Author: John Vorhaus

Health

Why Visit a Medical Spa for Weight Loss Treatments

Medical Spas

Once you decide that you need to lose a few extra pounds, it’s always best that you do it in a healthy environment and a healthy manner. Visiting a medical spa will allow you to lose weight in an environment supported by health professionals such as Dr. Mahmood Siddique in Hamilton, helping you to meet your objectives and giving you personal attention. There are several reasons why going in for weight loss treatments in a medical spa is beneficial.

Personalization

Going to a medical spa with health professionals is different from going to other weight loss programs. Medical spas understand that each individual is different and that what works for one person will not always work for another. They will set up a weight loss program specifically customized to your needs. The professional staff will assess everyone’s situation, even if you have a medical condition, and devise a weight loss program that fits you. This quality of creating programs tailored to specific individual needs is one big reason why medical spas are becoming more and more popular and successful.

Medical Approaches

Medical spas have doctors and other medical staff who specialize in different areas, such as weight loss, which allows them to provide medically assisted techniques to help you lose weight. The doctors use a variety of approaches including tools such as MedGem – a device that enables medical professionals to figure out your exact metabolic rate under different circumstances, helping you to determine how many calories or food your body requires to maintain a healthy body. Other medical approaches include hormone-assisted weight loss treatments, Vitamin B12 injections, phentermine, and customized meal plans.

Hormone-Assisted Weight Loss

This method has been used by doctors with great success. The technique involves injecting the body with hormones that allow it to easily and quickly break down fat, assisted by a regular exercise regimen and a healthy diet. Using this method, you can lose up to one pound per day without feeling fatigued, weak or tired.

Vitamin B12 Injections

With this technique, Vitamin B12 is injected into your body, helping to hasten the rate at which your body metabolizes, and in the process enabling you to quickly lose lots of weight. The doctor will inject an amount specific to each individual’s needs. He or she will assess your current weight and how your body’s metabolism functions, in order to determine how many injections you’ll need.

Phentermine

Phentermine is a drug used to suppress your appetite thereby reducing the rate at which you consume food. The drug is approved by the FDA and is, therefore, safe to take. However, it can only be obtained by prescription from a board-certified doctor.

Customized Meal Plan

Following a customized meal plan set by your health physician will help you lose weight, and keep it that way. The weight loss doctor will create a customized meal plan according to your body’s metabolic rate and weight loss objectives. The technique requires discipline and consistency.

Spa Treatments

You can make use of a variety of spa treatments to realize your weight loss goals. While relaxing on a heated table and getting scrubbed with an exfoliate, the professional can have you wrapped up in slimming body wraps and elastic bandages. You can even lose a few additional pounds by doing light exercises while wrapped up. Medical spas can save you the cost of paying for a personal trainer, among others.

Laser Vision Surgery
Eye care

Laser Vision Surgery

Laser vision surgery can help improve your vision and completely eliminate any need for contacts or spectacles. Generally, it’s an outpatient procedure that uses laser beams to correct eyesight. There are several types of laser vision surgery but only three of them work by reshaping the cornea. These are LASEK, PRK, and LASIK. Two other types of laser vision surgery work by opening up the cornea, and inserting a new lens, but these are mostly suitable for people with glaucoma and eye cataracts. By learning about the different types of laser vision correction, you can determine if you’re the right kind of candidate and which particular procedure is suitable for you.

The Ideal Candidate

To determine whether you’re a candidate for the procedure, visit an ophthalmologist who has specialized in laser vision surgery, for a thorough eye examination. The physician will first assess the condition of your eyes, to ensure you don’t have any eye diseases or conditions that could interfere with the surgery. You will have to conduct some research on ophthalmologists that do laser surgery, before picking the right one. Find people who’ve undergone the procedure and talk to them for references. Alternatively, you can search online for the right doctor located close to your home area. They must be known for reliable work, and be very well respected.

After finding the right doctor, discuss with them whether the eye surgery is the right course of action and if it will correct your vision. Find out if there are any conditions you harbor that may prevent you from being a good candidate for the procedure. Such conditions may include inflammation of the eyelids, large cornea, glaucoma, and thin cornea. If the doctor feels that you’re not the right candidate, take their word for it. Going ahead with the procedure may be dangerous. Ensure the doctor is well aware of your past eye diseases as this could affect the whole procedure.

Type of Laser Vision Surgery

After undergoing the eye examination and getting the go-ahead, discuss with your doctor what surgery options you have. The ophthalmologist will inform you what options you have, and which of those options will work best for your condition. If they present several options, you will have to go through all of them and research properly before deciding.

The most common surgery is LASIK surgery. In this procedure, a laser beam is used to remove any imperfections of the outside surface of the cornea. You need a thick cornea to have this procedure. Undergoing the surgery with a thin cornea could cause blindness. The procedure takes about half an hour to complete. You’ll be able to see immediately after the surgery but it may take a few months before your eyes heal completely and your vision stabilizes. LASEK is similar to LASIK except it’s ideal for patients with corneas that are too thin. The procedure is less likely to cause eye dryness after as it destroys less cornea tissue than LASIK. PRK surgery has largely been replaced by LASIK. With PRK, you may need to wear a bandage over your eyes during recovery.

Surgery Preparation

Your ophthalmologist will give you pre-surgery and post-surgery instructions, which must be followed closely. The doctor might recommend that you keep the contacts out of your eyes for about two to three weeks before surgery. You’ll also be instructed to refrain from rubbing or touching your eyes after surgery.

Dental

How to Find a Good General Dentistry Clinic

Finding a good dentist can be difficult, especially if you’re among the one in six Australians that are scared of the dentist. Knowing who to trust, who you can afford and who performs good general dentistry can be extremely hard. There are so many dentists available for you to choose from, but how can you possibly know which one will meet your needs? Read on to find out the best ways to find a good dentist.

Ask Friends

Friends will always have your best interests at heart, and they’ll also have a much better insight into what your needs are than anyone else. Take advantage of their knowledge about your situation to see if they can recommend a trusted dentist to you. A good friend would never recommend anything to you unless they were absolutely sure that it would meet your needs.

Search Online

The internet could be your best friend when it comes to searching for a dentist that practices good general dentistry. A quick online search should bring up dentists in your area as well as some reviews from previous customers, allowing you to read up on the services they offer and determine the level of customer satisfaction. Another good place to search for a dentist is on The Dental Board of Australia website.

You should always do a search here to ensure that any dentist you’re interested in is fully registered and licensed to practice dentistry. If they’re not listed, then they might not be registered to practice. You can also look on the website of the Australian Dental Association, as they offer a service that allows you to search for a dental clinic and see all individual dentists that are practicing there.

Pay a Visit

The best way to know if a dental clinic will meet your needs is to visit in person. By doing this, you can speak to the dental staff face-to-face, tell them about your concerns and what your specific needs are in relation to your dental care, and listen to them as they tell you how they would manage your care. There really is no better way to understand if a dental clinic could be right for you.

Calling a general dentistry clinic and asking them to meet with you prior to making an appointment can be intimidating, but many dentists are more than willing to meet potential patients. If they’re not, then they’re probably not the right dentist for you. Many dentists understand that customers can be apprehensive about choosing a dentist. Some will even give you a tour of the clinic so that you can really get to know what they have to offer.

Finding a dentist might seem like a daunting task, but if you break it down and take your time, it doesn’t need to be. Finding out the thoughts of others alongside conducting your own research really is the best way to go. Before you know it, you’ll soon have found a dentist you can trust your dental health to.

Achieving excellent fitness at Phuket with martial art
Fitness

Achieving excellent fitness at Phuket with martial art

Is it possible to achieve great fitness levels with one single sport? What about your ideal body? Or health benefits? It may sound too good to be true, but it is quite simple to understand. Muay Thai offers all of these benefits in one, and in this article you will find out the reason why and how you can get these benefits for yourself without spending countless hours at the gym and buying very expensive machines you will only use once or twice.

Unlike many other gym disciplines, Muay Thai is a martial art, a sport that was born in Thailand and has now extended to almost every country in the world. Its many health benefits have promoted its spread to other countries, even though it was originally taught as a discipline in the military service of Thailand and kept secret for many years. However, now the whole world is able to benefit from Muay Thai, and many of us have already experienced how many changes we can attain by having a few sessions every week.

Muay Thai

One of the features that differentiates Muay Thai from other sports, and even certain martial arts, is that it combines movements from all of your body instead of a single part. By practicing Muay Thai, you will be strengthening and toning the muscles of your arms, legs, and your torso at the same time and without even realizing. It combines aerobic and anaerobic exercise in a way that promotes endurance and builds up stamina. Thus, it is a great aid to improve your cardiovascular health and get your heart working faster and more efficiently.

Muay Thai is also a great aid for weight loss. People who want to lose weight usually experience something called rebound effect. They regain weight and often end up worse than they started. That is because they have focused their attention on burning fat, but have not done anything to change their metabolism. Conversely, Muay Thai focuses on metabolic changes that will stay forever with you, as long as you remain physically active and maintain a healthy diet.

An additional effect we should talk about is related to your metabolic health, which comprises all of the chemical reactions in your body and your health biomarkers. Muay Thai at Phuket island has been found to improve many different health parameters, including blood glucose and blood lipids. That’s why people with the metabolic syndrome have found a lot of benefit in practicing this sport. Phuket is a good island for travel and good health.

There’s no way to describe Muay Thai because it’s a full experience you need to experience with your own body and mind. If you’re interested in doing so, there’s a health and fitness program in Thailand focused on teaching Muay Thai. Look for one of our training camps all over the country and start learning this new discipline, one that will transform your life and your body for the best.

Health

Migraine Warning Signs, and What You Can Do

Warning Signs of a Migraine

You might start noticing the warning signs of a migraine, which include pre-headache, also referred to as a prodrome. It can start several hours or even days before the migraine fully hits you, but this varies from person to person. You can note down how you feel before the migraine begins so you can be prepared the next time it happens, and see an expert physician like Dr. Scarborough of Conroe, TX. People experience different symptoms but some symptoms happen more commonly than others do. You might start yawning a lot, get depressed and irritable hours or days before the headache, or frequently feel the need to pee. You might also crave certain foods, especially chocolate and sweets, which misleads many people into thinking that it’s the food that caused the headache since the migraine started after they ate the food they were craving.

Other Warning Signs

Other warning signs include a feeling of intense happiness or euphoria days or hours before the headache hits you. You may start feeling unusually tired before a migraine, and sleeping too much may trigger the headache. There’s a connection between sleep and your symptoms, and you need to pay attention to that. Being aware will help you stay away from your triggers and possibly prevent the migraine from hitting. Being suddenly sensitive to bright lights and loud noises can be a sign, and if you’ve already experienced a headache, they can trigger a migraine. Sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises often continue through the migraine and post-migraine stages.

Other issues last for a short time such as changes in vision. As you approach the migraine stage, you may experience blurry vision, as well as blind spots, seeing shapes and flashing lights. These may continue to get worse. For many people, the onset of prodrome also comes with problems in the digestive tract. You may start feeling sick to your stomach and even have diarrhea with constipation. Seeing a doctor will help drive away these symptoms but will do nothing to prevent the migraine from coming.

Migraine Warning

Relievers

The trick is to get medication as soon as possible, whether they are prescription medication or over-the-counter drugs. Do this immediately you notice the first symptoms. The earlier you get them, the better the results will be. It’s also important to note that taking drugs too often or taking too much of them can cause problems such as stomach ulcers and withdrawal headaches when you stop taking them.

Have a little caffeine, especially if you’re at the early stages of the migraine. Caffeine may also help to boost the effects of pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin. Be careful not to overindulge, as too much caffeine leads to withdrawal headaches when you want to stop. Try to meditate as often as you can. A therapist or teacher can help you get started by doing it for 10 minutes every day. Breathe slowly but deeply as you relax the muscles in your body. After it’s complete, sit quietly for a few minutes and clear your mind. This works anytime but will be especially helpful when you notice the early signs of a migraine. Lastly, avoid food triggers such as cheese, certain nuts, alcohol, and pickled items, which can lead to a migraine. You’ll figure out what to avoid if you keep track of what you eat.

 

Root canal treatment
Dental

What the Process of Root Canal Treatment Involves

Root canal treatment is a dental treatment performed on the infected pulp of your tooth that aims to eliminate infection and protect your decontaminated tooth from any future microbial invasion. Root canal therapy requires one or sometimes more dentist visits, and it can be performed by either a specialist endodontist or your general dentist. The type of dentist you need to visit will depend on the complexity of the procedure required for your particular tooth, as well as your general dentist’s comfort level when it comes to working on your tooth. This article will detail the steps that are involved in the root canal treatment process.

X-Ray and Anaesthesia

Your endodontist or dentist will take an X-ray to find out the shape of your root canals and see if there are any signs of infection in the surrounding bone. You will then receive local anaesthesia to deaden the nerves in your mouth. Before injecting the numbing medication, your dentist will also place numbing jelly on your gums to lessen pain when administering the shot.

Removal of Tooth Decay & Infected Pulp Material

The next step in this procedure is removing tooth decay and infected pulp material. During treatment, your dentist will keep the affected area dry and free of saliva. They will then place a rubber dam around your tooth and drill an access hole into your tooth. The pulp together with bacteria, decayed nerve tissue and other debris will be removed from your tooth. Pulp sits underneath your tooth’s hard layer of dentin and contains connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves.

The pulp extends from the tip of your roots to your crown, and it can be removed once your teeth have fully matured. Generally, your tooth can survive without the pulp, which makes root canal treatmenta great option when you have an infection that’s impacting your health.

The Cleaning Out Process

Root canal treatment

Your dentist will perform the cleaning out process using root canal files. During this process, your dentist will subsequently place a series of root canal files of increasing diameter into the access hole and work down the entire length of your tooth to scrub and scrape the sides of your root canals. Sodium hypochlorite or water is used at intervals to flush away any debris. Your dentist will seal your tooth after thoroughly cleaning it. If your dentist doesn’t complete the procedure on the same day, they’ll place a temporary filling in the outer hole in your tooth to keep contaminants out between appointments.

What to Expect After Root Canal Treatment

After the procedure, make sure you stick to a strict diet of only soft foods for one or two days. The options of food you can eat include the following:

  • Oatmeal
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Soup
  • Pudding
  • Milkshakes
  • Smoothies
  • Yoghurt

Avoid eating hard, crunchy or sticky foods. While your mouth is numb, keep anything that you eat on the opposite side of the mouth and eat slowly to prevent biting your tongue or cheek.

 

Heel Pain
Health

Heel Pain: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Heel pain is quite a prevalent foot issue. It usually affects the bottom of the heel or behind it where the heel bone and the achilles tendon connect. In some cases, it can affect the side of a person’s heel. The foot is an integral part of the body. It supports the entire weight of the body when a person is standing, walking, or jumping. Therefore, significant heel pain can be quite devitalizing. Consequently, it is imperative for you to learn how you can protect yourself from heel pain and visit a dependable New York podiatrist for treatment if you are suffering from heel pain.

Causes of Heel Pain

In most cases, heel pain is not brought on by a single physical injury, such as a fall or a twist. It usually results from recurrent stress or pounding of the heels. One of the most common causes include Plantar Fasciitis. This has to do with the inflammation of the plantar fascia. It happens due to the way the foot is made, especially when the arches are too low or too high. Heel Bursitis is also a common trigger of heel pain. It can occur when a person lands awkwardly or wears improper footwear. Heel pain can also result from tarsal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the nerve found at the back of the foot is trapped or pinched. Other causes of heel pain include severs disease, Achilles tendinitis, bone tumor, heel spur, stress fractures, reactive arthritis, and heel bumps, among others.

Heel Pain Treatments

There are several treatments that can be relied on to treat heel pain. Some conservative treatments include corticosteroid injections, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, athletic tapings, orthotics, and physical therapy to teach patients about the exercises that can strengthen the lower leg muscles. Other methods that can be used to treat heel pain include surgery, rest, ice, better footwear, and foot supports.

Heel Pain Treatments

Heel Pain Prevention

The best way to deal with heel pain problems is preventing it from occurring. Some of the ways that you can count on to prevent heel pain include:

  • Avoiding walking barefoot
  • Keeping your weight within healthy levels to minimize stress on the heels
  • Wearing shoes with heels that can absorb stress
  • Avoiding shoes that tend to trigger pain
  • If you are susceptible to heel pain, rest your feet when you can and only stand when you must.
  • Wear proper sports footwear for each task
  • If you have to engage in a sporting activity, it is important to warm up properly before doing so.

The Takeaway

Overall, it is apparent that since the foot is a critical part of the body, heel pain can significantly affect a person’s mobility and the ability to carry out some basic tasks. However, there are several ways in which it can be prevented and even treated. If you are looking for a reliable podiatrist to help you with heel pain, City Podiatry is the best health facility to visit. Feel free to contact them today.

Untitled Pregnancy
Health

Untitled Pregnancy after Birth Control document

Birth Control Effects

Many women find themselves in this scenario: they have been using birth control for some time and they’ve finally decided that it’s the right time to have a baby. However, they are not sure how the long-term use of birth control might have affected their ability to conceive. Generally, there are no negative effects on your fertility after using birth control for a while. In some cases, where you’ve been using a method that has the hormones progestin and estrogen, it might take you a bit longer to conceive. However, you can still get pregnant after you’ve stopped using any Arlington contraception methods.

Stopping Birth Control

Until you’re ready to get pregnant, don’t stop using birth control methods. The body doesn’t need time to get back to its original patterns, and it’s very possible to conceive a month after stopping birth control. If you are not ready to get pregnant and you still want to stop using hormonal birth control, replace it with another method such as condoms.

Barrier methods like condoms or diaphragms are useful but as soon as you have sex without them, it’s possible to get pregnant. However, your health, especially your genes and lifestyle habits play a huge role in how long you’ll wait before getting pregnant. Additionally, some birth control methods have more impact than others do.

Stopping Birth Control

Birth Control Types

You are still able to get pregnant within one to three months after stopping hormonal birth control pills. A majority of women can get pregnant within a year. If you’ve been using a minipill, chances of getting pregnant a few days or weeks after stopping usage are high. The minipill doesn’t stop conception by stopping ovulation but by thinning out the uterine wall. As soon as you stop taking the minipill, the uterine wall thickens again, making pregnancy a possibility.

If you’ve been using an intrauterine device (IUD), and the doctor removes it, it’s possible to get pregnant right away. Although pregnancy happens within 6 months to a year after removal, women usually begin ovulating one month after removal. The same applies to an implant. Most women begin ovulating within the first month after the doctor removes an implant. If you’re using a birth control patch or vaginal ring, you’re likely to ovulate within one to three months after removal.

It may be harder to get pregnant after stopping injectable birth control. It usually takes more than ten months before you can start ovulating. Thus, if you want to use birth control but still have hopes of having children in the future, don’t consider this method.

Ovulating Again

If you’ve been using hormonal birth control methods, it might be a few months before you start ovulating, because this method affects your hormonal balance. It will take your body some time before it can adjust to its pre-birth control state. However, you can still get pregnant before having your periods. In fact, if you have sex immediately after you’ve stopped birth control, and it so happened that you were ovulating, you may get pregnant. If you recently stopped using birth control, had unprotected sex and you still haven’t seen your periods, get a pregnancy test. Getting a period is far less important than ovulating. You can only get pregnant when one of your ovaries releases an egg, and that’s all that matters.

Dental Care

Dental Care During Pregnancy

Did you know that the hormonal changes caused by pregnancy increase the risk of developing several oral infections, which, in turn, can affect your baby’s growth and development? The most common dental infections include pregnancy tumors, tooth decay, and gum diseases that can result in excessive swelling and bleeding in the mouth.

This is one primary reason why pregnancy is considered to be a crucial time for women to maintain their oral health as it is directly related to the excellent overall health of both the mother and the baby.

Here are a few helpful tips to ensure proper dental care during pregnancy, as well as before and after you’ve had your baby.

Before Pregnancy

It is very important for you to take good care of your teeth and gums before getting pregnant. There is a high risk of periodontal disease in pregnant women that can significantly lead to increased risks of premature birth. However, there are a few basic things you can do to greatly minimize this risk.

Dental Care During Pregnancy

  • Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
  • Make an appointment with your dentist for a dental checkup.
  • Get your teeth professionally cleaned to treat any impending oral disease or infection.

During Pregnancy

The importance of dental care during pregnancy cannot be emphasized enough. Most dental treatments are safe during pregnancy, but if you are hesitant, you can follow a few steps to avoid the need for risky dental procedures.

  • Thoroughly clean your gums and teeth every day.
  • Floss your teeth at least once a day.
  • Make sure to brush your teeth before and after breakfast, as well as before going to bed.
  • Rinse your mouth between meals with lukewarm water.
  • Avoid consuming excessive sugary snacks to prevent the risk of tooth decay.
  • Pay close attention to any possible changes in your gums or teeth while you are pregnant.
  • Go for regular dental checkups, especially in the case of tender or sensitive gums.
  • In the case of morning sickness, ask your dentist to recommend bland-tasting toothpaste options.
  • Rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash every time you vomit.

After Pregnancy 

Once you have successfully delivered your baby, you must continue your oral care and hygiene routine. Even though your hormones go back to normal post-pregnancy, a good dental routine is still necessary. There are a few essential tips that you can follow to maintain healthy gums and teeth.

  • Continue your dental visits for oral examinations.
  • In case you need any treatment or medication, make sure to inform your dentist if you are a nursing mother.
  • Keep brushing and flossing your teeth daily, at least twice a day.
  • Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and sugary snacks.
  • Make sure to follow a good diet because that can greatly affect your oral health post-delivery.
  • Get a full mouth examination done in case you experienced any major gum problems during pregnancy.

Final Word

Oral health and hygiene is extremely vital at all times, but most importantly, during pregnancy because it is directly tied to the newborn’s health. Therefore, you should adopt a proper dental hygiene routine to keep yourself and your baby safe.

protein shakes for weight loss 
Health care

The Best Weight Loss Protein Shake

A protein shake provides a healthy meal replacement or supplement to help you maintain a balanced diet. People believed that the use of protein really promotes muscle development, and muscles burn a lot of fat compared to any part of the body. Protein shakes are becoming increasingly popular among athletes and people who want to eat right and lose weight. Filled with protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, food substitutes are an affordable and useful way to get rid of fat and build muscle.

A protein shake, make sure it has a lot of natural ingredients and fewer unnatural supplements. High protein shakes for weight loss instantly become famous among athletes and individuals. Adequate consumption provides sufficient growth. Shaking a meal replacement allows us all to practice healthy eating. Drinks typically contain protein and fiber.

The only thing needed for meal replacement drinks is that they must afford the dietary equivalent of a meal replacement. They often have low amounts of fats and carbohydrates. This makes protein a logical, essential component of any weight loss shake. Also, it suppresses your cravings, as if you usually eat. These fluids will give you a fuller sensation so that you do not feel the urge to eat unhealthy foods.

Replacements are readily developed for portion control, low in fat, low in calories and nutritionally balanced. Your body also requires several vitamins and minerals. Adding multivitamins will deliver any nutrients lost from your smoothie or regular meal.

You can use them directly because you do not need to count calories or worry about what foods to eat – all this is done for you. A healthy diet should include a large proportion of whole, unprocessed foods, less dietary fat and sugar, and a significant amount of protein.

protein shakes for weight loss 

Protein Shake Benefits

The significant advantage is that you can digest a shake faster than eating food.

Shaking is excellent for after a workout during the recovery window, and adding shaking is quick and easy.

Provides a low-calorie, high-protein version that increases metabolism.

Shake works well for people who are not used to having breakfast.

They are easy to use because you don’t need to count calories or worry about what foods to eat – that’s all for you.

It helps maintain balance in the diet and get all the essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, as well as nutrients for the body.

The cost of your food is often approximately equal to the value of the food you would buy anyway.

The great advantage of making slimming cocktails is its softness.

Thus, protein is an excellent supplement for building muscle. The body does not absorb all types of proteins equally, so the protein requirement of most users is already satisfied in a healthy diet by adding a protein powder diet that suits you. So you can easily add a protein shake to replace your meal.