disease, most types of arthritis last a lifetime. From the time of diagnosis, those diagnosed with arthritis must learn to effectively manage and live with this disease. There is currently no cure for arthritis, which is even more reason why effective and aggressive management is crucial.

Arthritis symptoms typically ebb and flow so that there are times of more active disease and other times of less active disease, often referred to a flare. The times in which the arthritis flares it will indeed get your attention and demand action. The goal is to do everything that you can to keep it under control so that flares are few and far between.

Yes, unfortunately there is currently no cure for arthritis which is one of the saddest thoughts of all. It also makes it very challenging since there is no clear evidence as to the exact cause of disease onset.

So until there is a cure, an active life does not have to be a fantasy only. It just means that you may have to make other choices in life and adaptations to how you do certain things in order to feel your very best.

Arthritis is most certainly a challenging disease with which to live. But it is not something that should cause you to lose hope. There are millions fighting this battle on a daily basis who are living full and active lives.

It really is all about the choices you make and your willingness to be intimately involved in your healthcare management. Arthritis must be effectively managed and you have to be a dedicated team player if you plan to win this one.

About the Author:

For more information on healthy living, be sure to visit the-health-hub.com where you’ll find information on health topics such as arthritis, back pain, fitness, diet & nutrition & more

There are many physicians who believe that those suffering from depression can benefit from keeping a daily journal.

A daily journal kept by those suffering with depression is thought to be helpful to work through the range of feelings experienced by those suffering with depression. This is particularly beneficial if you are suffering with depression and you have begun a new medication.

Your physician can review your journal and the new medication you started and compare your feelings and the effects of the new medication. A daily journal for those suffering with depression is a great idea for your physician to be able to look at and see exactly what was going on as opposed to you trying to recall from memory.

So not only is a daily journal and helpful for your physician to be able to see how your medications are working but you can also use the daily journal to be able to work through some of the feelings that you are experiencing.

Even though you may go to regular counseling sessions you may not always feel completely comfortable telling your counselor everything that you are truly experiencing. This is where a daily journal can become helpful.

This is especially true if you have just changed counselors because you must build up trust before you feel comfortable opening up completely. The journal allows for you to get out your thoughts and frustrations that have been left unsaid.

You might also find this helpful whenever you choose to attend group sessions. A daily journal could become helpful because it helps you to remember after a group session when you take the time to review your daily journal that you’re not alone. A daily journal may be a confidence builder when you are suffering from depression. It can truly help you not feel so alone.

The daily journal can also serve many other purposes. It may be a helpful tool for you to look back on especially after you have come through some of the darker periods of depression. The journal can help you to remember that you have survived some tough things and you have come out on the other side. Again it can be a great confidence builder.

A daily journal for depression is a great idea. Not only can it help you to keep up with your feelings when ever you change medications or even therapist, it can also help you to be able to look back and see that you have come through dark times and you have survived. So if you are suffering from depression perhaps you might consider keeping a daily journal.

Why not give it a shot and see if it helps you in the long run. Here’s to brighter days ahead.

About the Author:

For more important information on anxiety & depression be sure to visit
www.0-depression.com where you will find advice and tips on anxiety self help, depression symptoms, and more.