Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Immunizations - Getting the Medical Care You Need At a Top Rate Facility


If it is time for you or your child to receive immunizations, you can visit a professional urgent care where you can get your shots by professional who will strive to make your experience as pleasant as possible. This type of facility is also ideal for those with a busy schedule and need their shot done in a hurry. Even with the quick service you will receive at a reputable urgent care facility, you never have to sacrifice on quality care when a seasoned staff is available to assist you.
One reason many people are opting to get their medical needs taken care of at an urgent care as opposed to other medical facilities is that the caring staff is trained to make every patient's experience special. Patients can relax in a comfortable reception area, are greeted and cared for by a compassionate staff, and receive their medical care with the use of state of the art medical technology. With the combination of exceptional customer service and high quality medical care, you will continue to make this medical facility your top choice.
In addition to the quality service you will receive at the urgent care facility, the professional staff works hard to give you the care you need in a hurry. Although there is no guarantee when you will receive your medical care at a medical facility, you will most likely be taken care of at an urgent care facility a lot faster than most other medical facilities. However, you have to consider that all medical facilities will base the decision to see patients primarily on how serious the problem is.
If you need to get your immunizations so you or your child will no longer be unprotected, a reputable urgent care facility and allow a seasoned staff to provide you with the vaccinations you need. Your best choice with this type of facility has easily accessible locations and lots of free parking so you do not have to drive around the parking lot for ten minutes before a spot frees up. You also want to get medical care from a facility that is open 7 days a week with no need of an appointment and they are open late night hours for your convenience.
Many of the doctors at an urgent care facility are board certified in their fields and have received a minimum of 3 to 5 years primary care and/or emergency room experience. All the doctors and staff at this facility have the training and experience of working with all types of people, so if you or your child is scared at the aspect of getting immunizations, they will show you the compassion you need to calm your fears.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Fix Your Look With Dental Implants


Dental implants are an investment in your smile. Individuals who lose a tooth or will lose one due to disease or injury may wish to consider this option. An implant is a realistic-looking, but artificial tooth positioned in the mouth to fill in for a missing one. Newer products are highly durable, long lasting and can blend right in with your other teeth. Unless you tell someone it is there, chances are good they will have no idea it is present. The good news is these are also one of the best investments you can make in your oral health.
When to Use Them
There are many instances in which dental implants can be an ideal investment for your needs. They are often used when it is necessary to get rid of the current tooth or when there is no tooth present but there is a gap, or opening, for one. Though this significantly improves a person's smile, it can also help to improve the function of the mouth. Depending on where it is located, an implant can make it easier for you to eat, speak and swallow. It can also help to keep the teeth on either side of the mouth from turning inward.
What to Expect
When the bone structure of the mouth, especially along the bottom is strong and healthy but the tooth is missing or removed, these can work well. Through a surgical procedure, the dentist will place the piece into the bone structure as an anchor. They can mold and shape the actual structure to fit properly in the mouth, no matter what the gap size is (assuming it is large enough to accommodate a tooth.) Once in place, there is no difference in the way you will use it compared to other teeth.
Getting Started
If you think that this could be a good option for your needs, speak to a dental care provider about it. In doing so, you will quickly learn that you may or may not want to use this option for improving your smile. Those who have good overall health and who do not smoke are most likely to be the ideal candidate for this treatment. Keep in mind that during a consultation with your dentist, you will learn more about whether this is a good option for your needs.
Dental implants can help to give you the smile and look you want to have. They can help you to improve your ability to speak properly and to chew your food. For many people, this simple tool is a good way for improving overall oral health and quality of life.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

All You Need To Know About Jones Fracture


Jones fracture, also called the 5th metatarsal fracture, is an injury on the diaphysis of the fifth foot metatarsal bone. This bone is found at the base of the small toe, and the fracture occurs at the proximal end, normally at the middle point of the foot. The symptoms of this fracture include pain at the point of injury and swelling, which makes walking difficult.
This fracture has its history from 1902, when it was first described by Sir Robert Jones in his article in the Annals of Surgery. Having sustained the injury himself from dancing, he sought to describe the injury, especially where the cause is indirect impact. The article, which described six patients suffering from the injury, included the classification of the fracture into avulsion, stress and the common Jones fracture.
Diagnosing Jones Fracture
Most cases of this fracture occur without considerable impact. Therefore, most Jones fracture cases easily pass for sprains. When one is suffering from this injury, they experience pain over the area of the fracture, coupled with swelling and difficulty in walking.
In order to ascertain that one really has the fracture and not a sprain, a general diagnostic x ray is essential. This x ray should be taken from all views; oblique, anteroposterior, and lateral. The foot should be in full flection when taking these x rays.
Treating Jones Fracture
A tenuous fracture can easily be corrected using a splint, a cast or a walking boot for one or two months. At this stage, it is highly recommended that one should avoid exerting any pressure or placing any weight on the foot until the doctor allows it. With a success rate of 75 percent, the cast or splint proves quite effective in treating minor cases of the injury.
Acute fractures, however, need specialized treatment methods. Such methods include placing a dynamic compression plate on the strained side of the fracture and using the figure 8 monofilament K wire on the fractured bone.
If the fracture is too acute, it may need to be fixed from the inside. This means that cancellated or cortical screws may be used to join the bones together. Bone grafts may be required to accelerate the healing process. A regular dose of calcium and Vitamin D is also required to hasten the healing of the fracture.
Though a splint or a cast is recommended for minor fractures, surgery is appropriate in certain situations. If an athlete suffers from a Jones fracture, a surgery may be necessary to shorten the extended healing period. However, before opting for surgery, it is best to discuss all the available options with your doctor.
Prospecting Jones Fracture
A metatarsal fracture can fail to unite even after treatment. Though a common occurrence, this failure to unite can cause a chronic condition. If this occurs to you, the first recommendation from your doctor will be an extended time in the cast. This could go up to 20 weeks.
The fracture can fail to heal for several reasons. For starters, the fracture normally occurs at a poor blood supply area. Since the area is a "watershed", it reduces the chances of a successful healing process. In addition, the area of the fracture has numerous tendons. These tendons and muscles may pull the fractured bones apart, which may prolong or prevent healing.
Differentiating Jones Fracture from Other Injuries
Jones fracture is the most severe fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone. There are other fractures of the same bone which are commonly confused with this fracture, though they are less serious. J fractures usually occur on the intermetatarsal joint. However, if the fracture is on the tarsometarsal joint, then it is an avulsion fracture. Avulsion fracture is also called the Pseudo-Jones fracture.
These fractures are also commonly, but wrongly, diagnosed as apophysis, a common adolescent developmental condition. There are several indicators that one is suffering from apophysis and not the fracture. These indicators include absence of fractured edges and the angle of the lucent line. In the fracture, the metatarsal axis is at 90 degrees, while in apophysis, it is parallel.
Jones fractures can be a serious problem depending on how they are handled. Proper diagnosis and early treatment are recommended to ensure the success of the treatment. Enough calcium and vitamin D are also very essential to the healing process. It is also important to know that a Jones fracture can be treated.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

5 Myths About Stethoscopes Exposed


If you are just starting on your studies in order to become a medical professional, then chances are you are just about to buy your first stethoscope. These are one of the most important and significant medical equipment that all aspiring medical professionals need. When you were just dreaming about becoming a doctor as a child the first thing you did was ask your parents to buy you toy stethoscopes so that you can go around pretending to be a doctor. Now as a medical professional, you are now contemplating whether to get a Littmann Lightweight II S.E. Stethoscope or a Littmann Cardiology III. These two specific units are some of the best makes to get. However, before you actually go and get a stethoscope. You better familiarize yourself first with some common stethoscope myths. This way, you will avoid using your new stethoscope in the wrong manner and end up destroying it.
• Stethocopes can hear the actual sound of your body organs - this is a very common misconception. However, if you put the instrument on someone's chest in order to hear the heart beating, you are not necessarily listening to the sounds of the heart. Instead, you are listening to the sounds created by the pressure waves that are generated by the heart's beating. Doctors look for any abnormalities in these pressure waves in order to determine the right diagnosis for a patient.
• Stethocopes can be used for eavesdropping - you can see in movies that some people use these medical devices to eavesdrop on the conversations of people on the other side. They use the stethoscope as an eavesdropping device because they believe that stethoscopes can amplify the sounds that traverse a wall. However, you really do not need a stethoscope for this type of use. In fact, you can just press your ears to the wall and listen to what the people on the other room are saying.
• Stethoscopes can open safes - you will be seeing this a lot in movies. Some guy trying to crack a safe will be using headphones in order to twist the tumblers. However, this is no longer the case. This is because safes now use the latest electronic technologies. Gone are the days of using only tumblers to restrict access.
• Stethoscopes are very fragile - this is totally wrong. In fact there are many cases when students buy their first unit and continue using the same one for a very long time. Real stethoscopes are built tough.
• Stethoscopes are more of a symbol rather than an instrument - some people think that they really do not need stethoscopes because any hidden virus that go undetected will eventually show up due to further tests. However, this is far from the truth.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Inspiration on Demand


If you've heard me speak, you may have heard me talk about receiving downloads from God. No, I have no illusions that I'm a reincarnated Joan of Arc. A 'download from God' is when a wild new idea, a solution, or a clear path for a dilemma spring fully formed into your mind, just as if you've downloaded a program or song from the 'net. My downloads are intermittent and generally inconvenient, occurring most often while I'm in the shower. I then immediately slosh out to retrieve paper and pen to record the message.
This week I found a way to cause these downloads from God to occur 'on demand'. An amazing insight, buried in the pages of a local women's magazine! I was astonished; I would like to share this technique with you.
The cool thing is these downloads are quite a bit dryer, as they occur in your sleep. The technique is dream recall, and the way that works is in preparation of your brain to process the question or dilemma as you sleep.
There are four steps to insure that this data dump occurs:
Step one: State your intention. Before you go to sleep clearly tell yourself out loud: "I would like to have a dream giving me guidance on my ______. I will remember this dream. I will understand the dream." By beginning with your statement of intention, the universe will likely give you what you asked for.
Step two: Don't move when you first awaken. When you first wake don't change positions right away. The simple act of getting up and relieving your bladder will take you to a fully awakened state. So, hold the thought and your bladder, stay still as long as you can, and try to remember every detail you can recall of your dreams: every feeling, every color, every word.
Step three: Write it down. Have a pad of paper or a dream journal nearby so you can jot down the images and feelings before you forget them. Don't worry if you don't capture the whole story, as sometimes a major symbol or theme will give you a massive amount of guidance or information. I'm told that as you do this more frequently, your dreams stick around longer.
Step four: Act on the information you received. Make decisions based on your new insights. As soon as you do more will be given- the universe provides more as more is needed, but she tends to get pissed off if you don't act on what you've got.
When I tried this, consciously asking for answers and planning to remember my dreams, I was surprised by the vivid colors and the odd stories-perhaps due to perimenopause or pizza. My dreams included dwarf and a journey (well, yes, I did catch an episode of "The Great Race", so that might be the source of that image) on decaying sailing ships, and moss carpeted stairs. If you find and the dreams to be vivid and highly unusual, scan a book on dream interpretation at your local library-there's a fair amount of established psychobabble linked to dreams. Some symbols are just what they are, just as sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. However automobiles and houses usually represent you and your physical body. Your boss or supervisor in your dream represents your soul trying to send a message to you. Dreams of death are associated with change, transition, or the end of something, just as dreams of birth represent creativity and new beginnings in your life. You should record the emotional content of the dream. How did you feel? Were you happy? Bored? Frightened?
I challenge you to sleep, perchance to dream. Accept your own download from God.