Health Articles

Maintenance of personal mobility products is beneficial, but wheelchairs are particularly important to maintain and keep in proper working condition, especially if the wheelchair is a vital component for mobility in your life. Proper care and long term maintenance of a wheelchair will help keep it working safely for years, and reduce the risk of injury or the need to replace the chair earlier than needed. The cost of replacing wheelchair parts or accessories can also be reduced, thus saving you money.

Wheelchairs can be expensive, so it’s important to care for and protect your investment. You will most likely be the first to notice any problems with your wheelchair, so make sure you know who to call in case parts need fixing or replacing. Automatic wheelchairs may need professional care, where as manual wheelchairs are often times easier to maintain with common household tools.

Develop a regular preventative maintenance routine, which includes cleaning, inspecting, and adjusting the critical components of the wheelchair. Wipe down the chair with a clean rag regularly. You can even apply car wax to the frame to make cleaning easier. Also, check to make sure all the bolts and nuts are tight, at least once a month. If upper body mobility is limited, ask for help from a family member or caregiver. Also, check to make sure any automatic wheelchair brakes or anti rollback devices are functioning properly.

Always refer to the owner’s manual when performing maintenance on your own wheelchair. The manual has crucial information regarding warranties, how to take care of your specific wheelchair, which tools are necessary to maintain the chair, and sometimes offer options for wheelchair parts and accessories that are compatible with your chair.

Tools are a good investment that can save money over time too. A bag or container to hold essentials like an Allen wrench set, adjustable wrench, spoke wrench, screwdrivers, and tire repair kit can be very useful. They could also be very helpful in case of an emergency.

Also, performing maintenance on your own wheelchair can provide a sense of confidence and reliance on the safety and performance of your chair. Thorough inspections will help in many situations, but also make sure to have the wheelchair serviced by a professional as well. While many routine maintenance tasks can be safely performed at home, the wheelchair can also benefit from periodic check-ups at an authorized service center, as recommended in the owner’s manual.

Copyright © Jerry Ford

About the Author:

The Jerry Ford Company provides revolutionary automatic wheelchair brakes and anti rollback devices for improving the safety of manual wheelchairs.

Original source here

The era of plain text in medical educational materials is being surpassed by a new medium. If you want to improve educational programs and retention rates, video is an essential part of the plan. We explain why video is so important, especially in the field of medical videos and patient education.

The advent of Google and YouTube has spurred great strides in the feasibility of online video. Videos appear more frequently in search results, and people are starting to take notice. The medium is more likely to draw the user in and keep their attention, so you can relay vital information to your viewer. This will greatly increase the effectiveness of the educational material you are presenting.

There are many ways video is already being incorporated in medical technology. For example, there are many benefits to the use of video capsule endoscopy. A tiny, swallowable device, which includes a light source, an optical lens, a battery, and a transmitter, is ingested. The resulting video sends clearer pictures and helps identify more ailments that were previously more difficult to detect. The procedure is easy to perform, with few complications, and patient approved videos can then be used for further study, research, and in educational materials.

When surgical videos are incorporated in educational presentations, the experience can be much more informative and understandable by a variety of viewers. The viewer is better able to relate to the information being presented, and it’s easier for the viewer to retain images, animations, and graphs, than plain text. Physicians are also able to communicate with patients in a more direct manner, and patients have a face to associate with a name or procedure.

There is no question video is being used more frequently in many research and educational pursuits, and the medical field is helping lead the way. So if you are a physician or medical professional looking to find new channels for distributing information, video is an enticing way to capture and express your procedures and materials. Also, patients can benefit from viewing and learning from these videos. So remember to include video as an essential part of the plan when bringing your profession to the cutting edge of technology.

Copyright © MD Kiosk

About the Author:

MD Kiosk provides free online educational medical videos, surgical procedures, & multimedia health care information for patient education and physicians.

Original source here

Lasik eye surgery has become the preferred method of treatment for the correction of vision problems like near- and far-sightedness and astigmatism, which affects billions of people around the world on a daily basis, especially when they reach their 40s. However, there are also some things to consider before opting for this kind of non-cutting eye surgery, because it is extremely expensive.

To understand the cost of Lasik eye surgery, one needs to know a little about the procedure, because it’s the technology that you’re paying for, not the time it takes to perform the operation. Lasik surgery is performed with a laser light beam, not traditional surgical tools and settings like scalpels and operating rooms with full staff and general anesthesia. Lasik qualified ophthalmologists can perform in a doctor’s office, or eye correction facility on an outpatient basis, no overnight hospital stays necessary.

Lasik surgery typically costs $1500 to $2500 per eye. Yes, you read that right. You might see deals advertised for Lasik surgical procedures that cost $500 per eye, but keep in mind two things: first, that’s just the basic cost of the surgery and does not include the use of additional equipment and supplies, nor the fees that will be added for the operating suite, the equipment used to perform the procedure, or the fees of the physician. Always ask before you sign what the final costs, per eye, are going to be. Second, that cost is determined by the severity of your eye trouble. The $500 listed may be for a very minimal eye vision correction, and is not to be taken as a baseline for what your procedure may entail, depending on your own vision diagnosis.

Also keep in mind that while Lasik eye correction surgery is accepted by many insurance companies around the world, the United States is lagging behind in that department, as many companies in America still consider Lasik to be a completely cosmetic surgery that is not vital to eye correction. They continue to hold to the belief that eyeglasses and contacts are perfectly acceptable and are unwilling, in most cases, to foot the bill for the cost of Lasik eye surgery. Hopefully, that attitude will change in the very near future, for Lasik offers less complications, less chance of damaging the eye during surgery, and fewer medical costs because of its outpatient procedure opportunities.

Though the basic cost of Lasik eye surgery is roughly $2,000 an eye, that may increase or decrease by a small amount depending on where you live. Lasik eye surgery can be completed in about 10-15 minutes in most cases, per eye. When thought of that way, the cost may seem astronomical, but considering the options, it’s actually a pretty good deal. No more glasses, contacts, or supplies and repairs. Instant eye correction, and the decreased risk of complications or damage to your most vital sense. When considering the high cost of Lasik eye surgery, try to remember that you are paying for a non-invasive method to correct your eyesight, and the cost won’t seem so prohibitive after all.

About the Author:

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

Original source here

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural transparent lens, which helps us to focus on the objects we see.

The lens is mostly made of water and protein.

Due to age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract, and over time, it may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.

What are the types of Cataract?

Cataracts are classified as one of three types:

1. A nuclear cataract is most commonly seen as it forms.

This cataract forms in the nucleus, the center of the lens, and is due to natural aging changes.

2. A cortical cataract, which forms in the outer lens cortex, gradually extends its spokes from the outside of the lens to the center. Many diabetics develop cortical cataracts.

3. A subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens. People with diabetes, high farsightedness, retinitis pigmentosa or those taking high doses of steroids may develop a subcapsular cataract.

What are the Symptoms and Signs of Cataract?

A cataract begins slowly and at first has little effect on your vision.

There may some blurring of vision .

Light from the sun or a lamp may seem too bright or glaring.

Colors may not appear as bright as they once did.

What Causes a Cataract?

The eye’s lens changes as we age, forming cataracts.

1. Exposure to ultraviolet light may be a cause of cataract development, so eye specialist recommend wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.

2. Other types of radiation such as from TV or PC monitors may also be causes. Airline pilots have a higher risk of developing nuclear cataract than non-pilots, and that the cause may be exposure to cosmic radiation.

3. People with diabetes are at risk for developing a cataract. The same goes for users of steroids and diuretics.

4. Other risk factors include cigarette smoke, air pollution and heavy alcohol consumption

How is Cataract treated?

Symptomatic treatment:

When symptoms begin to appear, you may be able to improve your vision for a while using new glasses, strong bifocals, magnification, appropriate lighting or other visual aids.

Surgical treatment:

An intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted in the eye in place of the patient’s clouded natural lens.

During surgery, the surgeon will remove your clouded lens, and in most cases replace it with a clear, plastic intraocular lens (IOL).

Cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision.

Can a Cataract be prevented?

Some eye care practitioners believe that a diet high in antioxidants, such as beta-carotene (vitamin A), selenium and vitamins C may slow down cataract development.

Eye drops such as Catalin & Quinax has been prescribed to slow down the development of cataract.

Most important is avoid direct sun rays and other forms of radiation from TV or PC monitors, polluted air and smoking.

About the Author:

Kenneth Kee email: kwk481@gmail.com website: http://www.kennethkee.com http://kennethkee.blogspot.com http://dotkee.110mb.com http://mirage800.110mb.comhttp://success.myweb.iohttp://mirage.myweb.io Profile: A newbie to world of internet marketing. At the age of 59 years, I am struggling to learn the in and outs of online marketing. I am a educator,part-time healthcare worker,computer hardware hobbyist,now ebook writer and internet marketer. I am also a full time lifelong learner. Graduated in 1972, did my Masters in 1991 and doctorate in 1993.

Original source here

What is Shingles?

Shingles or Herpes zoster is a condition where a crop of blisters caused by the varicella zoster virus form a band across one side of the chest, abdomen or face.

What is the cause of shingles?

The same virus that causes chicken pox causes shingles. The chickenpox virus remains in a dormant state in certain nerve cells of the body from months to many years, and then reactivates, causing shingles.

This infection is due to a temporary decrease in the body’s resistance, allowing the virus to start multiplying and to move along nerve fibres towards the skin.

Who are the People at risk of getting Shingles?

About 1 in 10 people who had chickenpox as children will develop shingles as adults.

The disease occurs

1. More often in older people (over 50 years old) because the immune response is believed to be weaker in older people.

2. Trauma or possibly stress may also contribute to an attack of shingles.

3. Weakened Immune system people like those with cancer, eg. Leukaemia, lymphoma, undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer, patients with organ transplants and taking drugs to ward off transplant rejection and patients with diseases that lowers the immune system eg. AIDS.

What are the symptoms of shingles?

The first symptom is a burning pain or tingling and extreme sensitivity in one area of the skin.

This may be present for one to three days before a red rash occurs.

A group of blisters then forms on a red base which looks like chicken pox lesions.

The blisters generally last for two to three weeks, during which time they accumulate pus and then crust over and begin to disappear.

The pain may last longer for a month or longer.

A slight discoloration or scarring of the skin is also possible.

How severe is the pain of Shingles?

The pain is usually severe enough for the doctor to prescribe painkillers.

A long-lasting painful complication of shingles called post-herpetic neuralgia occurs in some older patients.

This may last long after the shingles have healed.

For these people the slightest touch or contact with clothing can be unbearable.

Where do shingles appear on the body?

Shingles generally affect only one side of the body.

Most commonly, blisters will appear on the chest or abdomen, including the buttocks and genitalia, and even the face.

If the blisters involve the eye region, permanent eye damage can result. Your doctor will refer you immediately to an eye specialist when such a complication develops.

What are the complications of shingles?

Post-herpetic neuralgia, a condition in which either constant or episodic pain persists for a long time after the skin has healed.

About 50% of affected patients are over the age of 60 years.

The chronic pain is believed to be due the damage to nerve endings.

People who suffer this long-term pain may experience psychological sufferring such as depression, insomnia and weight loss.

Infection of the blisters by bacteria can also cause delayed healing of the skin.

Antibiotic treatment is needed.

If the shingles affects the forehead, sometimes inflammation of ophthalmic nerve of the eye may occur. It may cause severe pain in the eye and cause blindness. Damage to the cornea may also occur.

If the shingles affect the the ear, it may cause pain, tinnitus (buzzing sound in the ear), dizziness, loss of hearing or an increased risk of spread to the brain.

In patients with weakened immune systems, there may be high fever and spread of the disease all over the body.

Is shingles contagious?

Shingles is much less contagious than chicken pox. People with shingles can spread the virus if blisters are broken to someone who has never had chicken pox or who is already ill.

The people who are at risk include babies and those who already are ill such as cancer patients.

Does Shingles cause much scarring?

Shingles can result in scarring if the blisters are infected or if the patients have used toxic home remedies on the blisters.

Some Chinese physicians believe that a snake in the skin causes the disease and the head of the snake must be burned with chemicals in order to stop the snake from growing.

How is shingles treated?

In most cases Shingles clears on its own in a few weeks and seldom recurs.

Treatment consists of painkillers, as well as cool compresses to help dry the blisters. Antibiotics are given if there is bacterial infection

The antiviral drug, acyclovir, may be given especially for patients with eye involvement or who are very ill. It is useful only if it is started early in the disease.

The earlier it is taken after the disease begins the better the effect. The drug might prevent post-herpetic neuralgia.

Post-herpetic neuralgia can be treated with painkillers and high doses of tranquilisers at night.

About the Author:

Kenneth Kee email: kwk481@gmail.com website: http://www.kennethkee.com http://kennethkee.blogspot.com http://dotkee.110mb.com http://mirage800.110mb.com http://success.myweb.io http://mirage.myweb.io Profile: A newbie to world of internet marketing. At the age of 59 years, I am struggling to learn the in and outs of online marketing. I am an educator,part-time healthcare worker,computer hardware hobbyist,now ebook writer and Internet marketer. I am also a full time lifelong learner. Graduated in 1972, did my Masters in 1991 and doctorate in 1993.

Original source here

Aurora Health Care offers a variety of services for an individual to tap into. Aurora Health Care is a health care provider with some prestige and a great reputation to live up to, and also doubles up as a one-stop shop for jobs in the healthcare sector. Aurora Health Care also offers classes and advice on all aspects of health care. In truth, it actually provides a far better level of care and information than any of its competitors do, and that can only be a positive thing!

Aurora Health Care provides a service for both registered patients and those that are no registered as well. If you do register with them then you can request emergency and same day appointments as well as simply asking for advice from time to time. However, non-registered patients have to wait for appointments, although they can still make them as and when necessary. They cannot ask for emergency service, and so should actually call an ambulance if needed.

All Of Your Health Care Needs

Aurora Health Care does not stop at simply providing appointments. It can in fact take care of all of your needs, including providing convenient pharmacies. There are many Aurora Health Care pharmacies located around the country, thus making it easier to request a prescription or a refill as and when you like. You may find one on a high street, in a clinic or hospital, or even at your local supermarket if it is big enough to include several independent stores.

Aurora Health Care may host women’s services at a clinic or pharmacy too. Obviously women have more specialist problems than men do as a result of reproduction and so Aurora Health Care has quite rightly provided a specialist service that is dedicated to the health care of women as a result. Alongside that is a specialist service for seniors too. In old age, everybody’s health will dramatically decline over a period of time. This service deals with cancer, arthritis, mental degeneration and a whole host of other ailments that a senior may need from time to time or as a part of ongoing care. For more info http://www.tophealthcarehelp.com on Health Care.

Aurora Health Care also specialises in cancer care because the care for individuals with cancer is often neglected by health insurance companies. It can be so expensive and so draining on a family’s income that it is better to invest in health insurance that does cater for that eventuality.

Of course, Aurora Health Care is not just limited to the elements set out above but they are often the tings that individuals look for in a service. It is definitely worth considering Aurora Health Care because they cater for so many needs, including any that you may have right now!

About the Author:

You can also find more info on Health Care Providers and United Health Care Insurance. Tophealthcarehelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about He

Original source here

Lasik is the new method of eye surgery that does not require the use of traditional surgical instruments, like knives, in the use of delicate eye surgery. Lasik employs the use of a laser light to adjust the curvature of the cornea. While the procedure is less than twenty years old, it has already undergone several transformations as new developments and technology constantly improve on the process.

Some people are familiar with the Lasik term but don’t realize that there are several different Lasik methods now available for clients with a variety of vision correction needs. Epi-Lasik came after the original Lasik procedure and differs from the original only in that a fine ‘blade’ is used to cut a thin flap of the epithelium, the outer covering of the cornea. Epi-Lasik is favored for use in patients who suffer from myopia. In Epi-Lasik, as in the original Lasik, a special laser is used to sculpt corneal tissues. Lasik Wavefront is also commonly performed. Preferred candidates are those with optimal corneal thickness as well as near and far-sightedness and astigmatism. Wavefront uses three-dimensional measurements to ascertain how your eyes process images. Each person’s eyes and eyesight are unique to themselves, so this is a very personalized, custom-type surgery. With this customized form of Lasik, each of your eyes is examined to test their ability to focus light rays. Such information is fed into a three dimensional map that is created, which in turn guides a laser to reshape the corneal surface so that vision irregularities can be corrected.

Wavefront is a great leap forward in laser guided light refractive surgery in that it serves not only to improve general vision, but also increases contrast sensitivity and fine detail eyesight. Other forms of Lasik are known as PRK and RK methods, though these are not as common as Lasik, Epi-Lasik and Lasik Wavefront. More people every year from around the world are opting to undergo one of these forms of Lasik vision correction surgery. While most people think that anything that takes less than fifteen minutes, without the use of scalpel, operating room and general anesthesia can’t really be considered surgery, Lasik eye correction is surgery. Proper precautions and post procedure instructions must be followed to the letter in order to reap the benefits of this technology that allows nearly non-invasive surgery of the eye.

While many countries around the world offer medical insurance to cover the costs of these procedures, the United States, for the most part, does not. It is still considered to be an elective surgery. At a cost of generally $1,500 to $2,000 an eye, keep in mind the fact that this procedure is virtually painless, quick, and does not involve cutting into deep eye tissues and muscles. That alone is enough to convince most people to opt for this type of surgery over wearing glasses or contact lenses for the rest of their lives. The technology behind Lasik vision correction surgery is what makes the procedure so expensive, but it is that very technology that offers the most safety and the highest rate of success than any other procedure to date.

About the Author:

Which form of Lasik vision correction is right for you? Find out more at http://LasikRevealed.com .

Original source here

What is medical tourism? Indeed could you become a medical tourist in the future?

Perhaps.Perhaps you live in a place such as the U.K. or Canada where either there are long queues for medical procedures or care. Perhaps as in the case in Canada that not only are there long queue lines for medical care but Socialist thinking makes it impossible and indeed immoral for any one to jump the queue. According the standard socialist trend thinking in Canada, if a person mortgages their home in order to obtain a life saving kidney transplant overseas, then they are considered to be an evil person who has “jumped the queue”.. Indeed as noted medical economist M. L. Labovitch notes that in the” North End Socialist mindset “, that had this person completed the real estate transaction to travel and party or to buy government sponsored lottery tickets then they would be commended and all would be fine and dandy. Finally it may be that it may be that you just cannot afford the cost of medical treatment of medical procedure in your geographic and home area.

There is nothing new under the sun in the concept of medical tourism. Indeed the first recorded examples of medical tourism date back thousands of yeas when Greek pilgrims traveled from all the Mediterranean to the small territory in the Sardonic Gulf called Epidauria. Epidauria was the sanctuary of the healing god Asklepios. Epidauria was the first original travel destination for what has become to be known as “Medical Tourism”.

Medical tourists can come from anywhere in the world including the United States Europe, the U.K., the Middle East, This because of the large population, relatively high wealth. The high expenses of health care “back home” and / or limited access or long wait times for medical care and / or medical procedures.

It used to be that the best medical care was in the wealth industrialized countries.

Rochester at the Mayo Clinic or in private hospitals in the U.K. The brightest of the third world often went to the wealthy countries and stayed on as they felt both their professional and financial options were more than limited in countries of origin.

Not now. The world had become a much smaller place with modern communications and travel. Costs (especially labor which is a major component of any health care system) is much less. Furthermore the industrialized world has a legacy of an older infrastructure and labor codes. Everything that is set up or purchased in the former areas of the third world where medical tourism is expanding is usually brand new, if not state or the art. And if outside help or expertise is required this is readily accessible in our new modern age of high speed internet communications and transportation. Standards of care and level of medical expertise are generally just as high as and sometimes even higher than at home in the industrialized wealthy counties. Indeed instead of an old steamy dingy hospital cafeteria that you expected the medical tourist may well think that they are in a luxury 5 star resort. As the New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman noted in 0his authoritative books ” The World is Flat” , “France can forgot about trying to save her 6 week worker vacation period standard holidays.”. “In India they are trying to figure out how they can work 24 hours a day”.

About the Author:

Morgellons and Lyme Disease Travel CanadaMmedical Solution

Original source here

Health insurance is a necessity for all. With medical expenses soaring every day higher than a hang glider, paying for them could have you digging deep into the pockets of your jeans.

What types of health insurance are available?

Health insurance plans usually falls into one of two categories: indemnity plans (also known as reimbursement plans) and other one managed care plans such as health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and point of service (POS) plans.

An indemnity plan gives the privilege to choose your own doctors and pays for your own medical expenses totally, in part, or even up to a specified amount per day for a specified number of days.

Managed care plans generally provide wider coverage, but they all have an arrangement between the insurer and a selected network of health-insurance providers (doctors, hospitals, etc.). For example, an HMO would require that a primary care physician in the network coordinate all of your care and also refer you to specialists in the network.

No matter which type of health insurance you buy, you’ll should to make sure it offers the right kinds of insurance coverage.

What should be covered?

Does the insurance plan cover pre-existing conditions? If so, is there a waiting period? (The average waiting period is three months to one year.)

About the Author:

Divyasena is a SEO copywriter for Everyhealthplan. She has written various articles for Everyhealthplan. For more information on Health Insurance visithttp://www.everyhealthplan.com. You can contact her through mail at

Original source here

When opening a private practice the number one way, and best way, to generate new patients is by word of mouth. During my first year in practice word of mouth brought in more new patients than any other venue we used. Ask yourself, would you prefer to pick your dentist thumbing through the phone book, or would you rather visit a dentist you have heard great things about from a friend or family member. While a phone book listing or ad may not be a bad idea, a personal referral from someone who knows you is far more superior. Your first resource to getting word of mouth referrals when opening a new practice is by educating your friends and family. Remember they are the beginning and sometimes the foundation for your network.

Due to the fact that less than 25% of the population is currently under chiropractic care, many people do not understand the complete benefits of going to the chiropractor. Do not make the mistake of letting your friends and family think that you are only a “back doctor.” This will limit the amount of people they are able to reach for you and your practice. If someone in your network doesn’t know that you can help a potential patient with carpal tunnel syndrome then they will never be able to tell others how easily you can help. A simple way to put it to your friends, family and patients is, “If it is a muscle or a joint think of me.”

Once your friends and family know who you can help they can refer you patients. Once the patients are in your office it is again up to you to educate them. Every patient in your practice should know every condition you can help with. By literature, word of mouth or constant reminders let your patients know how you can help them, their loved ones and acquaintances. I will never forget one patient I treated during my internship at Parker College of Chiropractic. He was a 47 year-old doctor of veterinary medicine with chronic low back pain. Seven weeks into our treatment plan he asked me one afternoon, “Can chiropractic treatments help migraines?” I said, “Yes, why do you ask?” He then began to explain to me that he had been plagued with a migraine headache at least once a month for the past 15 years. Then he said he had not had a migraine since he started treatment seven weeks ago. Since I treated the whole spine, not just the low back, he had not only experienced relief in his low back but he was also relieved of migraine headaches. I apologized to him. He asked why are you apologizing I feel great! I said I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.

From that point on I realized that not everyone knows everything about chiropractic that I do. Do you think that patient will tell everyone he comes into contact with that has migraines about his chiropractor now? Definitely!

A good way to constantly remind patients of other conditions you treat is to expand a little about the area of the spine you are adjusting on them. If you are treating their low back ask them, “do you have or have you ever had pain down the back of your leg?” This is a good question to ask anyways. Whether they say yes or no, this is a great time to explain to them that you see a lot of patients with sciatica and that you can help anyone they might know with pain down the back of the legs. It has been my experience that most patients will say right then and there I do have a friend with that type of pain. The more people you are able to help the better.

About the Author:

Dr. Ryan Marshall is a south Tulsa chiropractor and a member of the American Chiropractic Association.

Original source here