GenInv – Health and Wellness

What Is LASIK?

LASIK procedures are designed to minimize, or even eliminate, a patient’s need to rely on corrective lenses such as glasses or contacts. Called refractive surgery, LASIK works to restore focusing power to the eye by reshaping the cornea so that it better aligns with the rest of the eye.

Ophthalmologists conduct LASIK by following these steps:

›› Diagnosing the nature of the cornea’s imperfection prior to surgery (for example, by determining if the patient is

myopic – or nearsighted – or has an astigmatism)

›› Administering numbing drops and ensuring the eye remains in place

›› Using a small, sterile blade to create a flap in the cornea (or, alternately, using a laser device to create the flap)

›› Lifting the newly created flap

›› Using a laser to remove corneal tissue

›› Putting the flap back into place and shielding the eye
How Is SBK Different from LASIK?

Today, LASIK re

mains the established and most common refractive surgery; however, the procedure is not without some risk to the patient. For example, post-surgery, some patients report having persistent dry eyes. In more extreme cases there may be a distortion and bulging of the cornea. SBK, however, attempts to retain the high success rate of LASIK procedures while offering patients a more comfortable post-operative period.

SBK differs from LASIK in the following ways:

›› The ophthalmologist

uses a femtosecond laser to create a thinner corneal flap than those found in LASIK procedures. For context, LASIK flaps tend to be between 120 to 160 microns thick, whereas SBK flaps are only 110 microns thick.

›› The created flap is smaller in diameter than a typical LASIK flap, which minimizes damage to corneal nerve endings. Nerve damage is a probable cause of post-operative dry eye in LASIK patients.
Factors Patients Should Consider

Ultimately, which refractive surgical procedure you use is a personal decision done in close consultation with a licensed ophthalmologist. Other procedures, such as epi-LASIK, LASEK, or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) are available depending on your needs. When you meet with an ophthalmologist, he or she will offer guidance depending on your history and preferences, as well as on the nature of your cornea’s imperfection.

Fatigue is a very common side effect of mesothelioma chemotherapy. You could end up with mild lethargy or you could get completely exhausted from the effects of the chemo. The kind of fatigue you might experience is different from being tired and it is not relieved by sleeping or resting. It is usually worst at the beginning and at the end of a treatment cycle. However it goes away upon completion of chemo and it does not linger further.

These are steps that can help you cope better with this

kind of fatigue:

- Get plenty of rest and allow time during the day for rest periods.

- Talk with your doctor or nurse about a regular exercise program.

- Eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of liquids.

- Limit your activities. Do only the things that are most important to you.

- Get help when you need it. Ask family, friends, and neighbors to pitch in with activities, such as child care, shopping, housework, or driving. For example, you might ask neighbors to pick up some

items for you at the grocery store while doing their own shopping.

- Get up slowly to help prevent dizziness after sitting or lying down.

- Let your doctor know if you are having a hard time sleeping at night.

Diarrhea is another side effect of chemotherapy that occurs when the chemo drugs affect the cells lining the intestine You will pass 2 or more loose stools in a 4-hour time period. If you have diarrhea that lasts for more than 24 hours, or if you have pain and cramping along with

it, call your doctor.

In severe cases, the doctor may have you take an anti-diarrheal medicine, but don’t take any over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicines without asking your doctor first.

These are some steps that will help you to control diarrhea:

- Do not take large amount of food at one, avoid heavy meals, instead eat smaller amounts of food, but eat more often.

- Avoid coffee, tea, alcohol, and sweets.

- Do not take high-fiber foods, as they can lead to diarrhea and cramping.

High-fiber foods include whole grain breads and cereals, raw vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, popcorn, and fresh and dried fruit. Eat low-fiber foods instead, such as white bread, white rice or noodles, creamed cereals, ripe bananas, canned or cooked fruit without skins, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, mashed or baked potatoes without the skin, pureed vegetables, chicken or turkey without the skin, and fish.

- Avoid fried, greasy, or spicy foods.

- Avoid milk and milk products if they make your diarrhea worse.

- Eat more potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, oranges, potatoes, and peach and apricot nectars, unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

- Drink plenty of fluids and water to replace the body fluids that you loose through the diarrhea. You can take mild, clear liquids, such as apple juice, water, weak tea, clear broth, or ginger ale . Make sure they are at room temperature and drink them slowly. Let carbonated drinks lose their fizz before you drink them.

If your diarrhea is severe (meaning that you have had 7 or 8 loose movements in 24 hours), go and see your doctor right away. You might need to be on a clear liquid diet to give your bowels time to rest.

As you feel better, slowly add the low-fiber foods. A clear liquid diet doesn’t have all the nutrients you need, so don’t follow it for more than 3 or 4 days.

If your diarrhea gets worse you might need admission into the hospital so that an IV line can be set up for to get intravenous fluid replacement.

Have you ever experienced a panic and anxiety disorder? When you get to fear something unknown and you will just realize that everything is slowly changing, that this fear is affecting your work, your relationship with your family and all other people around you. Do you feel your hands suddenly sweating, your heart beating fast and that choking feeling like you were having a heart attack for no reason at all? Then most probably you are suffering form panic and anxiety disorder. So to clearly

understand this disorder we will dissect the facts around it and help you find a way to cope with it.

What is Panic and Anxiety Disorder? If you find it difficult with the two of them together then will take things one step at a time.

Anxiety is oftentimes viewed as a good human mechanism, when people are faced with problems or an even life threatening situation that is, if it is triggered with a good reason. But it becomes a disorder when you suddenly dreaded something unseen or som

ething not plausible to happen. That is when it becomes an anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder is defined as an overly irrational fear that occurs anytime in your daily life and that becomes crippling, interfering with the normal pattern of your life. While panic disorder is a subtype of anxiety disorder, in fact it is the most common disorder. Panic disorder happens when you have repeated bouts of extreme anxiety and thus termed as panic attacks and usually last from 5-30 minutes. Thus the bo

th is termed as panic and anxiety disorder.

But do not worry overmuch; panic and anxiety disorder is not entirely incurable. Here are some suggested things to do to more or less help lessen or control the symptoms:

1. Reduce or entirely stop your consumption of caffeine like coffee, tea, cola etc. Caffeine is a stimulant which can worsen your anxiety.
2. Be wary of the medicines you are taking. Some of them have contents which increases anxiety.
3. Balance your lifestyle: with the right diet and daily exercise.
4. Learn relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing or whatever technique works for you.
5. Avoid stress and get plenty of sleep/rest
6. Do not avoid issues that bother you, rather confront it. The most important thing is to solve even the simplest problem you have. This will help you gain a sense of control over your anxiety
7. Request help: You can attend various psychotherapies, so you can have someone to talk to who knows how to best deal about your situation. You can also attend cognitive-behavioral therapies. This will help you recognize the source or trigger of your panic attacks.
8. Lastly take prescribed medications. This should be the last resort. Your doctor should be the one to prescribed you of these medication

Always remember that only you can deal of what you are most anxious of. In dealing with panic and anxiety disorder, the most important thing is that you acknowledge the root of the problem and find a way around it and possibly try your best solve it. If it becomes unbearable there are always people who have the knowledge and capability to help you. So do not hesitate to ask for help.

Cancer, compromised immunity system, headaches, lower back pain, PMS, halitosis, acne what do all of these ailments have in common The cause could very well be in the colon.

Humans ingest toxins daily in the foods we eat. These toxins cause the intestines to secrete thick layers of mucus, for protection. This mucus settles in the folds and crevices of the colon, hardening, building up over time and essentially blocking the colon from healthy performance of its natural functions. The colon does

not naturally expel these mucus deposits. The results can be devastating to the human body.

Crohn’s Disease, colon cancer, Leaky Bowel Syndrome, chronic constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, hemorrhoids, irritability and incapability to concentrate are all common symptoms of a poorly functioning colon. Western science has made medications readily available for sufferers, but these medicines tend to mask the symptoms rather than treat the cause.

Colon cleansing is the method by which the m

ucus plaque is removed from the body, allowing the colon to return to a properly functioning state, thus able to rid the body of waste and absorb nutrients for the overall health of the entire body.

Colon cleansing has been practiced for centuries. Our ancestors used fasting as a means of ridding the body of toxins. For as many as 60 years, the lemon cleanse method has been used. Today there are a variety of diets, homemade recipes, and various methods of achieving healthier colon. Research sh

ows that a healthy colon leads to a healthy body.

Remember to try before you buy.

Dieticians are really scientists of food.  Yet, like many things when it comes to scientists trying to explain their findings to people, much of their message can be lost in the communication.   There are terms and messages which aren’t a familiar lexicon to most people.  Scientists and people of their ilk won’t have problems understanding the findings, and the breakthroughs in health which can occur when applied in an average person’s life; however, many times people don’t improve t

heir own health simply because they don’t understand the findings about health science breakthroughs.  The great majority of people want to be healthy and happy, and would love to do anything to help improve their health.  Here are few suggestions which have been found to improve a person’s health that many people aren’t currently doing.

Studies indicate that many people in America live in almost a constant state of dehydration.  People simply aren’t drinking enough water to help th

eir bodies be healthy.  Many people are drinking too many carbonated beverages which are high in sodium; these beverages have been found to have almost a counterproductive effect when it comes to providing liquid to the body.  Water is the best liquid that a person can drink.  When the body has enough liquid it will be able to process food correctly, and it will be able to move contaminants out of the body at a much higher rate.  It has also been found that drinking water will also help peop

le who are looking to lose weight.  One of the major reasons that water will help a person lose weight is how drinking water will help people to control their appetite.  The brain can often misinterpret the thirst signal for hunger, and this can lead to people over eating.  A person that drinks at least a gallon of water a day will have more success with controlling their appetite.  

Not all fats are bad.  There have been findings showing that some fats can help to control bad cholesterol, help brain development, help prevent the risk of heart disease, and helps put more oxygen into the blood stream.  Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the fats that are considered to be good for the human body.  Yet, the problem is Omega-3 fatty acids aren’t made naturally in the human body.  They can only enter the body through digestion.  Omega-3 fatty acids produced in fish and organ meats.  Fish is the best source of Omega-3 fatty acids because fish is a very lean meat.  To get the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids a person should try to substitute three or four servings of fish in place of red meats and poultry.  The other thing a person can do to get the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids is to take a dietary supplement that contains fish oil.  Fish oil supplements are a little easier to take and maintain than substituting fish as a major protein.  To allow Omega-3 fatty acids to take effect in a person body it takes a few weeks for the body to absorb the fatty acid into the muscle fibers of the body.  

It is important for people to stay up to date on medical advances which will help to improve their health.  When looking to make changes to your daily habits, don’t be afraid to do the little things.  Often the little things are the changes that will have the biggest impact in your life.

While prescription drugs maybe too strong or too severe for the average panic attack sufferer, there is an alternative that you can use. Herbal remedies for panic attacks are becoming more and more accepted by many leading health professionals and are often just as effective as prescribed medication.

Most people will have access to a health food store, and inside you will find a wide selection of herbal remedies available for you to try. The risks are minimal but common sense should still prev

ail. If you are unsure of any effects herbal pills might give you please ask the shop assistant. They will be more than happy to tell you what you need to be aware of.

The most commonly bought herbal remedy is St Johns wort. This is natures wonder food as its benefits are far and wide. It is most commonly taken to defeat a number of problems including insomnia, diarrhea and influenza but it is also used to treat a low mood or depression. Many people also find that it helps with worry and anxie

ty. If you have a generalized anxiety disorder or you are under a particular amount of stress then this might be the one for you.

Passionflower is widely available ad another strong alternative to prescribed drugs. It is one of the few that has powerful benefits to decrease ones anxiety. This also helps with muscle relaxation, pain reduction and treating insomnia. It is not to be used by anyone taking an MAOI anti depressant.

Kava is a south pacific herb that also has many benefits. It is go

od for treating anxiety as it has mildly euphoric and sedative quality. It is usually taken as a tablet 2 – 3 times a day and can also help with chronic stress. Kava is well worth looking into to achieve a sense of overall calmness in day to day activities.

DISABLED : What’s that

Main Entry: disabled Part of Speech: adjective Definition: incapacitated

Synonyms:

broken-down, confined, decrepit, disarmed, hamstrung, handicapped, helpless, hurt, incapable, infirm, laid-up, lame, maimed, out-of-action, out-of-commission, paralysed, powerless, run-down, sidelined, stalled, weakened, worn-out, wounded, wrecked

Usage Note: Disabled is the clear preference in contemporary American English in referring to people having either physical or menta

l impairments, with the impairments themselves preferably termed disabilities. Handicapped—a term derived from the world of sports gambling—is still in wide use but is sometimes taken to be offensive, while more recent coinages such as differently abled or handicapable have been generally perceived as condescending euphemisms and have gained little currency. · The often-repeated recommendation to put the person before the disability would favour persons with disabilities over disabled per

sons and person with paraplegia over paraplegic. Such expressions are said to focus on the individual rather than on the particular functional limitation. Respect for the preferences of this group calls for observing this rule, especially in formal contexts, but the “person-first” construction has not found wide acceptance with the general public, perhaps because it sounds somewhat unnatural or possibly because in English the last word in a phrase tends to have the greatest weight, thus underc

utting the intended purpose. See Usage Note at handicapped.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

What is disabled?

I am sure there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people around the world who are in the same boat when it comes to disability. There are some who cannot be seen to be disabled, like hearing impaired or people with internal disabilities, like heart, kidney, liver or other organ malfunction. Mental disabilities and so many other kinds of disabilities, that it would be a mammoth task to name them all or to list them all here. Suffice to say that there are some disabilities that are not visibly obvious.

I made the terrible mistake of flying off the handle at some poor defenceless person who had dared to park in the allocated disabled bay. Because I could not see any evidence of a crutch, walking stick or wheelchair I had the temerity to assume that this person was able bodied. Even when this person explained how he was disabled I was loathe believing his explanation.

I have been wheelchair bound for a few years now but went the walking stick, walker and crutches route before I got here. We of the wheelchair, walker, crutches and walking stick brigade sometimes forget that there are other disabilities than ours and tolerance and understanding should be practised when confronted with one of the many insults and injustices that come our way in day to day life.

Unfortunately I never got to apologizing to the person as we both left the scene of confrontation in a huff. (If you ever read this. Sorry sir).

Since being confined to my chair I have tended on occasion to expect people to know how to handle me and my situation and get really annoyed when people don’t offer assistance. Sometimes they just don’t know what to do and need to be guided by us. Unless they have experience with disabilities and the disabled they won’t know how to handle us, or could be afraid of the unknown as it were.

Now, to take a leaf out of my own book I try to keep my anger in check and use the opportunity to teach someone new about disability. It is amazing how willing people are to assist where they can. If you’re in a queue and getting tired ask for a chair. Ask the person in front of you for help, I have found that they are only too willing to oblige.

Put your pride in your pocket and ask for help, don’t expect people to instinctively know that you are disabled. I pray daily for the calm and patience to deal with each situation as it happens. If you don’t need to, don’t jump the queue, wait your turn but do so in comfort. Don’t wait until you’re on the verge of collapse before you ask for help. Keep your cool.

Many people believe that losing some excess body fat is the answer to looking and feeling better. Although this is so the methods that are sometimes used to achieve this can have devastating effects on the metabolism (the body’s engine). This is the reason that 95% of all diets fail.

Although low calorie diets can have an immediate effect of some weight loss it is only temporary and it soon piles back on with some extra to boot. When calories are reduced below a certain level the body

soon wakes up to what is happening and quickly goes into ’survival mode’. This slows the metabolic rate down and lowers energy levels in an attempt to avoid starvation.

This process is often repeated over and over in a yo yo manner causing much frustration along with damage to the body’s chemistry and metabolic efficiency. A strong, lean and healthy body can never be obtained with chronic under eating, poor quality processed foods or from missing meals.

It most certainly

cannot be achieved with excessive amounts of ‘cardio’ type activity and a lack of proper muscle building and maintaining exercise. Keep your walking; jogging or activities like swimming or cycling as part of your active lifestyle just do not expect them to be able to replace a proper exercise program if losing weight is your goal.

Strength training is extremely important in cases of unsuccessful weight loss and “metabolic damage”. This is because this is the main stimulus that will

keep the muscle tissue you have and begin rebuilding new muscle tissue, which is the engine that drives your metabolism.

If the thought of muscle toning exercise which is an essential component of a successful fat loss program is not something you are comfortable doing then you can expect very poor results with weight loss. You will need to get comfortable in an over fat but skinny body as it is going to be a very, very long time if ever, that you can expect success.

Most people try and do things around the wrong way; they try and lose weight first in the hope of getting leaner and healthier. But you have to get healthy to lose weight. You need a healthy metabolism – metabolic fitness – before you can burn off the fat. And this only comes when you eat properly so it supports a proper exercise program that contains mostly strength training exercise.

You see, you need to be able to put some effort (intensity) into your strength training exercises so you can increase the strength of your muscles. Only then will your metabolism be increased which is your fat burning machinery that will give you increased fat burning every minute of the day and night.

And to be able to exercise with sufficient intensity to make a difference to your body you need to give it the right fuel. Try and eat high quality natural whole foods cooked from scratch as much as possible. Ditch the processed foods that contain unhealthy chemicals that do nothing to support a healthy metabolism.

Once you ‘get it’ and understand this healthier, whole person approach to fitness and fat loss you will have an advantage over 95% of the ‘miracle’ diet programs out there. And yes, you will lose body fat and more importantly you will also improve the quality of your life so being overweight will never be a problem again.