I had my left eye cataract surgery done yesterday. I had put it off for a year but it did get worse and started to interfere with my night driving and to some degree with my left side peripheral vision. The procedure was not like I had expected so I thought I would tell you about it in case you may have to undergo this procedure sometime in the future. Basically, this kind of surgery was different from what I had before which is a non-surgical rhinoplasty. A non-surgical rhinoplasty is a cosmetic procedure used to refine the shape of your nose. On the other hand cataract surgery is a done to remove cataract from our eyes.

This is strictly outpatient surgery. Since you have to get home though, I suggest having your significant other or a friend drive you to and from the clinic or hospital. I suppose in a pinch you can take a taxi each way but it sure calmed me knowing that someone who cared was with me. In my case it was my Wife.

The clinic in which I had the surgery was done was The Maryland Surgery Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Their staff was extremely polite and reassuring. They gave me a whole bunch of eye drops and started an IV. Up to this point my Wife was allowed to stay with me. As soon as an Operating Room became available, I said good bye to my wife. They rolled me into it where the Anesthesiologist explained what they would give me before and during surgery. It was a local anesthesia and I would be awake during the entire procedure. He explained I would feel no pain during the operation. That was true.

The Doctor came in next and answered any questions I had. I had very few questions at this time. The surgery itself was not bad at all. I would have thought that I would pull away from anything touching my eyeball but this was not the case. They must use numbing drops and then there is an IV which I think just clams you down. I was never unconscious nor high from the anesthesia. I never saw what they are doing because they cover the other eye and shine a bright light in the one they are operating on.

The procedure uses no stitches at all. The whole operation is done using microscopic devices which breaks up the foggy part of the old lens and sucks it up. The lower part of the old lens remains and a plastic implant is inserted. It must be soft plastic rolled up and put in the same tiny opening as the original lens was removed. It is then moved into place.

Fifteen minutes later the operation was completed. The Nurse put a clear, plastic shield over the eye so you won’t rub it. She taped it firmly into position. It felt like an eyelash was had fallen in my eye. That was annoying but otherwise I felt no post operative pain other than a minor headache which was handled by 2 Tylenol. Today, it felt somewhat better because the Doctor took the shield off. I still have to wear it at night for a week. For the most part you can see pretty well as soon as the operation is over. It is not as good as the vision in my good eye but the Doctor says it takes a week for everything to heal. Then you can see a major improvement 90 to 95% of the time.

This is the most minor operation I have ever had. If you have to go through this procedure do not become anxious about it. You will not be hurt and healing will be swift.

One of the biggest problems many people face when trying to lose weight is being able to afford healthy food. Without a doubt, it is more affordable to eat unhealthily. That doesn’t mean you should eat unhealthy foods though. In fact, there are some foods out there that are good for you and won’t break the bank. Best of all, you don’t even have to wait for them to be on sale.

Dried Beans

You can purchase a large bag of dried beans for less than $5. The best part is, not only are dried beans less expensive than canned, but they’re healthier as well. You don’t have to deal with massive amounts of sodium or any of the fat that the company may have added to enhance the flavor. Not to mention that there’s a bean for almost any type of dish you’re preparing. If you love Mexican, grab some dried black beans. If Italian is more your style, grab some white beans for a large pot of soup. Beans are truly a versatile food staple to keep your cabinet. They make great side dishes and can even be made into a meal by themselves.

Brown Rice

A large bag of brown rice costs around $3. When shopping for brown rice, you want to make sure to avoid quick cooking rice as it has been stripped of most of its nutrients to make it easier to cook. If you want to make brown rice easier to cook, you can purchase a basic rice cooker for less than $15. As for using brown rice, the options are endless. Brown rice can be a healthy and affordable way to stretch a meal when mixed with lean meat and vegetables. If can also be tossed with vegetables and a fat free dressing to create a simple salad. You could even mix brown rice and beans with a few spices to create a wonderful meat free meal. Of course, don’t forget what a great bed it makes for other foods. Using brown rice in place of mashed potatoes is a much healthier option.

Whole Wheat Pasta

Whole wheat pasta is a much healthier option than pasta made with refined flour. It’s also came down in price over the years making it almost as affordable as regular pasta. You can usually purchase a large box of whole wheat pasta for less then $4. Like beans and brown rice, whole wheat pasta has many uses. It can be made into a quick salad, added to soups, used in casseroles or simply tossed with a low calorie sauce. Regardless of how you use whole wheat pasta, you’re adding fiber to your diet, which a great thing.

Peanut Butter

While a large jar of peanut butter can cost over $5, you have to remember that it has many servings in that one jar. A serving of peanut butter is 2 tablespoons, which means that one jar of peanut butter can get you through many meals. While you may think that peanut butter is just for sandwiches, it’s actually quite versatile in the kitchen. Peanut butter can be used to make a wonderful Thai sauce for pasta. It’s a great substitute for maple syrup on pancakes. It’s even a great way to get kids to eat their fruits and vegetables.

Bananas

While many fruits can be expensive, bananas are one of those fruits that remains rather affordable. Bananas can be purchased for well under $1 per pound and have many uses in the kitchen. They can be chopped and added to the top of cereal or pancakes. The can be used in sandwiches along side peanut butter as an interesting lunch or snack option for children. Bananas can even be dipped in healthy dark chocolate and frozen as a healthy alternative to ice cream pops.

The New Jersey Center for CoolSculpting is a division of Ethos Spa in Summit New Jersey and is the perfect place for you to get regular tips for weight loss, which can be useful to pass on to other people who are dealing with weight issues.

The term weight training often gives an image of huge bulky muscles with extreme vascularity (leanness). More often than not, this is attributed to popular figureheads who were bodybuilders. That is why people who have been given this misconception tend to shy away from weight training and its awesome benefits, especially females.

Weight training myths

Myth #1: Weight training makes a person bulky. It seems that anybody who thinks they weight train will get big and bulky almost immediately. Though a plausible ambition to some, majority seem to think otherwise. The physiques of bodybuilders are the result of years of training and strict nutrition. Thinking that you will become like them overnight is simply… vain.

Females also do not have the hormone production which is responsible for growth of muscles. Testosterone is produced far more in males than females. Which means you females can relax because unless you take steroids, your physiology and biological systems will not allow you to get that big bulky look. The pre workout supplements are available for females for increasing the energy level. The doctors should allow them to take the medicine and perform the desired work. With exercise, there will be sweating, so the pills can be consumed through females for increasing the stamina with a healthy diet. 

Myth #2: Light weight and high reps make you look tone. This is probably one of the most popular beliefs almost all females are guilty of. First of all, the tone look you are looking for is simply a low percentage of body-fat. Training has almost nothing to do with it, rather nutrition has. With good nutrition and training, you will lose fat and your body will feel more toned and shapely.

In fact, training heavy for low reps can actually help you get more toned. You see, being tone is a combination of low body-fat and the tension your muscles have while at rest. By training with heavy weights, you will have more neuro-muscular tension, thus, the better tension your muscles have at rest.

Myth #3: Cardio is the only way to get thin. Do not listen to anyone who tells you that endless cardio will and is the only thing to get you thin. Doing too much cardio is actually counter-productive. It raises cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue. This in turns add stress to you and inhibits your body’s ability to lose fat and add lean muscle.

Myth #4: Starving yourself can make you thinner and look better. This is another popular method used by many who wants quick results. Do not do this at all cost! When you starve yourself and deprive your body of nutrition it needs, it eats away at your lean muscle tissue (this is because fat is easier to maintain than muscle) and though you become smaller, your metabolism decreases exponentially. The end result will be you gaining back all those pounds you lost when you start eating normally again.

Benefits of weight training for females

More lean muscle mass – Muscle takes more calories to maintain than fat, thus, increasing your resting metabolism. Lean muscle tissue is also smaller than fat, which means you will look smaller instead of bigger.

Lose body-fat, look more tone – As you increase your lean muscle tissue, you also lose body-fat and as previously discussed, your muscles will be more toned and you will look shapelier.

Increased health – Weight training helps control your blood pressure, insulin levels, cholesterol and increase heart health as well.

Feel better, look better – The last reason is of course, look better! When you look better, you will gain more self-confidence. Just take a look at actresses like Cameron Diaz and Jessica Alba who workout. Do they look ‘bulky’ and have no confidence in themselves? Hell no!

Weight training is definitely safe and good for females. The rewards and returns in weight training is amazing and endless! Start to reap the benefits and health rewards of weight training. Maybe you can look as good as Jessica Alba and Cameron Diaz with a couple of months of serious training and strict nutrition!

As it gets harder and harder for Americans to get quick non-emergency appointments with their doctors, sales of do-it-yourself medical tests are soaring in addition to marketing in the medical spa industry.

The biggest increase has been in kits purchased via the Internet. Just Google “at-home tests” and watch the search results pop onto your monitor.

What exactly can you get these days? And which ones are really safe?

It depends mainly on the type of test and whether you use it as a screening device to see whether you should visit your doctor or to self-diagnose. Many at-home tests can reveal signs that should send you to the phone or help you track your progress in treating a condition. But sometimes they don’t really tell you exactly what the results mean or the action you should take.

According to the Fall 2007 issue of Remedy magazine, here are the most popular do-it-yourself options:

Cholesterol:

You perform this test by pricking your finger with one of the lancets in the kit. Then you put a few drops of blood on the device and wait a specified time, normally 10 to 15 minutes. You then check your reading against a chart provided to interpret your cholesterol level.

This kit might be helpful for those with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease or those who just want to make sure they maintain good numbers. It can also assist individuals in trying to lower their numbers via diet and exercise.

However, most do-it-yourself cholesterol tests provide only your total cholesterol. They don’t differentiate between the harmful type (LDL) and the helpful type (HDL). According to Narinder Duggal, M.D., Pharm.D., clinical professor of pharmacy and therapeutics at the University of Washington in Seattle, knowing your full lipid profile is a more helpful way to measure for the risk of heart disease. He says a reading of total cholesterol at less than 200 could mean you experience “a false sense of security.”

Glucose screening:

You put a drop of your blood onto the test card provided. After three minutes, you compare the color of the test area to the color chart in the kit to determine whether your blood sugar level is normal.

These tests are actually designed to individuals who aren’t diabetics but are trying to ascertain their risk of becoming them. Diabetics use actual glucose monitors up to several times a day to test their glucose levels.

A screening kit is a good test for individuals with a family history of diabetes, according to Fiona Gallahue, M.D., a faculty member at New York Methodist Hospital in New York City. However, she points out if you eat before doing the test, your blood sugar level will register too high. Anyone using the test should fast for a minimum of nine hours first.

In addition, manufacturers state results can be off if you’ve experienced a serious health problem or surgery within the prior 90 days of if you’ve suffered from minor illnesses such as the flu or a gastrointestinal virus within 3 weeks.

Menopause Check:

To do this test, you hold the absorbent end of the wand in your first urine of the day for 5 to 10 seconds, depending on the actual kit you purchase. You then put a protective cap over this part of the wand and wait for 5 to 10 minutes for the results.

This type of kit measures the concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the urine. For women nearing menopause, FSH levels usually remain high during the entire month. Levels in younger women fluctuate throughout their monthly hormonal cycles.

Women who are going through mood changes, decreasing libido, fluctuating menstrual cycles, or insomnia would be likely to purchase of this do-it-yourself kit. So would those with body temperature changes and breast tenderness. All are symptoms of perimenopause, the stage leading to menopause.

The drawback to this test is that it only tells you whether your FSH level is elevated, not where you are regarding menopause or perimenopause. One reading might not reveal very much since levels fluctuate during the day. And it won’t tell you whether you need treatment for any of your symptoms. Results can also be suspect if you’ve taken birth control pills within the prior six months.

Colorectal screening:

After a bowel movement, you toss a test pad into the commode and wait according to the instructions in the kit. A change in pad color indicates blood in the stool.

Dr. Duggal indicates this test might be useful “if you are experiencing changes in your bowel patterns or if you have a history of polyps or colon cancer in your family.” A number of health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, recommend annual colorectal screening tests yearly after age 50.

While these tests are effective at revealing substantial amounts of blood, Dr. Gallahue says, they could miss small amounts. If you experiencing bleeding hemorrhoids of are taking supplements containing iron, you could get a false positive. A positive result merely means that you should see a physician for additional testing.

Blood pressure monitors:

You have a choice of a manual model similar to those in many medical offices or a battery-powered unit with a cuff for your wrist or upper arm.

These units are useful for individuals being treated for hypertension as well as those at risk for it. They provide a quick check on whether lifestyle or medication changes are causing positive results.

However, Dr. Duggal says if you’re either unusually thin or very overweight, readings might not be accurate. Some monitors just don’t function well. To get a consistent result, he suggests using it at the same time each day and to check it against your doctor’s unit during your next visit.

Vaginal infection test:

After insertion, you wait for the indicated amount of time and compare the color of the pH swap or the indicator strip on a wand to a color chart to find out if your pH suggests you might have a bacterial infection. If you do, you will need antibiotics. If, however, you have a yeast infection, you might be able to use an over-the-counter (OTC) product to treat it.

These kits are useful for women with vaginal itching, burning, unusual odor, or a change in the amount or color of vaginal discharge when they’re unaware of what’s causing the symptoms.

Don’t use this test if you’re pregnant or in menopause. Your pH varies during either circumstance. Women prone to recurrent year infections should instead visit a medical provider. If you have a fever and chills on top of the symptoms, you need to be treated quickly.

Urinary track infection (UTI):

To use this kit, you dip a test stick in your urine stream for at least 10 seconds. You then put it on a flat surface and wait two minutes for results to show. By comparing the color chart provided with the results, you can determine if the nitrite, leukocyte, and/or protein levels are normal. Different brands of UTI kits measure different elements.

Women who get frequent UTIs and who experience pain or burning while going to the bathroom or who notice an increase in urgency or frequency might be able to confirm an infection. They should then contact their physicians.

According to Dr. Gallahue, individuals who experience recurrent UTIs could have resistant bacterial and might need to visit a medical provider. She adds that “a negative test shouldn’t be seen as definitive.”

If you decide you need any of these kits, you should follow some precautions before using them. Make sure to store them in a cool, dry place to prevent the chemicals in them from degrading. A bathroom is too humid.

Before making your purchase, check the expiration date to make sure the contents aren’t past their prime. Also make sure to follow the instructions exactly. Varying even a little bit from the recommended procedures can mean an inaccurate result.

When we were kids, my brother and I were messing around and he shot an air gun in my ear. I couldn’t hear out of it for a couple of days and then my hearing came back. But, along with my hearing, a high pitched “whine” was also in my ear. Over time, the whine would sometimes be a buzz or roar depending on the day. At night, I remember my mom raising heck with me for listening to the radio when I went to bed. I would turn the radio on low and put it next to my right ear. 

Why? To cover the noise of the whining so I could get to sleep. To this day, I cannot sleep without something making a little noise. What is this culprit that plays heck with my ear? It’s called tinnitus. In Latin, the word tinnitus means “tinkling of the bell”. If you are facing such issues, then these Sonus complete reviews will help you learn more about the medical problem you have and how you can control it. 

This is my tinnitus story. It’s how I have attempted to manage it through the years with alternative methods. Like playing the radio to get to sleep, I have tried to “trick” my mind about my ears. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But using alternative methods has helped me keep my sanity and hangup on tinnitus when the roar was deafening.

Some causes and triggers of tinnitus.

Like my own experience, some tinnitus is caused by a sudden burst of loud noise or prolonged exposure to loud noises over time.

Tinnitus can be triggered by an infection of the inner ear. Or a brain tumor. Brain tumors are the cause in less than 1% of cases of tinnitus. It is wise to consult a doctor to rule out infection or tumor.

Excessive use of aspirin or any of the ~mycin antibiotics can cause tinnitus. Even aspirin-like herbs like willow bark, wintergreen, and meadowsweet can make the noise louder.

Caffeine, salt without drinking enough water, sugar, and alcohol are just a few things that can cause or worsen your tinnitus.

Ways to hangup on the ringing in your ear.

B vitamins. I take a B-Complex and occasionally I take extra thiamin, niacin, and B12. Most alternative doctors I’ve read say to take a good, high potency B-Complex supplement that supplies 50 milligrams of most of the B vitamins.

I take at least 400 milligrams of magnesium a day. Green vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans are great foods that are packed with magnesium. (Caution: Talk to your doctor before using magnesium supplements if you have heart or kidney problems.)

Zinc is found in high concentrations in the eyes and ears. If you are low on zinc, some doctors believe that it causes ear problems like tinnitus. Take no more than 15 milligrams of zinc a day unless under the supervision of a doctor.

I have had great success with messaging my ears. I believe it must increase the blood flow to my inner ear and it seems to hang up on my ringing ears!

I almost always reach for the garlic and for grapeseed whenever I have a problem with my ears. No matter if its tinnitus or an earache from some other reason. And so far, they have both helped more than I can say.

The ringing in your ears from tinnitus is a nerve-racking condition. But I have found some real relief in the above mentioned alternative methods. This is how I hang up on my ringing ears. I hope you can hang up on your tinnitus as well.