Archive for October, 2011

It’s no secret that Alzheimer’s disease is rapidly growing in America. Everyday more people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Most of us probably have a parent, grandparent or other relative that has been diagnosed with this disease. This is an incredibly difficult disease because in many cases it affects the family members as well as the person suffering from the disease. Sadly, there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Doctors and scientists over the last several years have dedicated their time and energy full time to the research of Alzheimer’s in hopes of discovering the elusive cure. Alzheimer’s research is a top priority for today’s medical research community.

To some it may not seem like a big deal. Many people figure that since most of the people diagnosed are older than 60 that it’s not as important. They probably fail to realize however that early onset Alzheimer’s can affect people in their forties and fifties too. That means that some people are spending half their life dealing with this disease. For the families of these victims it also means that they miss out on twenty years or more with their loved ones.

For those who don’t have a family member or friend diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease it is probably pretty hard to imagine how difficult this can be on the family members. Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that attacks the brain. People suffering from it often have a difficult time remembering things, or even living in the present.

There have been dramatizations of Alzheimer’s disease on several television shows, notably Grey’s Anatomy that presented a segment where two of its leading characters fought to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Throughout the many difficult cases they aired of Alzheimer’s patients, they gave us a clearer glimpse into how much suffering goes into the patient with the disease as well as those who care for the afflicted loved one.

Television shows are able to reveal to us what it might be like to be diagnosed with Alzheimer or be a loved one of someone who has the disease. These shows help those with no direct experience of the subject to understand the extensive damage Alzheimer’s disease causes to the sufferers and those who care for them. We cannot fully conceive of what it would be like to basically lose our minds to the extent we do not recognize our own children. Neither can we fully come to grips with the distress of the child whose own parent no longer recognizes him.

There are millions of families across the United States who do know the suffering and know it first hand. They also are aware that it is not just an old person’s disease; it can strike younger family members as well, meaning that the caregiver has a very long siege ahead of them as well as the patient they love so much. This is one of the reasons why Alzheimer’s disease research has such a high priority.

Possibly with adequate funding, the scientists and doctors so diligently working on finding a cure in various laboratories will come up with a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. If some day you find yourself with a few extra bucks in your wallet, don’t go in for that Super size caramel latte; donate it to Alzheimer’s research instead. It’s these little contributions that grow into big discoveries in searching for a cure for this terrible, debilitating disease.

A disorder that affects the wrists and hands, carpal tunnel syndrome is often thought of as just a simple cramp that will go away when the hands are properly rested. Because of lack of information, most of us would ignore the signs and symptoms of this disorder, only seeking treatment when it is already in its late stages. For that to be avoided, it would help to learn about what carpal tunnel syndrome is all about.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) happens when the median nerve is compressed. This is the nerve that travels inside the carpal tunnel, which is responsible for the sensations felt by the palms and fingers. It is also responsible for the movement of the small muscles that are located in the said area. When the tissues within the carpal tunnel are swollen or there is a change in position, the median nerve can be squeezed and irritated which will then lead to the condition referred to as CTS.

In most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, the underlying cause is not known. However, there are certain risk factors that predispose a person to developing CTS. There are certain conditions that are associated with CTS development and these include arthritis, diabetes, pregnancy, obesity, hypothyroidism, leukemia and amyloidosis. Studies have also found out that CTS can develop when there is repetitive work which causes an inflammation in the tendons. These jobs include continuous typing and packing of meat, fish and other goods. It can also occur if there is repeated stress injury on the hands and the wrists.

During the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome, the initial signs and symptoms include numbness and a tingling sensation of the hands, with the dominant hand being the first one affected. These symptoms usually awaken a person from sleep during night time, which can be attributed to the accumulation of fluids at the hands and wrists or when these are maintained at a flexed position. When this is not managed properly, it will then progress with symptoms that are more severe than the initial ones. You may feel a cramping or burning sensation on the hands as well as weakness. There are some who are unable to form a fist or grip smaller objects. The pain is not just localized at the hands but it can also be felt at the forearms. For chronic CTS, there can be muscle wasting at the hands especially at the base of the thumb.

The treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of your condition and if there are underlying diseases that are causing it. For the initial treatment, you will need to immobilize the wrists through a splint, apply ice on the affected area and have enough rest. You should also do range of motion exercises and if possible, do it with a physical therapist so that he can ensure if you are doing the right ones. There are medications that will be given for CTS and these include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the pain and to decrease inflammation, corticosteroids to relieve the symptoms as well as Vitamin B6 supplements. For severe cases, surgery may need to be done to correct any problems that are causing CTS.

Viagra tablets online

If you know how to recognize the signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, then you will be treated as early as possible. You will then be able to recover fast and avoid any complications that might happen.

There are a number of reasons why a claimant should hire a Social Security disability attorney to help with a disability benefits claim. The more common reasons include but are not limited to: no up front fees, free consultations, gathering medical records, dealing with Social Security, and arguing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. One of the rarely talked about, yet very important reasons for hiring a disability lawyer is their ability to “re-open” prior claims.

What does it mean to re-open a prior claim?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) routinely denies disability claims. In fact, at the initial application level it can seem as though SSA is only approving claimants that are on the verge of death. Since so many people are denied, many claimants are second, third, or fourth time applicants. If your claim was denied at the Disability Determination Services (DDS) level (where the initial determination is made) and was not appealed, a disability lawyer may be able to “re-open” your prior denial without having to start from square one. The advantages of this specific method are plentiful. Re-opening a prior claim can result in more benefits, speeding up the process, and less documents back and forth.

Re-opening prior Social Security disability claims is governed by 20 C.F.R. 404.988, which can be found on the government website. While there are a number of ways a disability attorney can re-open a prior claim, one of the more straight-forward options is to do so within 12 months of the date listed on the initial determination, for any reason. There should be an emphasis on for any reason.

The second way a prior claim can be re-opened is if it is within four years of the date of notice of the initial determination and if there is “good case”.

Good cause is defined in 20 C.F.R. 404.989:

1) New and material evidence is furnished

2) A clerical error in the computation or recomputation of benefits was made; or

3) The evidence that was considered in making the determination or decision clearly shows on its face an error was made

Good cause for re-opening a case does not exist when the only reason is a change of legal interpretation or administrative ruling upon which the determination or decision was made.

There are many other ways that a case can get re-opened. If you have previously been denied disability benefits, you may have the option of re-opening the case rather then starting a new. It should also be noted that it is important to know whether you had originally applied for SSDI or SSI when you speak with a disability lawyer. Re-opening prior claims is one overlooked yet very important way a disability attorney can help you with your claim.

It is understandable to consider tinnitus a affliction of the hearing system, but it is not any kind of disease condition. More accurately what has taken place is there usually has been some type of physical damage caused by something. There are various reasons for ringing in the ears such as an mishap of some kind that produce a loud noise. There are many work situations involving high decibel noise levels, for example, and this may be the reason. Subsequently it is also possible to have a congenital problem coupled with your hearing system. If your condition developed over time, then that can make it hard to pinpoint the exact cause. If this is something that brings you distress, then the best path of action is visiting your family physician.The most typical reason for developing tinnitus is some kind of injury to the cochlea which is a section of your inner ear. We mentioned that unexpected exposure to a exceptionally loud noise can cause this. A very high pitch and loud noise is what resulted my own disorder but only in one ear. Whereas tinnitus is not wholly understood, some indicate it is the brain producing the ringing. They also believe the brain does this in response to lack of hearing related electrical signals. On the other hand, the fact they are formulating a theory in relation to it means they do not really know.It is probable for a disorder to get worse due to numerous factors. One classic source of aggravated tinnitus is if you get a build-up of ear wax over time. The common ear infection will typically make short term tinnitus as the ability to hear is interefered with. An alternative contributor to wide-ranging degradation is the getting older process. Getting old can either introduce tinnitus or make it poorer if already present. As aging advances, then the ability to hear degrades which creates on tinnitus.

Some prescription drugs are identified to cause ear ringing, too. There are countless risks with taking too much aspirin, and surprisingly this very same condition could occur. Sadly there are certain classes of above average strength antibiotics which might produce this condition. Quinine pills can cause this as well but not in all people. So there are diverse conditions and causes for a human being to start hearing ringing in their ears.

Tinnitus is frequently not a tough predicament for people because nearly all natural sounds hide the ringing. You will notice this, though, once you go to bed and it’s hushed. As soon as it is exceptionally calm, and you are just laying in bed, then that is when you are most apt to perceive ringing in your ears. People do describe varying levels of the ringing in their ears. If you have it and it especially bothers you, then you should talk to your doctor. A call to a healthcare professional who specializes in this topic could prove to be a good idea.

A lot of people around the world are infected with and suffering from HIV. We are all constantly warned about HIV but we are seldom actually told what happens when we contract HIV. If you want to know what HIV actually does to you then you may want to read on.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The name is kind of self-explanatory. Let us take a closer look.

Human would imply that the virus only infects people. This is true. Although the virus is believed to have originated in primates in Africa it mutated when it came into contact with humans and now only infects humans. There is a disease known as feline HIV but this is not the same virus.

It is the immunodeficiency part of the name that tells you how HIV will affect you. Since it is a virus it requires other cells to replicate. It cannot breed without the cellular material provided by the CD4 cells of the human immune system. This cell is a vital part of our immune systems. As the virus breeds it uses up more and more of these cells and eventually your immune system is not able to keep up the required rate of production to keep your immune system in working order and your immune system becomes less effective.

Once this happens you become vulnerable to a wide range of other diseases as your immune system is not able to combat the bacteria and viruses that cause these other illnesses. It is these illnesses, most commonly tuberculosis and pneumonia, that kill you in the long run, not HIV itself.

This is why there is a difference between having HIV and having AIDS. AIDS is the state where your body is no longer able to protect itself from the other viruses and bacteria in the environment. You can be HIV positive but show no effects for a long time. The duration of this seemingly dormant period will depend on the activity of the virus and the strength of your immune system. Some people are lucky and the virus that they are infected with does not cause enough damage to weaken their immune system. They can still pass on the virus to other people though who may not be so lucky.

As I am sure you know, HIV is passed along through the exchange of body fluids. Particularly body fluids that contain the CD4 cells. Saliva, for example, does not contain sufficient live cells to transmit the disease yet breast milk can. viagra online australia

If you are still wondering whether HIV is dangerous or not you have obviously not been paying much attention. There is no cure for HIV at present and once you have the virus in your system it is only a matter of time. It may take years, but the virus will get you in the end. Rather be safe and avoid intercourse with people who are HIV positive or even getting into contact with the body fluids of a person whose status you do not know.

Hamstring injury and Marfan injury are two disorders that we often hear about but we have no idea on how to treat them. Here are some treatment methods for these disorders, with some that are easily done at home without the help of a health care professional.

A hamstring injury refers to the tear in the hamstring muscles. These three muscles are responsible for the bending of the knee and the extension of the hip or the movement of the thighs backward. There are four common symptoms of hamstring injury. There is bruising at the back of the thigh and can go down to the knee, swelling, muscle spasms that is usually painful and difficulty of movement. There are several causes of hamstring injuries and it is common in athletes especially those who do a lot of jumping and stretching activities.

The RICE technique is one of the most recommended treatment methods for hamstring injury. RICE stands for rest, ice, compress and elevate. Since there is an injury to your legs, you need to have adequate rest and avoid straining the affected area to prevent further injuries. You can also apply ice packs over the affected area to help relieve the pain and decrease swelling. If you have compressive bandage, apply these on your legs to prevent intramuscular bleeding. Elevation will help in decreasing the swelling as well as maintaining the normal blood flow within the body. If you know a physical therapist, ask for help so that you can start rehabilitation of the affected muscles. mexican pharmacy online no prescription

  • If the above treatment methods are not working, you should see your doctor for proper evaluation and if there are additional treatments that need to be done.
  • Also, you need to seek for medical help if you have difficulty when walking, when the pain is intolerable and is not relieved with rest and when you feel that there is a rupture of the hamstring.
  • Nevertheless, seek for medical attention if you are not sure about what to do for your hamstring injury.

On the other hand, Marfan injury is a medical condition wherein the connective tissues of the body such as the skeletal and cardiovascular systems, the eyes and the skin are affected. This is a genetic disorder and people who have it are described as unusually tall, with spider-like fingers and long limbs. It can be mild to severe, with affected body areas depending on the severity of the disorder. Some of the signs and symptoms of Marfan injury include flat feet, crowded teeth and highly arched palate, very flexible joints, nearsightedness, learning disabilities, scoliosis and thin, narrow face.

As of the moment, there is no cure for Marfan injury and the treatment is focused on improving the quality of life and minimizing the signs and symptoms. Vision problems should be treated, and medicines are given to help in slowing down the heart rate to help prevent heart problems. Scoliosis should also be monitored and addressed properly. Those who are suffering from Marfan injury are also advised to avoid strenuous activities and contact sports to avoid injuries especially those that concern the heart.

Knowing about Marfan injury and hamstring injury is necessary so that you are able to identify the different treatment methods for these disorders.