Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-Prevention

Are you working most of the day with computer? Do you feel tingling or numbness in your wrist for months? And then a stabbing pain? It is very likely you have carpal tunnel syndrome. Nothing unusual for your kind of work.However, some people think that carpal tunnel syndrome is the disease of the in...

Are you working most of the day with computer? Do you feel tingling or numbness in your wrist for months? And then a stabbing pain? It is very likely you have carpal tunnel syndrome. Nothing unusual for your kind of work.
However, some people think that carpal tunnel syndrome is the disease of the information technology age. This is not true! Evidence of people experiencing signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome date back to the beginning of 20th century.



What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

First, let explain what is carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is a narrow and rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand that houses the median nerve and tendons- it is about as big as your thumb. Carpal tunnel is located at the on the palm side of your wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Although painful sensations may indicate many other conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common and widely known neuropathies in which the body's peripheral nerves are compressed or traumatized. If some sort of pressure is placed on the nerve, or if swelling occurs or something similar, the nerve reacts with numbness and pain in the hand and wrist, which may radiate up the arm, and eventually, hand weakness that is also one of characteristics of carpal tunnel syndrome.






Most often carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive motion, injury, or inflammatory types of arthritis.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, as with many other diseases start gradually. There is frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers. This is particularly typical for thumb, the index or middle finger. People, suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome say their fingers feel swollen, although they do not show any signs of swelling.
But these are just onset symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.





When carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms tend to worsen, people feel tingling all the time, and their grip strength decreases. People suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome cannot form a fist, grasp small objects or perform other manual tasks. In worst cases, when muscles at the base of the thumb waste away, which is chronic (or untreated) form of carpal tunnel syndrome, people are unable to tell between hot and cold by touch.

Treatments available for carpal tunnel syndrome

There are differences of course in carpal tunnel syndrome treatments. People with mild symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may ease their numbness or discomfort by taking more frequent breaks by resting their hands, or by applying cold ice packs if swelling occurs.
But very often these techniques do not help. In cases like that treatment options include wrist splinting, medications or even surgery. But let's not over-react, most people, suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome experience effective treatment with nonsurgical methods, including:

• Wrist splinting: Try wearing a wrist splint at night and avoid sleeping on your hands to help ease the pain or numbness in your wrists and hands. But be careful: the splint should be snug but not tight. Besides, splinting is more likely to help you if you've had only mild to moderate symptoms for less than a year. If your problems persist, see your doctor.

• Some people find nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) helpful. However, it is more likely that they will help if you have an associated inflammatory condition. If not, NSAIDs are unlikely to help relieve your symptoms.

• Doctor may inject your carpal tunnel with a corticosteroid, which also decrease inflammation, and relieve pressure on the median nerve. On the other hand, oral corticosteroids aren't as effective as corticosteroid injections for treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

As said above, nonsurgical treatments are effective if you have mild symptoms. But when pain and other symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are present, surgery is the only solution to end problems.
There are several techniques accepted, but in all accepted surgical procedures, surgeon cuts the ligament pressing on the nerve.
We will not go into details about surgical procedures, but surgery does mark improvement: more than 70% of patients undergoing surgery are completely or very satisfied with the outcome of their surgery.


Prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

It is important to notice that there are no proven strategies to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. In order to act preventive, it is essential to protect your hands. In order to do this take following steps:

• Relax your grip and reduce the force you're using. For example, if using keyboard- hit the keys softly; if writing, use pen with free-flowing pen.



• Take breaks whenever you need them. For example, every 20 minutes (or sooner if you feel like) take a break. Stretch your hands and wrists. Physical and other workers often work with equipment that vibrates- it is even more important to take break, especially if dealing with great amount of force.



• Be careful when positioning hands and wrist. You should avoid bending hands in wrist all the way up or down- middle position is the best.



• Improve your posture. If you have incorrect posture, it is more likely you will roll your shoulders forward. When shoulders are in this position, it is more likely your neck and shoulder muscles will be shortened and they will be compressing nerves in your neck, which will also influence your wrists, fingers and hands.



• This may sound like a grandma's advice, but keep your hands warm. It is actually rather simple: it is more likely to develop hand pain and stiffness if you work in a cold environment.

At the workplace, workers can: take frequent rest breaks, perform stretching exercises, wear splints to keep wrists straight, use correct posture and wrist position.
Jobs that include greater wrist or hand utilization, can rotate among workers.

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Different ways to enhance your breast size

At 20s they are firm and tight, but as we approach 40s they ... well, they are still beautiful, but not so firm and not so tight. Besides these two criteriums, women have big problems with their breast size: most of us want to have bigger breast, so most of the time they undergo surgeries in order t...

At 20s they are firm and tight, but as we approach 40s they ... well, they are still beautiful, but not so firm and not so tight. Besides these two criteriums, women have big problems with their breast size: most of us want to have bigger breast, so most of the time they undergo surgeries in order to achieve most wanted.
In this article we will explore different possibilities and different ways to enhance your breast size. We will ask- do they work, or is surgery your only solution.

Breast Enhancement But No Surgery

Herbal pills

If you're tempted to try them, you could not be jeopardizing your health, but also your finances.
Women try those pills without thinking what consequences they might bring. There are no studies made that confirm the safety of those pills. Most ingredients they contain are natural and most likely nothing drastic will happen to you if you go on them for 2 months, however- there is no evidence about safety of breast enhancement pills.
But women do not think whether pills are dangerous or not, well at least most women don't- they ask %26ndash; do they work? And do they?
Hmm... Natural breast enhancement pills could theoretically increase breast size, because most of them contain herbs that contain estrogen, which effects the body by increasing breast size. Before we get periods or during periods, women usually have bigger breasts. This is because estrogen has this effect on body. The same way birth-control pills effect body.





However, even if breast size increases with breast enhancement pills, your breast will return back to their natural size as soon as you stop poping pills.
Herbs that supposedly increase breast size are: blessed thistle (used historically by nursing women to increase the flow of milk), dong quai (Chinese herb used primarily to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, reduce menstrual cramps, etc), fennel seed (used traditionally to increase the flow of breast milk in nursing women, enhance libido, and increase menstrual flow), etc. Some of these herbs have some instant effect- mostly because they increase estrogen level, but it has not be proven that they also increase breast size.
Is it worth it? Do you actually know a woman that enhanced her breast with herbal pills? I don't.
So, think again! Not only that we are dealing with effectiveness issue, we are also dealing with safety issue. Women, be careful!

Breast Creams

Just like 'all-natural' herbal pills for breast enhancement, there are also breast-enhancing creams available that of course also claim to be all-natural.
Breast enhancement creams also work on the same principle as breast enhancement pills: they contain hormone, called estrogen. But here is a trick, that i should have mentioned previously: as I mentioned above, estrogen can increase breast size (temporarily, but it does), BUT, in order these creams (or in previous case pills) are to be sold without a prescription, they must contain such a very small amount of the hormone estrogen, which is consequently, considering breast enhancement effect, insignificant.
Also, according to FDA web site, creams and lotions advertised as breast enhancers don't work.

Chewing gum

Chewing gum that supposedly enhances breast size is a huge hit in Japan. It is called Bust-Up gum, and if chewed four times a day, it will not only increase your breast size, but will also help improve circulation, reduce stress and fight aging.
So, how does the gum work? The gum works by releasing compounds contained in an extract from a plant called Pueraria mirifica. Plant was used for thousand years in traditional medicine. As with breast enhancement pills and creams, the plant's underground tubers contain a number of chemicals called phytoestrogens - natural compounds which mimic the effects of the female sex hormone estrogen.
Universities from Thailand carried out some studies and found that Pueraria mirifica therapy was able to enhance breast size by 80%. Further studies were made, and they found that the plant had a beneficial effect on skin and hair, and as founded before %26ndash; on breasts. Even further studies suggested beneficial effects reducing menopausal symptoms, heart disease symptoms and osteoporosis.

Suction Systems

If you don't want to undergo surgery procedure, and you have the money and time %26ndash; suction system could be the solution to your breast enhancement. At least that's what Richard Greco, MD says, the one who published a study on the device in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in June 2000.
If you want to go along with the suction system, you'll need 2500 dollars and at least 10 hours daily for minimum 10 weeks. After that period and recommended use, average breast growth is approximately 1 cup size.
Thus, according to studies made and reviews from women that used Brava breast enlargement and shaping system, this method is most appropriate for those who want to enlarge their breasts for one cup and are afraid of surgery.
So, how does this system actually work?
Brava breast enlargement and shaping system increases and reshapes your breast tissue through a process known as tissue expansion. This process has been used by physicians for over 30 years in various reconstructive procedures. System applies gentle and sustained tension on your breasts, which results in cells replication and production of new breast tissue.
The Brava system consists of two semi-rigid domes with specially engineered silicone gel rims. There is also self-regulating microprocessor that creates and regulates the tension within the domes. The system is held in place by a sports-bra. The domes then gently suction the breasts, creating sustained tension and stimulating tissue growth, which is as said above, not a new idea.
Brava system was clinically tested and was found to be both safe and effective in enlarging breast tissue.
Thus, if you are afraid of the surgery, you have the time and the money- try this suction system. According to medical researches and tests made, you won't be sorry.
Of course, there are many questions rising with this new miracle 'machine': what about breast cancer? Am I more likely to get breast cancer? According to Brava website, and according to breast cancer experts: No! Brava cannot cause breast cancer. On contrary, using brava system is one of the safest things you can do to your breasts... so claim breast experts.
However, there is one complication that is associated with Brava breast enlargement and shaping system, and it is called skin irritation. Skin irritation occurs where the domes meet the skin. This problem can be resolved if using gentle skin cleanser before wearing Brava.
System is approved by FDA (as it must be when sold legally). Medical experts report that more than 10.000 women have had results with this product. The only downside, at least by my humble opinion, is discipline or time. Personally I do not have 10 hours daily to go through this. And this is not 10 hours for 1 week- this is 10 hours for 10 weeks. Who has the time? You can save the money- $ 2500 is not such a price, but the time- the time, at least in my case is priceless.

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Breast implants

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is the third most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States. In 2005, 291,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed. Millions of women are doing it, and every year the number increases. And t...

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is the third most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States. In 2005, 291,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed. Millions of women are doing it, and every year the number increases.
And they do not do it only once- large percentage is repeat costumers. Once is not enough- we want them bigger and bigger?? Is that the reason they return? Or must they get their breasts fixed again?
Does size matter that much? Be careful! Size is not the only variable to consider! Read on- we will provide you with information about implant choices, placements, incisions, side effects and much more.


FDA definition of breast implants

Breast implants are medical devices that typically consist of a silicone elastomer shell filled with saline or silicone gel. They are intended for women who are seeking breast augmentation (cosmetic) or breast reconstruction.
Breast implants are implanted either under breast tissue or under the chest muscle for breast augmentation or reconstruction.


What are breast implants used for?


They do not serve just to enhance your breasts; breast implants are used for:

• Primary augmentation: as most of think %26ndash; for cosmetic reasons or in other words- to increase size of breasts



• Revision-augmentation: when breast augmentation surgery needs to be corrected or improved; again for cosmetic reasons



• Primary reconstruction: after cancer or some other trauma breast tissue is removed %26ndash; in that cases breast tissue is replaced with breast implant



• Revision-reconstruction: as with revision-augmentation when breast augmentation surgery needs to be corrected or improved, revision surgery is used to correct or improve the result of an original breast reconstruction surgery

2 major types (groups) of breast implants

First of all, we must explain that breast implants vary in size, profile and shell surface.






There are 2 major groups of breast implants, approved by the FDA: Saline-filled and Silicone gel-filled.

Saline-filled breast implants

In year 2000, saline-filled breast implants were approved by FDA for breast augmentation in women 18 years or older, and for breast reconstruction in women of any age. Saline filled breast implants are consisted of silicone shells that are either pre-filled or filled with saline during surgery. Some of saline filled breast implants also allow adjustments of the filler volume after surgery.
The implants are empty when they are surgically inserted and they are filled after the insertion. For that reason the scar is smaller (comparing to silicone gel breast implants, which need to be filled with silicone before the insertion). Saline filled breast implants are also produced as pre-filled, but the failure rate in this group showed to be very high.
This type of breast implants is the most commonly used in th US, but they are not as popular in other parts of the world. Main reason is that silicone breast implants (third and fourth generation) are sold under restricted conditions in the U.S. and Canada. Another reason is that comparing to silicone gel implants, saline implants are more likely to cause cosmetic problems, which is very common among women with little breast tissue or women that underwent post-mastectomy reconstruction.

Silicone gel-filled

6 years later, silicone gel-filled breast implants were approved for breast augmentation in women 22 years or older and for breast reconstruction in women of any age. Silicone gel-filled breast implants also have silicone shells, but are filled with silicone gel. When we talk about silicone implants, we generally describe them in terms of five generations. They differ in common characteristics of manufacturing techniques.
The fifth generation, also referred as 'gummy bear' breast implants have proved greater succes over saline breast implants: significant improvements in safety and efficacy over the previous four generations.

You might ask yourself, why is age limit different in those two large groups. First of all, lets explain that age limit is concern only when dealing with breast implants for augmentation- or in more popular words- cosmetic reason; there is no age restriction if the breast tissue has been removed due to cancer or other trauma. Firstly, this is because breasts do not finish their development with 'legal maturity'- breasts continue to develop through late teens and early 20s. And secondly, young women are simply not mature enough to make an informed decision about the potential risks.
Back to the original question: why is age limit different for augmentation for saline-filled and silicone gel-filled breast implants? First are approved for women ages 18 and older, and second (saline) for 22 and older. Answer is rather simple: because of risks involved in those two different products.

Breast implants risks include:

• breast pain



• changes in nipples and breast sensation



• hardening of the area around the implant (capsular contracture)



• rupture (deflation for saline-filled implants, possibility of no symptoms for silicone gel-filled implants)



• in silicone gel-filled implants migration of silicone gel



• additional surgeries (implant is removed or not)

Who does it and why?

We will end this article with a simple why doing it and is it worth it? Of course we answering to question why undergoing breast augmentation, surgery performed (mainly) for cosmetic reasons. In short, we will examine psychical approach to breast augmentation.
Patients seeking breast augmentation are young, healthy women from higher socio-economic class than majority of population.
Many times they have distress about their appearance and are diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder is a condition defined as a preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance that leads to significant impairment in functioning- a condition, which has been found to be unresponsive to plastic surgery.
This brings us to conclusion: it was all for nothing! (This is referring just to women with body dysmorphic disorder!)Women do breast augmentation, but the quality of life on mental level does not improve as they expected. Post operative surveys prove there is no improvement in self-esteem or general self-confidence. Breast augmentation only showed improvement in feeling sexually attractive- no improvement in other 'areas' of self-esteem whatsoever.

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Different ways of hair removal

Doesn't it feel cleaner when you remove all the hair from your body? Like being able to breathe again!We remove hair this way or another – as long as they are gone, and it would be best if we wouldn't have to repeat the procedure over and over again. Surveys report that 80% of women and over 5...

Doesn't it feel cleaner when you remove all the hair from your body? Like being able to breathe again!
We remove hair this way or another %26ndash; as long as they are gone, and it would be best if we wouldn't have to repeat the procedure over and over again. Surveys report that 80% of women and over 50% of men have unwanted hair in various body areas.
In this article we will discuss what ways of hair removal are available and their advantages and disadvantages.

Types of hair

First, before removing any hair, let introduce ourselves with hair. We have different types of hair on our bodies.
All hair is made of keratin, which is protein also found in nails. All hair grows beneath the surface of the skin- we see only visible part; the root is hidden beneath the skin, in a small tube.

• Vellus hair

We all have vellus hair, some more noticeable, some less. Vellus hair is very fine, soft and short. Most women have it on face, chest, back, thighs. In women with darker complexity they appear darker, but are still fine and soft. Function of vellus hair is maintenance of body temperature by providing insulation.

• Terminal hair

Terminal hair is type of hair that grows on out heads, and when girl or boy reaches puberty, terminal hair starts to grow in the armpits, pubic region and most often legs. In boys terminal hair starts to grow on the face, chest, legs...
Function of terminal hair is cushioning and protection.

• Excess hair growth

In some cases excess hair growth can be result of certain medical conditions: for example in girls polycystic ovary syndrome or some other hormonal imbalance can cause dark hair to grow on their face, even chest and legs.





Besides medical conditions, some medications can cause excess hair growth, medically referred as hirsutism.

Types of hair removal

There are many types of hair removals available. Me and all my friends started with shaving, then we switched to chemical depilatories, some went back to shaving, some moved forward to epilation, waxing, and I guess only the most lucky ones to laser hair removal.

Shaving

Men do it every day time, but do we women also have to?
Shaving became popular among women in previous century; they shaved their underarms, and them with invention of sheer nylon stockings during world war II, we started to shave our legs.
Personally, I don't like the method, and wouldn't recommend it to my daughter. Shaving accelerates hair growth and this is the main reason why woman should stay away from it. Please, do not ever use shaving method on your face! If you have to deal with facial hair, it is best to use tweezers.
It is true, shaving is quick- and you are done with both legs and underarms in 5 minutes, but what's the use if i have to repeat the procedure second or third day again and again and again. No use!
However, if time isn't on your side and you think waxing and similar inventions are too painful, read on.
Generally, shaving is done against the direction of hair growth, except for sensitive areas, such as pubic region: in that case shave in the direction of hair growth. It will give you fewer skin cuts, but it can be also slower.
Do not shave directly on dry skin, because it can cause skin irritation. Instead, lather up and soak the body areas for a while prior to shaving. Some use foam, some shaving creams. Decide what suits you best.
Sometimes after shaving, usually day after shaving, areas shaved can become red and small red bumps occur. In that case stop shaving until the skin heals and the redness vanishes. If you don't stop, you risk further infection. Some claim that applying baby powder helps, but I wouldn't bet on it. However, you can try if you want: simply apply thin layer of baby powder on irritated area.

Tweezing

As mentioned above, tweezing is most suitable for smaller areas with unwanted hair growth, like eyebrows, hair above upper lip and some other small facial or body areas.
While tweezing, especially facial areas, you'll need mirror. Always tweeze in the direction of hair growth and always pull one hair at the time. If you feel like tweezing is painful, you can open your pores with a hot washcloth to make tweezing easier and less painful. Never tweeze hairs growing out of moles or nose hair- it is too painful and you can cause infection!

Chemical depilatories

Chemical depilatories are also described as chemical shaving. They contain chemicals that dissolve the protein structure of the hair and cause it to separate it from skin. Before use it is recommendable to make a skin test, because chemical depilatories can cause skin irritation.
There are pros and cons of course: it is fast, rather inexpensive, can be done at home. Drawback is potential skin irritation and the lasting effect: it lasts a short time- this depends on the type of hair, but usually effects do not last more than 3-5 days, and considering the time the effect lasts, they are not cheap either. Some women with darker hair also report that chemical depilatories leave visible %26quot;shadow%26quot; of dark hair under skin. Most of them is also smelly and messy to use.

Mechanical epilators

Mechanical epilator is a electic machine, which you turn on and run through your skin. The coils grasp the hairs and rip them out of your skin. This leaves you in considerable pain but also with very smooth legs that will stay smooth for a couple weeks. And this is the greatest advantage of mechanical epilators - you are worry-free for at least 2 weeks. Big advantage is also that hair that grows back (and it does grow back- do not get fooled) is thinner and sparser. Living proove that shaving does make hair thicker. After using mechanical epilator, shave your legs when hair grows back: you will surely notice the difference between hair after shaving or after using mechanical epilator.
But the procedure is painful and it lasts around 30-45 minutes for whole both legs, and outer parts of bikini area. Some use it in underarms area, but I wouldn't recommend it if you have sensitive skin.
Some people claim that pain gets less intense with years of use. I am using mechanical epilator for more than 5 years and it still hurts! Is something wrong with me? However, I've found that using this device priod or during your period will make the suffering even worse. Woman's skin is sensitive then, so make sure you don't do it then.

Waxing

It pretty much has the same lasting effect and involves the same pain as epilators.
This hair removal system involves applying wax to clean skin and then ripping it off with cotton strips, and then hair comes off with the strips.
The biggest disadvantage is mess you have to deal with when waxing- you can get rid of cleaning by doing the waxing in the saloon. It costs of course.

And then gone for ever...

Many hair removal systems claim to be permanent, but only two of them really are. Electrolysis and laser hair removals are really the only ways to permanently remove hair, and both work by having the root of the hair destroyed. Both must be done by qualified practitioner and both may require multiple sessions to really achieve permanent results.
During electrolysis a metal probe into an individual hair follicle, which then zaps the hair with electricity, and killing the hair. Electrolysis hair removal has been around for many years, and it has been proved that electrolysis does offer permanent hair removal. Electrolysis can be painful and there is a risk of scarring and infection.
Laser hair removal is on the other hand more recent method of hair removal. Laser beam destroys hair follicles and impairs hair regrowth. Laser hair removal involves less pain is less time-consuming compared to electrolysis. The drawback is potential redness or pigmentation changes of the skin, besides the financial shock: laser hair removal namely costs couple thousands dollars, and there is no guarantee that hair won't grow back.

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Help your children deal with divorce

Divorce can be devastating for children. While you might feel sense of relief that a difficult times are coming to the end, your child might feel sense of loss. Although children's emotional reactions usually depend on their age at the time of divorce, many children experience feelings of loss, sadn...

Divorce can be devastating for children. While you might feel sense of relief that a difficult times are coming to the end, your child might feel sense of loss. Although children's emotional reactions usually depend on their age at the time of divorce, many children experience feelings of loss, sadness and anger, and they express it with their behavior. Learn how to help you child cope with negative effects of divorce, and minimize stress and prevent trauma for your child.

Mommy and Daddy used to love each other, but now we don't...

There is no easy way to tell the breaking news, but you must do that! Do it as soon as you are certain of your divorce.
It is highly recommendable that both parents are present when a child is told. The basic message should be:
%26ldquo;we used to love each other and were happy together, but now we don't feel that way anymore and think we would be better apart. It is not about you, we love you just the same as we ever did. This divorce is happening because of us. We are responsible, not you.%26rdquo;
Communication is very important. Be sensitive, understanding, and most important leave all feeling of guilt, blame or anger out of this! Do not transfer this on your your child.
One of most important things is to emphasize that your child shouldn't blame himself or herself for the divorce of parents, and that under no condition this is his or hers fault.
Second most important thing is to reassure him or her that your love for him/ her is unconditional and permanent!

Do they have to know everything?

No, they do not have to know every nasty detail from your relationship, but it is important to give them enough information so they are prepared for the upcoming changes.






If child is asking questions, try to answer as truthfully as possible and in age-appropriate way.

How do children react?

Not all children react the same way. Some cry, some ask questions, and some have no initial response at all.
If he or she cries, let them know you recognize and care about his or hers feelings, if she or he asks questions, answer them, and if she or he has no emotional response at all, let him or her know that there will be other times to talk.
Nevertheless, divorce brings with it a lot of changes and a very real sense of loss. Here are some tips on how to reduce stressful times for your child, but do understand that your child needs some time to adopt to new situation- some adjustments are quick and take month or only until the situation stabilizes and a child's routine can be re-established, but some may take more than a year. In times when children have longer response, it is essential for you to be attentive to the signs your child sends through his or hers feelings and help your child deal with them. It is very important for you child to know he or she is taken seriously and that his or hers feeling matter. For this reason- comunicate! It is often hard to verbalize feelings, both for you and your child, but there is no other way: you will notice change in your child's behavior and this behavior is filled with some sort of negative emotions. Help them to express those emotions or sometimes just be a good listener. And offer support! Let them know you are there for them. Always!

What children ask themselves?

Many questions arise when child is dealt with divorce of his or hers parents. And, yes divorce brings changes in everyone's life, not just parent's, but also children's lives.
Child might ash himself/herself:
Who will i live with or will I move? Will I loose my friends? Will I have to go to new school? Where will Mommy or Daddy live? Who will take me to school? And so on and so on...
Be prepared for this kind of questions. Answer them and remind your child that you're still a family and you will get through this difficult times no matter what.

Child's reaction to stress at various ages

As said at the beginning, children's emotional reactions depend to some level on their age at the time of divorce. Nevertheless, many children, regardless their age experience feelings of loss, sadness and anger, and they express it with their behaviour. Below are some signals that represent a children's reaction to stress at various ages

Preschoolers

Preschool children have the least information about their parents' divorce: four out of five of them never even are told about the divorce. This leaves children and that age confused and heightens feelings of abandonment. Consequently, many children at that age think divorce is their fault. Self-blame is one of the most widespread and debilitating of the reactions preschoolers have to their parents' divorce: they often think they've done something that caused the divorce.
Children this age require consistency and routine and are comforted by familiarity. Signals that they usually send are crying or changers in eating or sleeping habits. They might also develop behaviors that they dealt with earlier in their lives, like thumb sucking, bedwetting, and problems sleeping through the night.

School-Age Children

School-age children are more realistic than preschoolers about the reasons for divorce. On the other hand they are more likely to experience confusion about themselves, because in most cases they have not yet learned to view themselves as distinct from their parents. This is especially typical for children between 6 and 8. Children at that age are more prone to depression than children at other ages: they are more likely to experience sadness and anger. Stress may take physical form, such as upset stomachs or headaches. They are also very interested in issues such as who is to blame for divorce.
For children between 9 and 12 it is more typical to become involved with activities apart from their parents, thus parents must accommodate more to their needs and schedules. Nevertheless, the impact of family remains critical. Warning signs for this age group includes depression, loneliness, anger or physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches and learning problems.

Teens

Teens or adolescents (age 13-20) are old enough to understand reasons and motives for divorce. Surprisingly, they know very little about the real reason for their parents' divorce. They feel the same emotions as younger children, but there are some specifics for that age.
They are more likely to question marriage and more likely to swear they will never marry. They are also more likely to have financial worries, which is partly a reason the self-focus that becomes more evident with that age.
Teenagers are also more likely to find and discuss the faults of their parents, which is perfectly normal and a part of disconnecting process. Another characteristic is also that adolescents are more likely to take sides and seek explanations why one parent is 'bad' and why another one is not.

When kids aren't kids no more

Even though they are adult, they have feelings, but are much more understandable and easier to cope than with children at younger ages.
There is one typical 'mistake' though: adult children are just as reluctant to enter the divorce fight between their parents as young children are, and too often their divorcing parents reach out to them and drag them into the fray. Do not do that! Respect your child as individual and do not drag him or her in your problems and insecurities.

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Relationship end- Caught unprepared

“I love you, but not like that, more like a friend. I though it will go away, and this is just one of my phases, but it is not. I can't live like that. It's not honest. Not for you, not for me. Everything turned into routine and I hate it!I really thought I loved you- I wasn't lying when I sai...

%26ldquo;I love you, but not like that, more like a friend. I though it will go away, and this is just one of my phases, but it is not. I can't live like that. It's not honest. Not for you, not for me. Everything turned into routine and I hate it!
I really thought I loved you- I wasn't lying when I said those words. If I could force myself to love you till the end of my life, I would, cos the last thing I wanna do is hurt you. You've been my best friend for the past 3 years... but I can't live like this. I thought I can, but I can't. I am sorry... %26ldquo;
Heard those words? And caught unprepared? Don't worry! It is not the end of the world! We will help you get through this!
Read on!

Feelings...

First of all, lets analyze feeling that occur when relationship ends. Of course, there are no right or wrong feelings, we are all unique, but still: there are just feeling that typically occur when relationship ends. All these feelings are 'normal' and actually necessary to the process of healing so that we can move on and engage in other relationships.
Loss. Yes, relationship end is a loss- you loose all your dreams of future love life. It hurts!
Sadness. Sadness for we have suffered a great loss.
Denial. This is not happening to me!

Self-blame. We blame ourselves that we didn't do that, we should have done that.





It is not that simple...
Guilt. We feel guilty for loosing relationship, especially if we end relationship. We don't want to hurt our partner, and yet we don't want to stay in a relationship that has no future. It is not easy for noone.


Fear. Fear of new feelings, fear of future, fear of sleeping alone, fear of not being loved again, fear that we may never survive our loss.
Confusion. Our world has collapsed. We are not who we thought we were.
Hope. We hope that partner will return, that the parting is only temporary. Accept the truth and hope for better day for yourself, not for relationship.
Bargaining. We plead. %26ldquo;Don't go!%26rdquo;
Relief. Relief that pain, fighting and routine has come to the end.

Before you forget- you must grieve and forgive

Grieving and forgiving takes time. For most the hardest step in dealing with grief and loneliness.
According to all psychotherapists it is very important to allow time for adequate grieving, not just in terms of ending relationship, but in terms of great loss.

Bob Carver, psychotherapist in Dallas, Texas, states, %26quot;When any relationship ends, friendship, kinship, or a male/female relationship, it is important to grieve that ending. Allowing adequate time to evaluate what was right and wrong about the relationship is of great significance for the next relationship. Don't go from one bad relationship to another without doing this.%26quot;

And yes, he is right! Stepping into new relationship without understanding failure of previous one cannot result in success.
Carver continues, %26quot;A friendship or any other relationship fails because of three things:

• Unexpressed expectations,



• Undelivered communication



• And/or thwarted attention.%26quot;

Breath in- breathe out

First of all know- it is nobody's fault. It is hard, but perhaps it is the best thing it could happen to you- you just don't that yet. It might take some time to accept the fact that the relationship has ended, but this is a perfect opportunity to learn more about yourself, to meat your old friends, and do the things you always wanted to do, but didn't have the time.
Here are also few advices what to do when relationship comes to end, you might find helpful:
Talk to someone you trust. At times like this you need either someone that will listen to you or someone's shoulder to cry on. It is essential for you to get some emotional support from someone you trust and work through how you're feeling. You may find it helpful to talk to your friends, sister or brother, parents, doctor or counsellor or someone else you trust.
Keep busy. Be active and do things you enjoy doing. They will help you keep your mind off the break up. Hang out with your friends, listen to music, attain sport activities or cultural activities, read a good book - do whatever you enjoy doing.
Try something new. Something you always wanted to do, but didn't really have the time. I am sure there are things and activities like that. For example: take diving class, or drama class, if your wish were to become an actor/actress; or singing classes, learn how to play a guitar. There are so many things you need to learn. Follow Mahatma Gandhi: %26ldquo;Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever!%26rdquo; Beautiful worlds, aren't they? Actualize them!
Look after yourself. I know these are times you would want to feel sorry for yourself and pour gallons of alcohol and forget about the world around you, but behavior like that does not lead you nowhere. It is difficult times %26ndash; and this is one reason more to look after yourself. Eat healthy and combine that with exercising. Treat yourself with saunas and massages, manicures and pedicures, or simply just with a pierce of cake. Do what you love doing- all that matters is that you're having fun.
Practice healthy avoidance. Avoid seeing or interacting with your former partner, and most important - avoid excess in the use of alcohol, food, and medications. The first impression may be you are reducing emotional pain, but you are actually setting up to continue it for a longer time. Calling your former partner to relieve the pain is simply continuing the connection where your recovery will be destined to start over and over again. Don't do that.
Smile again! You are OK and you will survive! Think about the person you were before relationship, about all the people that respect you and think high of you. Think about your friend and achievements! Think about people you love and all the people in this world that love you!

Remember, not all love matches work forever. Although this might be initial hope when starting relationship, relationship is path of inquiry- looking for a life partner. There is no guarantee there will be one. This is life -as cruel as it might sound, or as cruel as it might be. Ups and downs are simply part of this great big mess. And after rain, there is always sun! It is, it really is. You just don't see it! Not yet. Give yourself time and most of all rely on yourself. You will survive! You always did!

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Phimosis Treatment

What is Phimosis? Phimosis is a medical condition in which the foreskin of the penis of an uncircumcised male cannot be fully retracted. Phimosis is usually referred as male problem, but can also happen to women: women suffer from clitoral phimosis (in this article we will discus phimosis in men onl...

What is Phimosis?

Phimosis is a medical condition in which the foreskin of the penis of an uncircumcised male cannot be fully retracted. Phimosis is usually referred as male problem, but can also happen to women: women suffer from clitoral phimosis (in this article we will discus phimosis in men only). Phimosis can occur at any age, but the highest incidence is seen in infancy and adolescence ( approximately 1% of males older than 16 years suffers from phimosis)
The term phimosis denotes both physiological stage of development (it is not referred as disease), and a pathological condition, when phimosis can cause problems for a person. In most but not all infants phimosis is physiological rather than pathological, whereas phimosis in older children and adults is more often pathological than physiological.


In the literature the true definition of phimosis has been confused. Essentially, there are two entities, and they are based on age and pathophysiology: congenital or primary phimosis, and acquired or secondary phimosis (or secondary phimosis of a lichenoid or fibrous type).
Both terms denote the inability to retract the distal prepuce over the glans penis; however once the foreskin can be retracted so that the glans penis partially appears, a phimosis is no longer present.





Phimosis is not a disease- phimosis is a condition.
Primary or congenital phimosis is the condition when subject had phimosis ever since he can remember. Treatment in this case usually includes gentle stretching, since there is a reason to believe that gentle stretching will mobilise the elastic capacity of the skin tissue.
Secondary phimosis of a lichenoid or fibrous type is a phimosis, when subject can remember developing phimotic ring. In these cases such types of phimosis are prone to degeneration and are generally difficult to stretch. In some cases steroids may help, but recurrent problems require surgery.
There is one more term we have to define: paraphimosis. Paraphimosis is the entrapment of a retracted foreskin behind the coronal sulcus, and the condition occurs in the incorrectly circumcised or uncircumcised penis.
While primary and secondary phimosis denotes aggravated o impossible retraction of foreskin over the glans penis, typical of paraphimosis is edema, tenderness, and erythema of the glans or of the distal foreskin

Causes

Primary or congenital phimosis occurs on young children: infants and it is normal to have it into the teenage years. Primary or congenital phimosis is physiologic, but does not cause any side problems, such as urinary obstruction, hematuria, or preputial pain. It is possible child suffers from congenital phimosis because of history of recent catheterization or of parents forcibly retracting the foreskin in an attempt to clean the glans.
Secondary or acquired phimosis also has several possibe causes: it most often occurs because of a history of poor hygiene, chronic balanoposthitis, but forceful retraction of a primary phimosis is also possible. Secondary or acquired phimosis is often followed by hematuria or preputial pain. Acquired phimosis is typical for both children and adults.
Secondary or acquired phimosis, caused by poor hygiene and/or chronic balanoposthitis can eventually lead to paraphimosis.
Typical of paraphimosis is pain and edema of the uncircumcised or improperly circumcised penis. Even vigorous sexual activity has been reported to predispose one to paraphimosis.

Treatment

Some men simply accept the chronic irritation and the red, swollen foreskin. They sometimes complain of phimosis and visit the doctor only when there is pain or an odorous discharge.
However, the treatment of phimosis depends on the type of phimosis.
Congenital phimosis should be left alone: only the usual cleaning without any forceful retraction is recommended. Proper foreskin hygiene is also suggested to patients with acquired phimosis. Use of of steroid creams as a noninvasive effective treatment for acquired phimosis is recommended (treatment for repeated phimosis may involve application of a steroid cream to the foreskin up to three times a day for about a month to loosen the adhesive ring) or the use of nonsteroidal ointments has also been reported to be of benefit in the treatment of acquired phimosis.
If a phimosis is causing urinary obstruction, seek for medical attention from specialist (urologist). In cases like this it is often necessary to perform circumcision or other plastic surgical technique to enlarge the opening without actually removing tissue. As said: either antibiotics may control the infection,sometimes hot soaks may help separate the foreskin from the glans, but if they fail, a small incision is made to release it.
In some cases circumcision is advised, which is done when the inflammation clears. Circumcision is performed under general anesthesia. The foreskin is pulled back as far as it will go: it is slit along its upper surface and then all around so that it can be removed. The raw edges of the inner and outer layers are stitched, and then a dressing is applied. The patient usually goes home the same day. Pain is present until the healing is complete, but it can be controlled with painkillers. After the circumcision, the patient may find that the appearance of the penis has changed considerably. All causes of potential infection must be kept away (for example urine). Urination may also be painful. For couple of days also avoid tight clothes or any excessive movement, especially sexual activity. After few days there should be no more pain and stitches should be healing.
In paraphimosis, after emergent reduction, referral to a urologist for eventual circumcision is obligatory since the condition is likely to recur.
Treatment for paraphimosis may involve lubricating the foreskin and tip of the penis and then gently squeezing the tip of the penis while pulling the foreskin forward. If this shows to be ineffective, a small incision to relieve the tension may be performed. However, generally the circumcision is performed. Of course, complications (gangrene of the glans, inflammation of the prepuce) are possible, but if appropriate treatment is followed they are not likely to occur.

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Are Colorectal Polyps Cancerous?

If not sooner, people above 50 should start taking greater care for their health: not just curative, but also preventive. This is not an old age, but is an age when people are more exposed to potential diseases. In this article we will discus colorectal polyps and whether they are cancerous or not. ...

If not sooner, people above 50 should start taking greater care for their health: not just curative, but also preventive. This is not an old age, but is an age when people are more exposed to potential diseases.
In this article we will discus colorectal polyps and whether they are cancerous or not. Regular screenings for colon polyps are the best way to prevent polyps from developing into colon cancer. All men and women ages 50 and older should have a fecal blood test every year, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or even both.

What are polyps?



Polyps are abnormal growths rising from the lining of the large intestine (colon) and protruding into the intestinal canal (lumen). They are one of the most common conditions affecting the colon and rectum and are found in about nine of every 10,000 persons.
Polyps are usually classified into two types: adenomatous polyps (adenomas) and hyperplastic polyps.
Most polyps are noncancerous and cause no symptoms. They are called hyperplastic polyps.
Adenomas are the precursor lesions for colorectal carcinoma (colon cancer). The more common hyperplastic polyps are benign and, in most circumstances, are not considered to be pre-malignant.





A colorectal polyp is a growth that sticks out of the lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps are grape-like growths on the lining of the colon and rectum, they can be single or multiple and do become more common in people over age 50.





Usually colorectal polyps are benign, but slowly over the years they can develop into cancer, although not causing any symptoms.
Colorectal polyps are most of the time benign (not cancerous), but may cause painless rectal bleeding.
Below we will discus types of colorectal polyps that have or don't have the tendency to become cancerous.

Polyps may be (besides age and family history) also associated with some hereditary disorders:

• Gardner's syndrome



• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome



• Lynch syndrome (HNPCC)



• Juvenile polyposis



• Familial adenomatous polyposis

Symptoms of Colorectal Polyps

Usually there is no symptoms; however, following symptoms might occur:

• bleeding from rectum



• bloody stool or any unusual changes in routine bowel movements



• abdominal pain



• fatigue and anemia



• unexplained weight loss

Are Colorectal Polyps cancerous or not?

Most types of polyps, also called hyperplastic polyps do not have a tendency to develop into cancer. However, over time, certain types of polyps, also called adenomatous polyps, may develop into cancer. Also, polyps greater than one centimeter have a greater cancer risk associated with them than polyps under one centimeter. Risk factors include advancing age (over age 50) or a family history of colon cancer or polyps.

Hyperplastic Polyps and Treatment Options

If only hyperplastic polyps are found during your flexible sigmoidoscopy, you usually do not need to have a colonoscopy.
In some cases of very small polyps (5 mm or less) they may not be removed. Namely, some studies have concluded that even if they contain adenomatous tissue, these polyps take so many years to grow that they pose little risk of cancer. This is an exception in people who have inherited polyp syndromes. In their case polyp is removed.

Adenomatous Polyps and Treatment Options

Studies were made and they revealed that cigarette smoking has been associated with adenomatous polyps of the large bowel, but not also with increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Adenomatous polyps (adenomas) of the colon and rectum are benign (non-cancerous) growths that have the potential to develop in colorectal cancer- they are pre-malignant. Thus, colorectal adenomatous polyps (adenomas) can develop into cancer and they should be removed. They are larger than one centimeter and are associated with a greater risk of cancer. If they aren't removed, they continue to grow and eventually become cancerous.
In most cases, the polyps may be removed at the same time a colonoscopy is performed. In more rare cases, polyps with a high potential of becoming cancerous, a colectomy (removal of a part of the colon) may be recommended.
As mentioned previous in article, the chance of having polyps is increased in patients with a family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer. That also includes familial adenomatous polyposis or inherited disorders such as Gardner%26rsquo;s syndrome. Adenomatous polyps cause few, symptoms of which painless rectal bleeding is most common. These polyps start out as small nodules on a bowl wall (about the size of a match head) and are almost never malignant at this size, but as they grow they may develop a stalk and look like a small mushroom. In most cases These adenoma polyps must be removed.
Most larger polyps are adenomatous, nevertheless this must be determined by tissue examination, also called biopsy. If during an exam with flexible sigmoidoscopy adenomatous polyps are found, colonoscopy is done to look for and remove any polyps in the rest of the colon.
Of course only physician can determine the type of treatment. We will discuss only possible options.
Colonoscopy is relatively painless and easy way to remove most polyps. Colonoscopy is internal examination of the colon and rectum, and is an outpatient procedure that is performed in physician%26rsquo;s office or a surgical suite. Colonoscopy allows the physician to view the polyp(s) in question and remove it via biopsy.
Complications from colonoscopy are rare, but are possible. There is a slight risk of:

• Puncturing the colon or causing severe bleeding by damaging the wall of the colon



• Bleeding caused by removing a polyp.



• Complications from sedatives given during the procedure.

Additional colonoscopies are almost always necessary to monitor healing and ensure that new polyps have not developed. For patients with polyps, follow-up colonoscopy should be performed within 3 to 5 years to see if the polyps have returned.
For larger colon polyps that have a broad area of attachment to the colon wall surgery is needed. These large polyps often cannot be removed safely during a colonoscopy and may be more likely to develop into cancer.

In conclusion

Regular screenings for colon polyps are the best way to prevent polyps from developing into colon cancer. All men and women ages 50 and older should have a fecal occult blood test every year, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or both. However, if you have had one or more adenomatous polyps removed, you probably need regular follow-up colonoscopy exams every few years.

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Constipation-causes, side effects and treatment

Constipation... we all know what it is. And it doesn't have to mean unhealthy life style. Just because someone has constipation, it doesn't have to mean he or she is unhealthy or even that has an unhealthy lifestyle. He or she can do everything as recommended by his or hers doctor and still have the...

Constipation... we all know what it is. And it doesn't have to mean unhealthy life style. Just because someone has constipation, it doesn't have to mean he or she is unhealthy or even that has an unhealthy lifestyle. He or she can do everything as recommended by his or hers doctor and still have the problem from time to time.


Definition of Constipation


Constipation is a symptom, it is not a disease. Constipation refers to a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements. Generally, constipation is difficult to define clearly because as a symptom it varies from person to person. The frequency of bowel movements namely varies greatly: for example from three times a day to three times a week. This is why general definition of constipation is hard to give. For some people, constipation may mean difficulty in passing stools (a constipated stool is hard because it contains less water than normal), while for others constipation may mean missing passing stools for couple of days.






Constipation Symptoms

These are common symptoms you may have if you are constipated:

• difficulty in starting or completing a bowel movement



• infrequent and difficult passage of stool



• passing hard stool after prolonged straining in the toilet



• in cases of irritable bowel syndrome abdominal pain, cramps , excessive gas, a sense of bloating, and a change in bowel habits



• distended abdomen, headaches, and loss of appetite



• coated tongue, offensive breath, and bad taste in your mouth

Constipation Causes

There are many possible constipation causes.





Constipation may result from a poor diet, poor bowel habits, or problems in elimination of stool, whether physical, functional, or voluntary.

Diet
Nutrition low in fiber, and high in fat can cause constipation. Dietary fibre provides the bulk that helps to speed the passage of waste food through the bowel. On the other hand, lack of fibre results in harder and more compact stools, which also take longer to pass through. In short, if eating foods rich in animal fats, such as dairy products, meats, and eggs or refined sugar but nutrition low in fiber, which is whole grains, fruits, and vegetables it will very probably cause constipation.

Poor bowel habits
Some people ignoring the desire to have bowel movement, and this may initiate a cycle of constipation. Namely, after a period of time, they may stop feeling the desire for opening your bowel, which may lead to progressive constipation. For example, some people may ignore going to the toilet because they are busy or some people avoid using public toilets.

Change in nutrition- Travels, Holidays
This change often happens on holidays. Any change of routine can cause constipation.

Lack of fluids
Daily need for fluids is 1.5-2 litres. Without that amount waste matter dries out, which also makes harder harder to move through the bowel. Most recommended is water, and least (of you have constipation problems- alcohol, caffeine, sodas)

Lack of exercise
If you don't exercise often, things can slow down including the muscle contractions that move waste matter through the bowel.

Pregnancy
During pregnancy hormonal and physical changes are probable causes. Constipation during pregnancy may be due to several factors: mechanical pressure on your bowel by the heavy womb, hormonal changes during pregnancy, changes in food and fluid intake, anal fissure (cracks in the anus), hemorrhoids (piles), anal stenosis (narrow anus).

Menopause and menstruation
During menopause and menstruation hormonal and lifestyle changes can cause constipation.

Stress
constipation can be caused by stress, and vice versa stress can also be a symptom of constipation.

Aging
Bodily functions slow down with age and the digestive system is also part of it.
For example, older people are five times more likely than younger people to develop constipation. On the other hand, experts believe that older people become too concerned with having a daily bowel movement, thus the constipation in this age group is overestimated.
On the other hand, older adults are more likely to have constipation for following reasons: poor diet and insufficient intake of fluids, lack of exercise, side effects of prescription drugs used to treat other conditions, poor bowel habits, prolonged bed rest, for example after an accident or during an illness, habitual use of laxatives.

Medicines
Some painkillers (narcotic-containing drugs, for example codeine) are known to cause constipation, also some other medicines, such as iron tablets and some antacids (containing aluminium hydroxide or calcium carbonate), antispasmodic drugs, antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs.

Laxative abuse
If person is habitually using laxatives, he or she will gradually produce dependency on them, and may eventually require increasing amounts of laxatives to move bowels, and in some instances, the bowel will become insensitive to laxatives and fail to open.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common causes of constipation People that suffer from irritable bowel syndrome often have constipation, sometimes alternating with diarrhoea. In irritable bowel syndrome, cramping pains, excessive gas, bloating and discomfort in the bowel and rectum are common.

Constipation Treatment

Although constipation may be extremely uncomfortable, it is usually not serious.
Treatment of constipation is closely connected to its causes. If you don't eat enough fibers, you should start, if you don't exercise regularly, you should consider that as an option, if you're on some sort of medications stated above, you should cut them in order to treat constipation, and so on and so on. In this cases medical attention is not necessary, nevertheless, there are times when this is not the case.
You should seek medical attention if you have symptoms that are severe and last longer than 3 weeks.
If you feel severe pain in anus during bowl movement. If you noticed change in bowel habits, for instance, constipation alternation with diarrhea. Seek also medical help if you have symptoms of other diseases, like tiredness, fatigue, etc. in addition to constipation.
Also, seek prompt medical help if you have rectal bleeding, anal pain and hemorrhoids, pain during bowel movement, vomiting, etc.
As said above, treatment depends on the cause, severity, and duration. In most cases dietary and lifestyle changes will help relieve symptoms and help prevent constipation.

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Crohn's disease- chronic inflammation of the digestive tract

Definition of Crohn’s disease Crohn’s disease, a disease named after the physician who first described it in 1932, is a disease that is closely related to the inflammation of the digestive tract. As ulcerations crohn's disease can affect any area of digestive tract, also called gastroint...

Definition of Crohn%26rsquo;s disease

Crohn%26rsquo;s disease, a disease named after the physician who first described it in 1932, is a disease that is closely related to the inflammation of the digestive tract. As ulcerations crohn's disease can affect any area of digestive tract, also called gastrointestinal tract, which is from mouth to anus, but is most common in the lower part of small intestine. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ and causes pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.
Crohn%26rsquo;s disease is also called colitis, granulomatous enteritis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis. Disease has no medical cure and once it begins, it tends to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse). Crohn%26rsquo;s disease is closely related to irritable bowl movement and ulcerative colitis. Both, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are referred to as inflammatory bowl disease (IBD) and affect approximately 500,000 to 2 million men and women in the United States. Inflammatory bowl disease is a general name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines.

Who is affected?

Only in United Stated 500,000 to 2 million men and women suffer from Crohn's disease.





Both, men and women are equally affected and disease seems to run in the family: namely more than 20 percent of patients with Crohn's disease have a blood relative (most often sister, brother, parent) with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, either Crohn's disease, irritable bowl movement or ulcerative colitis.
Statistics show that people of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn%26rsquo;s disease, while African Americans are at decreased risk.
Crohn's disease occurs in all age groups- during childhood to later in life, but most commonly begins during adolescence and early adulthood, which is between the ages of 20 and 30.
Studies showed that the inflammation seen in the gastrointestinal tract of people suffering from Crohn%26rsquo;s disease involves several factors:

• the genes the patient has inherited,



• the immune system itself,



• the environment.

What causes Crohn's disease?

There are actually several theories about potential causes of Crohn's disease, but non of them have been proven. The most popular one claims that body's immune system reacts abnormally and mistakes foods and other substances for being foreign, which as defence results as chronic inflammation, which is an important mechanism of defense used by the immune system. The truth is that the cause of Crohn's disease is unknown: it may be bacteria, body's reaction, diet, although it is unlikely that diet is responsible for the disease. As stated above: genes are one of the main factors determining how body responds to bacterial products, which means that individuals prone to mutations in this gene are more susceptible to developing Crohn's disease.




Symptoms of Crohn%26rsquo;s disease

Disease is not always present, but tends to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse). However, when disease is active, its most common symptoms are:

• abdominal pain (most often in the lower right area)



• diarrhea



• weight loss.

Less common symptoms include:

• poor appetite



• rectal bleeding and rectal pain,



• weight loss,



• arthritis,



• skin problems.

Children affected by Crohn%26rsquo;s disease may suffer from delayed development and stunted growth.
Up to one third of patients may suffer from following conditions involving anal area:

• swelling of the tissue of the anal sphincter, which is the muscle at the end of the colon that controls defecation.



• development of (long) ulcers within the anal sphincter, which cause bleeding and pain with defecation.



• development of anal fistulae between the anus or rectum and the skin surrounding the anus. As a result mucous and pus may drain from the openings of the fistulae on the skin.



• development of peri-rectal abscesses, which can cause fever, pain and tenderness around the anus.

Crohn's disease treatment

As said at the beginning of this article, there is no cure for this disease, but treatment can help control the disease by lowering the number of times person experiences disease activity. Some people are free of disease for years and then it appears again. Crohn's disease behaves different in every case.
Thus, the goal of treatment is to control or relieve symptoms, such as inflammation, abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Treatment of Crohn's disease includes drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options.
Drug therapy includes anti-inflammation drugs (drugs containing mesalamine, a substance that helps control inflammation- most commonly used is sulfasalazine; patients that cannot tolerate sulfasalazine are put on other mesalamine-containing drugs, generally known as 5-ASA agents). Mesalamine-containing drugs have potential side effects, that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn and headache. Other drug therapies include cortisone or steroids, drugs that suppress the immune system, antibiotics to treat and control bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, anti-diarrheal drugs and fluid replacements.
As treatment option doctor may recommend nutritional supplements, which is commonly done for children whose growth has been slowed. On the other hand, specific foods must be avoided: this is not because these foods cause Crohn's disease, but because certain foods (like hot spices, milk products, alcohol, bulky grains) may increase diarrhea, cramping or some other symptoms.
Third treatment option is surgery: actually two-thirds to three-quarters of patents suffering from Crohn's disease require surgery at some point in their lives. This is either because they do not respond to medical therapy or medications cannot control symptoms or because of certain complications. However surgery is not considered to eliminate the disease, which means the disease often recurs after surgery. For that reason surgery is not appropriate for everyone and people faced with decision about surgery should get as much information as possible to weight its benefits and risks compared with other treatments.

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Erogenous Zones and Sexual Response

Knees? Neck? Behind ears? What turns you on? The majority of men and women have common erogenous zones, although they could include any and all areas of the body, depending on the individual. What is an erogenous zone?An erogenous zone is an area of human body with heightened sensitivity which norma...

Knees? Neck? Behind ears? What turns you on?
The majority of men and women have common erogenous zones, although they could include any and all areas of the body, depending on the individual.

What is an erogenous zone?

An erogenous zone is an area of human body with heightened sensitivity which normally results in sexual response. This areas could include any and all areas of the body- that depends on the individual, but the truth is that most women and men have common erogenous zones.
Consequently, there are two main classes of erogenous zone in the skin, which are accepted: specific and nonspecific.
Specific areas produce stronger sensation and include genitals, lips, nipples and conjunctiva. Comparing to normal haired skin, the rete ridges of the epithelium are well formed and more of the nerves are close to the external surface of the skin, while in nonspecific erogenous zones the skin is similar to normal haired skin and has normal density of nerves and hair follicles. Areas of nonspecific erogenous zones include underarms, the back and sides of the neck and sides of the thorax. The pleasurable sensation perceived from regions of nonspecific erogenous zones is simply an exaggerated form of tickle.
The genitals are definitely the most obvious erogenous zones, however many parts of human body that are not involved in reproduction, are also sensitive to touch and have sexual response.





This is really a matter of individual. Nevertheless, the largest sensory organ for both men and women is the skin, especially inner thigh area, the neck, the breasts and nipples, and the perineum, but also feet, ears, shoulders and eyelids. Massaging and stoking of those erogenous zones is a form of sensual pleasure and can also represent invitation to further sexual activity. Of course, the mouth, including lips and tongue is for most people, besides the genital area, an area of high erotic potential. Another group of potentially erogenous zones include anus, rectum and buttocks.

Female and male erogenous zones from closer perspective

Vagina and Clitoris
Clitoris is located at the top juncture of inner vaginal lips- it's a small knob of pink flesh, and has the most dense nerve supply of any part of the skin. Clitoris can be stimulated by using tongue, fingers or both simultaneously.
But be careful, women like different amounts of direct stimulation on their clitoris: some women will adore it if you suck hard, while others would shriek in pain. It is also possible that a woman is completely unable to take direct stimulation of her clitoris and stimulation is achieved indirectly- through labia.
G-spot (Gr%26auml;fenberg spot) is located in the vagina, and it may be difficult to locate it, besides not all women have it. G-spot is located at the far end of the vagina, on the upper wall, and only very gentle stimulation gives an incredibly pleasant and unusual sensation.

Perineum
Perineum is the area between the vagina and anus and is very sensitive, but goes unexplored many times. Perineum is made of tissue similar to the vaginal lips,which means there are a lot of nerve endings there. But be careful, since the perineum is close to anus, and some women are scared or disgusted, thus ensure her you will not do anything she is scared of.
In men the perineum is the area between the scrotum and the anus. As in women, there are a lot of nerve endings and it is quite responsive to gentle fondling. For a smoother experience, try using a little artificial lubricant or massage oil. You may want to try vigorously massaging the perineum just prior to orgasm; this gives many men a rush of pleasure.

Breasts
The entire breasts, including nipples are rich in nerve endings and this does not vary with the size of breasts. But be careful, because most women have very sensitive and sometimes even painful breasts at the beginning of menstrual cycle.
Areas that are particularly sensitive to touch are nipples and areola (the pinkish/brownish area around the nipple). However, one of the most sensitive spots that is often ignored is the underside and sides of women's breast.

Anus
The Anus has a large number of nerve endings surrounding it and it is very sensitive. The proper stimulation of this area can heighten a woman's and also man's pleasure.

Penis and Glans Head
As vagina and clitoris are the most sensitive erogenous female zone, so are penis and glans head.
The glans head is the purplish, mushroom shaped mass at the top of a man's penis. It represents the most sensitive part of male body, thus concentrating on it is the easiest way to get him off.
However, there is a difference between circumcised and uncircumcised men: men with foreskin have a more sensitive glans head thus need to be handled more gently.

Scrotum
The scrotum is the sack that holds the testicles. It is very sensitive and very fragile part of a man's body, for that reason applying too much pressure to the testicles will cause immense amounts of pain, which simply means it is important to be very gentle with scrotum.

Buttocks
Lots of women like having their butts licked, sucked or penetrated.

Inner thighs and behind the knees
Both inner thighs and area behind the knees are sensitive to touch and have many nerve endings.

Neck
Many women have very sensitive necks: if that's true, just breathing on this part will give woman goose bumps all over.

Ears
Many women enjoy having their ears licked, sucked or kissed. Although blowing in her ear is acceptable, it's not what women enjoy most.

Feet
Many people enjoy the sensation of having their feet and toes sucked on or licked. For many people, however this can be a very sensitive and ticklish area. Since these zones can all be ticklish, the sensation of ticklishness can be pleasant for the recipient, both woman or man.

Lips
They say that first kiss matters... Yes, it's true. If you know how to manipulate woman's lips just right through kissing, licking, sucking and biting, it is very possible that a kiss will lead to a lot more than that. Use your lips, your tongue and your teeth to play with her top and bottom lip and kiss her with absolute passion.

At the end, remember that we are all different and we all have our own likes and dislikes. Get to know your partner's body and experiment. Deliberately exploring yourself and your partner is the first step in discovering which body parts are sexually responsive and the types of stimulation that feel best. Vary the pressure of touching the body using different materials etc. But most of all- be creative!

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Helicobacter pylori associated diseases

Helicobacter pylori is associated with many diseases. In this article we will explore the effect and consequences of Helicobacter pylori it has on human body. What is Helicobacter pylori? Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that has helical shape (hence the name helicobacter). Helicobacter bacteria a...

Helicobacter pylori is associated with many diseases. In this article we will explore the effect and consequences of Helicobacter pylori it has on human body.

What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that has helical shape (hence the name helicobacter). Helicobacter bacteria are the only known microorganisms that can thrive in the highly acidic environment of the stomach. Helicobacter pylori infects the mucus lining of the stomach and duodenum, and it is is thought to have evolved to penetrate and colonize the mucus lining. Helicobacter pylori is associated with many gastrointestinal diseases. Namely, many cases of peptic ulcers, gastritis, and duodenal ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.
Helicobacter pylori infection may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Asymptomatic means without visible ill effects, and it is estimated that up to 70% of infection is asymptomatic. In patients who are asymptomatic, treatment is usually not recommended.

The bacteria has been isolated from feces, saliva and dental plaque of infected patients, which suggests gastro-oral or fecal-oral as possible transmission routes.

Diseases Associated with Helicobacter pylori

• Gastric (stomach) ulcers



• Duodenal ulcers



• Stomach Cancer



• Non-ulcer dyspepsia



• Weird Syndromes (associated with acne rosacea, gulf veterans syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic halitosis)

Duodenal peptic ulcers

Duodenal peptic ulcers occur one or two inches past the end of the stomach, which is in the first part of the intestine.





Generally speaking- peptic ulcers are ulcers in the stomach or as name states- duodenum. Most duodenal ulcers occur in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.
Duodenal ulcers can be treated wit drugs, such as Tagamet, Zantac, or Pepcid, but as soon as patient stops taking drugs, ulcers return, thus this treatment is most often ineffective.
However, it has been proven that killing Helicobacter pylori, many patients with duodenal ulcer can be cured: treatment is most successful in patients under 50, but also older. The success rate is 80%.

Gastric (stomach) ulcers

Gastric (stomach) ulcers have two causes: one cause is Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach, which represents more than 70% of cases, while second cause represent corrosive effects of aspirin type medications, and non-steroidal anti-inflammotory drugs.
It is expected that stomach ulcers should behave similarly as duodenal ulcers so that after eradicating the Helicobacter gastric (stomach) ulcers should not recur, but this is not the case. Stomach ulcers are more complicated than duodenal ulcers, but the success rate is still rather high, which is 70-90% if Helicobacter pylori is eradicated.

Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia

Non-ulcer dyspepsia means patients that do not have ulcer disease, but do suffer from vomiting and nausea. The role of Helicobacter pylori has not been proven in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients, thus other diagnosis are assumed first. However, if other diagnosis are not obvious, trial of anti- helicobacter pylori therapy is considered. Some patients response immediately, while others after several months.

Stomach Cancer

In 70-90% stomach cancers are associated with Helicobacter pylori. In an extensive review of gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori the Eurogast Study Group determined that presence of Helicobacter pylori confers an approxi-mately six fold risk of gastric cancer, accounting for about half of all gastric cancers.
Supposedly, chronic gastritis leads to intestinal metaplasia (atrophic gastritis) which then undergoes malignant change. What is interesting here is that in the final stage Helicobacter pylori may no longer be detected on biopsy but immunologic studies may show evidence of past infection.
Also, etrospective biopsy studies show that 90% of MALT (Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue) lymphomas are associated with Helicobacter pylori.
However, do not get easily scared! Remember that about 30% of people in America have Helicobacter pylori, but feel fine. If you do suffer from Helicobacter pylori, your risk of developing cancer is only about one in 5,000, nevertheless the risk of developing peptic ulcer is higher.

Helicobacter pylori and weird syndromes

There are several conditions which might be caused or worsened by Helicobacter pylori:
acne rosacea is a red skin rash on the face and it may respond to therapy.
In Gulf Veterans Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome well being and energy levels are improved if Helicobacter pylori is treated
patients with chronic halitosis respond to treatment for Helicobacter pylori.

What should we ask ourselves in future?

To sum up, it is estimated that about two thirds of world population is infected by the bacterium, which makes Helicobacter pylori the most widespread infection in the world. Of course, the infection rate is much higher in Third world, which is due to poor sanitary conditions, while the bacterium represents %26ldquo;only%26rdquo; 25% for the West world (Western Europe, North America, Australia). Besides, in North America, Helicobacter pylori infection is
spread primarily in the older generations - about 50% for those over the age of 60 compared with 20% under 40 years, and most among the poorest, which is largely attributed to higher hygiene standards and widespread use of antibiotics.
A variety of questions regarding Helicobacter pylori need to be addressed by future research, for example further investigations are needed on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer. Especially, the mechanism of the interaction between Helicobacter pylori infection and host genetic factors and dietary factors that lead to the cancer need to be revealed. We also need to know whether Helicobacter pylori infection may be beneficial in certain circumstances and whether eradicating the infection may be disadvantageous to some subjects.

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