Author: Rio

Chronic pain develops when your body’s normal response to an injury lasts for an extended period. Ongoing and uncontrolled pain can cause problems in your overall life quality. Everyday activities like exercising, working, and eating, can become challenging; these problems can wear you down, causing further issues like depression. Usually, the nerves in your body send pain signals to the brain; this is important to prevent injury. However, when nerves are damaged, they can send pain signals even when an injury is not occurring. In such cases, your healthcare provider may recommend spinal cord stimulation Houston to mask pain signals before they reach the brain.

What is spinal cord stimulation?

Spinal cord stimulation is a relatively new technology that uses electrical pulses to manage chronic pain. For this treatment, a surgeon implants a spinal cord stimulator device beneath your skin to send low electric currents to the nerve fibers of your spinal cord. The electrical pulses modify and mask pain signals from reaching your brain, thus reducing pain. Most spinal cord stimulation devices use high frequency to mask the pain, but others use a low-frequency current to replace the pain with a tingling sensation called paresthesia.

It is essential to reckon that stimulation does not address the source of pain; it only alters the way your brain perceives it. Therefore people experience different levels of pain relief, meaning not everyone with chronic pain will benefit from spinal cord stimulation. Spinal cord stimulation aims to reduce pain by about 50 to 70%; even a tiny amount of pain reduction can improve your quality of life and limit the amount of pain medications you take.

Although this therapy helps with chronic pain, some people may find the tingling sensation unpleasant, and others experience no pain relief. For these reasons, specialists recommend trial stimulation for a week to establish if the therapy works for you. If you experience no pain relief, your surgeon can remove the trial wires, leaving no damage to the spinal cord or nerves.

Who is eligible for spinal cord stimulation?

Usually, spinal cord stimulation is considered an option for patients who have had pain in their lower leg, back, or arm for more than three months and have had spinal surgery. To determine if your pain management goals are appropriate for spinal cord stimulation, your doctor evaluates your medication regime, physical condition, and pain history. You may resort to spinal cord stimulation if:

• You can’t find pain relief with conservative treatments, including medications and physical therapy.
• The pain results from a problem that can be fixed
• Additional surgery won’t offer pain relief
• You have had a successful spinal cord stimulation trial
• You are not willing to undergo surgery due to the potential risks and long recovery

Spinal cord stimulation works best for patients during their early stages of chronic pain before a cycle of ongoing pain.

What conditions benefit from spinal cord stimulation?

Spinal cord stimulation can be used to relieve pain caused by:

• Diabetic neuropathy
• Sciatica
• Complex regional syndrome
• Failed back surgery syndrome
• Angina
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal cord injury

If you have chronic pain, consult your specialist at Expert Pain to establish if spinal cord stimulation is the proper treatment for you.

Individuals face different health complications in their life span. Some diseases may be caused by a single factor, such as changes in gene instructions. This phenomenon is called a mutation, which is present in every person. The DNA changes in a single gene can trigger thousands of diseases. Diseases such as diabetes and sickle cell anemia are more likely to run in the whole family, from the parent to the offspring. However, to reduce the severity and propagation of genetic diseases, it is necessary to undergo genetic testing Winter Park. The following is information you could be missing about genetic testing;

What is genetic testing?

It involves several tests that identify individuals’ changes in genes that could expose them to genetic illnesses.

Who should undergo genetic testing?

Several reasons justify whether an individual should undergo these procedures. Some parental care guidelines require pregnant women to undergo these tests to check if their pregnancy is prone to genetic illnesses. However, anyone can get this test to:

• Detect if they have the genetic disorders that run through their family line
• Check whether they are carriers of the genetic diseases
• Guide the treatment schedules for specific genetic ailments such as cancer
• Diagnose the wellness of a child exhibiting the signs of genetic disorders

Types of genetic tests

Different tests exist to cater to the diverse needs of the patients. Here are some of the genetic tests;

• Molecular tests: They apply DNA sequencing to determine the order of nucleotides in a person’s genetic code.
• Gene expressive tests: detect the specific gene activated or deactivated in a particular cell in the body.
• Chromosomal tests: They focus on the analyses of the entire chromosomes and the lengths of DNA to check their large-scale variations.
• Biochemical: These tests trace the gene’s production enzymes and protein level. The disparity usually indicates the genetic variations underlying a genetic disorder.

Preparation for the genetic testing

The following are some of the factors that you should consider before undergoing the test;

Timing

The time taken while undergoing these procedures varies from one test to another. For instance, Biopsies take longer since they involve the diagnosis of the colon and bone marrow. If you wish to get that test, you should give the health provider ample time to complete the investigation.

Dressing mode

If the procedure involves a blood test, you should wear short sleeves for easy rolling up while drawing the blood from the body parts such as the arm. Some tests, such as prenatal screening, may require you to partly or completely undress. In such cases, the health providers will provide a hospital gown for your comfort.

What to carry

While visiting the health provider, you should bring the health insurance and the ID to enhance contacts and payment of the services. Also, you should seek vehicle services or come with a friend to drive you back home after the appointment if the testing involves sedation.

Drinks and food

In most cases, your eating and drinking habits may not influence the results significantly. However, individuals should avoid excessive fluids before the amniocentesis to ensure that the bladder is empty to avoid its perforation during the procedure.

Many people have had genetic diseases that increase future pregnancy risk since the offspring are more likely to develop those genetic illnesses. If you are unsure of your health because of genetic disorders, I have good news for you. The Center for Reproductive Medicine has been established to cater to your needs. The facility has a team of specialists who use their experience to ensure that you have healthy future pregnancies through genetic screening. Visit the facility today and receive effective services.

Your skin surface tolerates many harsh environmental conditions, such as the heat from the sun and the extreme cold. Lifestyle factors can also negatively impact your skin, resulting in imperfections that may not go away without medical intervention. Fortunately, the Magnolia Dermatology specialists offer chemical peels Cypress to address these skin imperfections giving you smooth, glowing skin.

How chemical peels rejuvenate your skin

A chemical peel refers to a minimally invasive cosmetic technique that involves the application of a chemical solution to the area of concern to remove the dead skin. After some time, smooth, glowing skin grows, enhancing your physical appearance. Dermatologists recommend chemical peels for treating skin discoloration, acne scars, and wrinkles on your face. You can talk to your doctor about combining this with another cosmetic treatment to achieve optimum results. Deeper chemical peels guarantee dramatic effects, but they may take longer to recover.

What are the available forms of chemical peels?

During your appointment, Dr. Robare examines your skin and discusses your beauty goals to determine the most effective chemical peel. Each chemical peel targets different skin imperfections.

• Light chemical peel

A light chemical peel is a gentle technique that exfoliates the most superficial part of your skin. Most patients prefer light chemical peels to eliminate texture and tone abnormalities, fine lines, and acne. Considering that light chemical peels are not deep, you may need to schedule after every two months to maintain your results.

• A medium chemical peel

A medium chemical peel infiltrates your epidermis and a part of your dermis. This treatment is more profound and addresses more severe skin concerns such as pigmentation abnormalities, wrinkles, age spots, and acne scars.

• Deep chemical peel

This treatment infiltrates your dermis to correct advanced skin problems such as textural abnormalities, deep wrinkles, and prominent scarring. Deep chemical peels allow you to feel beautiful and young again.

The professional team at Magnolia Dermatology may also offer VI peel that slows down your aging process and treats acne scars and acne.

What should you consider when preparing for a chemical peel?

Your doctor plays a significant role in determining the effectiveness of the chemical peel. The experts at Magnolia Dermatology have years of experience providing chemical peel and guaranteeing excellent results. An improper chemical peel can lead to complications such as permanent scars and infection. During your initial appointment, your doctor may review your decal history and enquire about the medications you may be taking and whether you have any past or current medical conditions. The team may examine your skin and determine how the thickness and tone may influence your results.

You can discuss your expectations with Dr. Robare, who may educate you on the potential risks and how long the results may last. Before the procedure, she may offer antiviral medicine to prevent a viral infection. Your provider may prescribe retinol cream to promote healing a few weeks after your treatment.

To explore the dramatic results of chemical peels, call the Magnolia Dermatology office or book your spot online today.

Do you often wake up with a toothache, painful jaw, or a headache? You might have bruxism, a condition where you unconsciously gnash, clench, or grind teeth in your sleep. Bruxism can be due to stress, missing/crooked teeth, an abnormal bite, and sleep disorders, to mention a few factors. Mark Sutton DDS can help you deal with the damaging consequence of the condition by using a dental night guard.

A dental night guard is a soft device worn inside your mouth throughout the night. It helps prevent grinding and its negative impacts on your overall health. The device will take some time to get used to, but a routine such as wearing it a few minutes before bed can help. Among the top reasons to consider a dental night guard includes:

 

 1.  Avoid tooth damage

Among the common effects of bruxism are chipped and worn-out teeth. The excess pressure from the grinding weakens your teeth, accelerating wear that can cause chipping. The concerns expose you to more oral health problems, including infections and extreme teeth sensitivity. Sensitivity, for example, affects your oral hygiene quests, which increases the risk of plaque buildup that can cause gum disease. The night guard cushions the teeth, providing a protective barrier that keeps such problems at bay as you clench them in your sleep.

 2. Deal with headaches

 

Grinding your teeth during sleep usually leads to tensed muscles in areas including the neck, shoulders, mouth, and jaw, which causes headaches. Chronic headaches/migraines are common in people with bruxism due to stress. The ongoing headaches and migraines can affect the quality of your life. They make it harder to focus on your core functions, which can worsen to the extent of affecting your career and relationships. Moreover, you can easily fall into drug dependence as you turn to opioids to manage pain. The dental devices help you avoid such excessive stress on the jaw, keeping the headaches/migraines away.

 

3. TMJ disorder prevention

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) connects your jaw to the skull. When you clench and grind teeth in your sleep, you cause excess pressure, affecting the TMJ, and can lead to misalignment. TMJ misalignment makes it harder to chew and can cause pain in and around your ear and headaches/migraines. TMJ disorder can also worsen and lead to articular disk damage, which is usually irreparable and require replacement. TMJ disorder can also cause a trip to the ER when the jaw unexpectedly locks open/closed. A dental night guard eases muscle tension, helping you lower the chances of developing TMJ disorder.

 

4. Quality sleep

Getting a quality night’s sleep is essential, a concern that challenges most people with bruxism. You are likely to awaken when you clench or grind your teeth, considering the pressure and the muscle tension experienced. The night guard keeps your muscles relaxed by taking most of the force, allowing you to catch and enjoy quality sleep.

Investing in a professional dental night guard can initially seem like an expensive quest. Nonetheless, they help keep your oral health in good shape, avoiding costly dental care needs. Contact or visit Greenwich Dentistry today to learn more about night guards and how they can help improve your dental care regimen.

Gastric bypass surgery is a weight reduction surgery that makes a person’s stomach smaller. With Frisco gastric bypass, the surgeon connects an external tube to the belly, bypassing part of the small intestine. The surgery is done laparoscopically in a tiny incision, meaning that no open incisions are made in the abdomen.

The gastric bypass procedure is considered when other weight-loss surgeries have failed or are not recommended by your doctor. The surgery aims to reduce your body fat to a safe level without causing nutritional deficiencies.

Signs that gastric bypass surgery is an ideal solution in your case.

1. Other weight reduction options have failed

If you have tried other weight loss methods, such as hypnosis, diet, and exercise, only to see your progress stall or reverse, it is time to consider gastric bypass surgery. You cannot lose weight by starving yourself or exercising less on a diet. In fact, many people who lose weight this way end up gaining it back when they fall off the wagon.

2. Your body is changing shape

As you get older, your waistline tends to shift downward even though you are eating about the same amount of food as before. That is because your body stores fat around your belly and hips and then releases it when you need energy later in life. When this happens too often, it can lead to serious health problems like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If this is happening to you, get help, especially if other family members have similar problems.

3. Your BMI is over 40

In the past, having a high BMI has not always been considered a serious health risk. But today, many people are obese with an elevated BMI, which is not good for their health. A BMI of 30 or above is considered overweight, while a BMI of 40 or above is considered obese. If you are obese, talk to your doctor about gastric bypass surgery.

4. You are diabetic

If you have diabetes and have trouble keeping your blood sugar under control, you should probably consult a health expert to help you decide whether gastric bypass surgery is the best treatment option in your case.

5. You have high cholesterol

People with high cholesterol may lower their cholesterol levels by changing their diets and exercising more. However, not everyone responds well to these changes, so it is crucial to see a doctor before changing your lifestyle or dieting habits.

For some people, gastric bypass surgery has proven to be a life-changer. Doctors say that gastric bypass patients can lose 50% of their excess weight and keep it off. Reducing stomach size drastically changes a person’s food absorption and digestion rate, limiting the absorption of calories. The risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer is decreased. Also, the risk of developing gallstones and kidney disease is eliminated. If you have any of these conditions, reach out to the Bariatric experts. They will evaluate your situation to determine whether you are suitable for gastric bypass surgery.

When it comes to your smile appearance, every detail of your teeth matters, including shape and color. Bright and shiny teeth always make the best smile. Well, to many of us, that might not be the case with our teeth, especially because our teeth’ color changes over time due to various factors such as age and daily lifestyle habits. The good thing is that you can restore your teeth’ natural appearance through the teeth whitening Emerson specialist at Emerson Dental Arts. This article will provide details on teeth whitening.

What causes teeth discoloration?

Usually, teeth change color with the natural aging process. The teeth’ outer layer, the enamel, breaks down as you grow older, exposing the inner part of your tooth, which is naturally yellow.

Yellow teeth may also result from teeth clenching and grinding. Teeth discoloration also occurs from teeth staining when you consume the following;

• Strawberries
• Red wine
• Tea and coffee
• Tomatoes
• Tobacco

You are also likely to have yellow teeth if you have a family history of yellow teeth, teeth trauma, or use excessive fluoride or tetracycline.

How does teeth whitening work?

The teeth whitening procedure involves using a bleaching agent to brighten your dentin color. Your inner dentin lightens to cause teeth whitening.

The at-home trays for teeth whitening also contain a bleaching solution, the same as the in-office whitening but of higher strength. Your provider improves the teeth whitening procedure by putting in a unique light during the teeth whitening procedure.

Professional teeth whitening also involves smoothening the enamel to extract stains from tea, coffee, wine, or tobacco.

Reasons why in-office teeth whitening gives greater results compared to at-home trays?

Usually, a teeth whitening procedure in a dental office will give faster and better results compared to at-home teeth whitening methods such as paint, over-the-counter strips, or pastes. With office teeth whitening, you can notice results in a single 30-60 minutes session, and the results get better within 2 to 3 visits.

You cannot compare the results achieved with at-home teeth whitening methods to professional teeth whitening results; they are better.

Who qualifies for a professional office teeth whitening?

You can benefit from teeth whitening at Emerson Dental Arts if you have healthy and unaltered teeth and gums. Professional teeth whitening provides excellent results for teeth discoloration resulting from stains or aging.

You may not get the best results from professional teeth whitening if your teeth discoloration is genetic or results from trauma or medication. Your dental provider may suggest other cosmetic procedures.

The Emerson Dental Arts team first recommends treating oral health issues such as cavities, gum disease, recession, exposed roots, or teeth misalignments before offering teeth whitening. It ensures you get your desired results without causing more pain to your issues.

Teeth whitening is among the easiest ways to restore your smile appearance. In addition, it improves your self-confidence and restores your self-esteem. The treatment is safe, comfortable, and gives an excellent outcome.

You must consider professional teeth whitening or use only prescribed at-home teeth whitening products for your safety and efficiency. Contact Emerson Dental Arts today to schedule your consultation.

Millions of people in the U.S. are plagued by knee pain and knee problems every day. You might be one of them. Several things can cause San Diego knee pain. The best thing to do when you start experiencing knee pain is to schedule an appointment with a doctor to get treatment.

Knee pain is common, and knee pain that lasts more than two weeks is considered persistent. There may be a reason if you have been suffering from constant knee pain for more than two weeks. Here are five reasons you may be suffering from constant knee pain:

You have patellar tendonitis

Patellar tendonitis is a common cause of knee pain. When you have patellar tendonitis, you might experience knee pain and tenderness. People tend to develop knee pain during a sporting activity or after a workout.

Of all the tendons in the body, the patellar is the thickest. It connects the patella (front of your kneecap) with your quadriceps muscle. This tendon works like a pulley system, helping move your knee joint up and down as it goes through its range of motion. But if this tendon becomes inflamed, this can lead to pain and swelling in the joint.

You have arthritis

Arthritis causes joint inflammation and swelling, which can lead to knee pain. The condition is characterized by redness and swelling in the joints, especially when the affected person moves and turns their leg. The cartilage between bones wears down over time, causing joint fluid inflammation, leading to swelling and pain if not treated properly.

You have osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects your joints. The condition can affect men and women but usually appears later in life. It tends to develop gradually over time and causes the cartilage on the ends of your bones to wear down and become damaged. The result is that your knees become stiffer and more prone to painful swelling after exercise or injury. Osteoarthritis can also cause pain in your hips, spine, and other joints later in life.

You have poor blood circulation

One of the main causes of knee pain is poor blood circulation to your knees, and blood flow is vital for healthy knees and the surrounding tissues. When there is a blockage in your arteries or veins, this can result in pain and swelling. The blockage can be caused by many factors such as obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus.

You have patellofemoral syndrome

The patellofemoral syndrome occurs when the kneecap rides up over the front of your thigh bone (femur), which can cause pain in the front of your knee cap and down your leg. Patellofemoral pain syndrome is the most common cause of knee problems in women over 40, but it can also affect younger people.

If you are experiencing knee pain, it can be frustrating to figure out why. Whatever is causing your knee pain, finding an orthopedics team to help you would be the right thing to do. Contact Gain Wellness Center today for expert help from experienced orthopedics to help with your knee pain.