Name: Jenny
Bio: I Love Writing Articles About Many Different Health Related Issues!
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Pituitary Tumors- An Overview
October 10th, 2011Pituitary tumors are among the most common skull base disorders, affecting as many as 7,000 people each year and causing a number of physical ailments that can significantly impact the quality of life for patients. In order to understand the problems that pituitary tumors can cause, it is first necessary to understand the role of the pituitary gland within the body.
What is the pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland is a small organ about the size of a pea located in the center of the brain. This central location allows it to distribute hormones throughout the endocrine system, and in fact, the pituitary gland produces hormones necessary for reproduction, growth, lactation and many other aspects of the body’s normal function. Because of its extreme importance in a wide range of physical systems, the pituitary gland is often regarded as the primary organ in the endocrine system. Glands in the endocrine system include the hypothalamus, thyroid and liver, among others.
How do tumors affect pituitary function?
Pituitary tumors are classed according to their effects on the function of the pituitary gland. Functioning pituitary tumors work with the pituitary to secrete too much of a particular hormone, causing the body to react negatively to this imbalance. Nonfunctioning pituitary tumors, by contrast, typically cause damage or press against the pituitary gland in a way that prevents it from producing the correct amount of certain hormones, causing negative effects in the opposite direction. Because pituitary tumors cause the release of too much or too little hormonal stimulus to the body, patients may suffer from growth disturbances, reproductive system disorders and other ailments due to these abnormal hormonal levels.
What are some of the symptoms?
Some of the most common symptoms of pituitary tumors include headaches, nausea, vision loss, unusual growth patterns or unexplained weight gain, brittle bones and sexual dysfunctions. Acromegaly, unexplained lactation and seizures may also occur in advanced cases. The presence of any of these symptoms should prompt a visit to a physician.
Are there treatment options for pituitary tumors?
In some cases, targeted radiation therapy or drug therapy may be useful in treating smaller tumors or tumors with a slower rate of growth. These therapies may be tried alone or in combination with other treatment methods, including surgery. Surgical treatments for pituitary tumors differ depending on the type and the size of the tumor. While open-brain surgery was once the norm for these disorders, newer, minimally invasive methods for pituitary tumor removal are preferred since they cause less damage to surrounding tissue and reduce recovery time for patients.
LuxaRest Versus Other Memory Foam Mattresses
October 5th, 2011When memory foam mattresses were first released, there were only one or two companies manufacturing them. As such, customers didn’t have the option to pick and choose between several different prices or features. Now, however, there are many more companies that manufacture these comfortable mattresses, and some manufacturers might be better than others. Here is why companies like LuxaRest may be a smarter purchase than other leading brands.
1) Its Memory Foam is Environmentally Friendly
Environmentally friendly manufacturing and certification are important, and are features that many memory foam mattresses do not carry. LuxaRest mattresses are manufactured in a vacuum-sealed chamber, which allows for the use of pressure to create the memory foam, rather than chemicals. The process is certified as eco-friendly and prevents VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, from being released into air.
LuxaRest mattresses also adhere to environmental and safety specifications created by the Specialty Sleep Association, which helps to ensure that nothing harmful is inside the mattress. These memory foam mattresses all have Level I certification, meaning that they are flame retardant, safe for use by children, disclose materials used with a descriptive label, and are evaluated for carbon footprint and ozone-depleting substances.
2) It’s More Affordable Than Most
Many memory foam mattresses are extremely expensive, which deters potential customers from buying them. However, some companies are more affordable than most. The Queen LuxaRest Ultra 13” Andromeda bed is one of the highest-quality mattresses offered by LuxaRest, containing seven-pound memory foam. This mattress starts at just $1,749.
A leading memory foam manufacturer offers a similarly sized bed with many of the same features, but charges $2,899. Shipping costs an additional $175, whereas many LuxaRest retailers offer shipping free of charge.
You can go with the luxury of a king memory foam mattress, or select something smaller and more economical, like a queen or double.
3) It Offers Technology to Keep You Cool
One complaint some people have about memory foam is that it makes them feel hot during the night. While most memory foam mattress companies don’t address this concern, LuxaRest uses a special technology called Stay Cool Channel Venting. This technology consists of a breathable, open-cell structure and a multi-channel air circulation system. The combination of the two technologies allow for heat release through the sides of the mattress, and for circulation within the mattress itself in order to disperse heat. This helps to promote maximum comfort.
Exercise Program for Computer Users
September 19th, 2011It has been proven that lack of movement for long periods of time is bad for your health. One of the reasons is because there aren’t many calorie burning opportunities when sitting still. In this age of computers and instant access it is essential to figure out creative ways to exercise while sitting at your computer.
One way to maximize your time in front of the computer is by stretching your muscles. Stretching is important because it provides more flexibility in the muscles and increase blood flow which helps to prevent stiffness. A good start to exercising at work is to take a short walk every 30 minutes. This will increase blood flow to your body while burning a few calories. A daily stretching regimen every few hours should be included in each work day and should include your entire body.
Neck stretches can be completed by rotating your neck back, forth and side to side. It is important not to rotate your neck because it may cause damage in the joints. Shoulders can be stretched by rotating them in a circular motion. Arms, chest and even your abdominal muscles can be stretched with a few easy movements.
To stretch your arms just reach out in front of you like you are trying to grab something that’s just within your reach. Similar to the arms, the chest can be stretched by extending the arms out in a hugging motion while rotating the thumbs and pushing back your shoulders. To work out your abdominals, simply contract the abdominal and gluteal muscles, hold it for a few seconds then release.
Working out the wrist and ankles are similar. The wrists should be rotated about 10 times clockwise and counterclockwise. Stretching your ankles is similar in that you rotate them a few times one way and then the other. One advantage to stretching the ankles is that it helps to increase blood circulation, which decreases the possibility of blood clots.
Lifting up on the ball of your feet until you are comfortably tired can work out the calve muscles. Holding a heavy object in each hand and raising your arms in an arc over your head 8 to 12 times is a great way to work out as well. Working at a desk for multiple hours a day doesn’t mean you are limited to not exercising. Creativity is the key to transforming all work day movements into productive work out movements.
Samantha is an accomplished certified Nutritionist and a foodie, living in Philadelphia, working for Digital Realty Trust, a Datacenter Solution company.
Caring for Aging Parents- How to Improve Safety and Comfort in Transportation
September 8th, 2011One of the greatest challenges in caring for an aging parent is a loss of mobility, especially when the parent is in a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are intended to provide greater access to activities outside the home, but the challenges of moving from the chair into a vehicle can limit a person’s mobility.
Transferring a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle requires strength and training in specific techniques for ensuring a safe move. However, even under the best of circumstances, the transfer process can create anxiety, possibly making your parent reluctant to travel in a vehicle.
• Lifting a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle requires upper body strength, because the person’s weight must be carefully supported as the move is made.
In addition, some parents resist being lifted because it highlights the dramatic role reversal between parent and child, and the subsequent new vulnerability.
• For people who experience pain with movement, the extra movement required to use a transfer board can create additional discomfort.
Some people also dislike transfer boards because the board has the potential to slip, creating a feeling of insecurity during the move from chair to vehicle.
• Even partial assistance into a vehicle is difficult and awkward. Unlike assisting the move from a wheelchair to a commode or armchair, a vehicle assist does not allow you to brace yourself in a single stable position.
People who have some mobility sometimes move in unexpected ways—either in an attempt to help or in an effort to protect their head as they are maneuvered into the vehicle. This can hamper your efforts, or worse, interfere with your balance and stability as you perform the assist.
The challenges of vehicle transfer can make disabled parents reluctant to travel outside the home. Wheelchair vans can eliminate vehicle transfers, but many families feel they cannot afford such a purchase.
However, there are a wide variety of wheelchair vans for sale at a range of prices. Many used handicap vans can be purchased for less than $50,000; some even go for less than $30,000. If you already have a van, you can adapt it with one of the several available types of wheelchair lifts for vans, which can be installed on side or rear doors.
These practical options make purchasing a wheelchair van or adapting an existing van a worthwhile investment in improving quality of life for a parent in a wheelchair.
Four Tips for Choosing Bariatric Office Chairs
September 1st, 2011Finding an office chair to fit your needs can be difficult, especially if you carry a little bit of extra weight around. Sitting all day can be taxing physically to anyone, but if you are bigger than most, you may need to take even more care to find something that will be comfortable for the long haul. Here are some helpful tips on how to identify the best bariatric office chairs.
1) Look for ergonomic chairs to support your back.
One of the first tenets of finding the ideal office chair is to look for models that are touted as the best chairs for back pain. Even if you don’t regularly suffer from back pain, it can still be wise to support your back and lumbar, because it will increase your overall comfort while sitting for long periods of time. Are you already dealing with back pain, or do you find that an ergonomic chair design just isn’t enough to alleviate your aches? Consider investing in back support pillows for some extra padding.
2) Check for a weight rating.
Another thing to do in order to select a great office chair is to browse those that have a high weight rating. Most weight rated chairs come in three categories: up to 300 pounds, 350 to 500 pounds or 500 pounds and above. Searching for a chair that is made to accommodate a number well above your weight maximum can ensure that you will be most comfortable. Also, chairs that are built for big and tall users will be less likely to warp or break in the future. You can often search for office chairs using weight rating criteria as opposed to price or color.
3) Forgo constrictive design.
Although many chairs are designed for those that are the larger among us, they may still be uncomfortable due to certain unnecessary features. If the chair that you want has close-set arms, you may want to skip it. Chair arms may constrict and squeeze you while you sit, making you uncomfortable. Consider looking for a chair with wide-set arms or better yet—no arms at all. It’s also a good idea to look for chairs that are adjustable in terms of their height. Look for one that moves up and down and has adjustable angles for the back and/or arms.
4) Seek a sturdy and durable build.
Of course, even if you purchase an ergonomic chair that has a high weight capacity and a common-sense-based design, it may still fall apart before its time if it isn’t sturdily built and designed. Look for a wide, thick seat, durable materials such as leather, a strong metal base and lots of padding for a chair that will serve you well through years of comfortable sitting.
Pituitary Tumors Removal and Recovery – As Easy as 1-2-3
September 1st, 2011Most pituitary tumors or adenomas are benign and present no immediate risk to the patient. However, in certain cases, even benign adenomas can increase in size and put pressure on delicate regions of the brain, causing serious side effects and potentially damaging vital areas of the brain and nervous system.
1) Understanding the Symptoms
The pressure of the tumor on the brain can produce symptoms that typically signal to the patient that something is wrong, prompting them to seek medical treatment. These pituitary symptoms include the following:
• Severe or chronic headaches
• Unexplained fatigue over an extended period of time
• Unusual visual effects
• Partial or total loss of vision
• Stomach and digestive upsets, including nausea and constipation
• Unusual physical growth patterns
• Various sexual dysfunctions
2) Deciphering the Diagnoses
For some patients, an unrelated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be the first indication of an unusual growth or adenoma on the pituitary gland. In most cases, these tumors require no immediate treatment. It is estimated that up to one in four MRI scans reveal abnormalities and growths on the pituitary gland; of these, between sixty and seventy percent will never increase in size and require no further medical attention.
Other methods of diagnosing pituitary tumors include the following:
• Measuring hormones in the blood to detect abnormally high or low concentration
• Predictive diagnosis based on family history and past incidence of pituitary adenoma
• Blood sampling via the petrosal sinus blood vessels
• Biopsies and tissue samples of suspected tumors
3) Trusting the Treatments
Regardless of the method of diagnosis, most pituitary adenomas are treated through medication, radiotherapy, surgery or a combination of these methods. Depending on the type of adenoma, medications can sometimes produce significant reductions in the size and activity of the tumor. Radiotherapy can cause damage to surrounding tissue, and it is typically used only in conjunction with other therapeutic methods. In a large number of cases, however, surgical methods of pituitary tumor removal offer better prognoses for patients.
Recent advances in minimally invasive endoscopic surgical methods have allowed pituitary tumor patients to enjoy reduced recovery times and improved outcomes. Because these surgical methods typically require only a minor incision or, in some cases, no incision at all, they cause far less damage to the brain and surrounding tissue, while allowing surgeons to excise much more of the tumor than previous open-brain surgical techniques.
By understanding the symptoms, deciphering the diagnosis, and trusting in the treatment options available, healing quickly from a pituitary tumor is easier than ever before.
Tips To Help Smokers Stop
July 19th, 2011Once you start smoking it can be very hard for you to stop. These days a large number of smokers want to give up, but they cant. The fact that you are looking online for the best way to stop smoking tells me that you are seriously considering giving up. If you seriously want to stop smoking then here are some tips that you might find useful.
Be sure to share your goal with friends and family so they can give you the support you need. Perhaps you could join up to a support group. Other people who smoke are going to understand more of what you are going through. Without help and support from the people around you you will find it to be very hard to stop smoking. Your friends and family will be able to remind you of your goals and why you want to achieve them if you are tempted to smoke again. A lot of people will find it almost impossible to stop smoking in an instant. So start out by gradually decreasing how much you smoke each day until you reach a point where you feel like you are able to totally stop. If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day right now you could aim to be down to 15 a day by the next week. Work out how long it should take you to stop totally and then you have a target to work towards.
Treatment for Skin Ailments
July 13th, 2011Acne, blackheads, freckles, dark spots, aging lines and loss of gleam are the main skin troubles, agonizing enough for the affected individuals. Dull, dry and dead textured skin is not only the bodily ill but also leads to mental disturbances as these carry off self confidence of the people. Several beauty products and personal care items claim to cure these ailments but most of the times it has been shown that these products do not give everlasting benefits.
Vitamins for Erectile Dysfunction
July 11th, 2011Having ED (erectile dysfunction) is something that can be very hard psychologically for the person that has it. It negatively impacts one’s self esteem. There is ways to deal with ED, one of them being correcting your vitamin levels to where they should be. If you already have sufficient vitamins this article is not going to help with the issue, but on the other hand if your diet is bad and deficiency is possible, read on further.
The vitamins you should get sufficient amounts through your diet helps keeping a normal level of libido. There are big variations for what is considered normal from person to person, but ED is not normal and should be taken seriously. You need to make sure you eat a healthy diet and get the vitamins you need.
Overcoming Stress with Bikram Yoga
July 11th, 2011
Unfortunately, stress is ever present in our daily lives. There is just no way of getting around it. The definition of stress is the way a person reacts to internal or external stressors in a real or imagined stressful situation. Stress can have a long lasting effect on the individual, whether short term or chronic. Finding tips to overcome stress is extremely important, as the stress impacts the whole body and manifests itself in depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
We must ask ourselves, what we can do to improve our condition and prepare ourselves to deal with stress in the future. How can we overcome stress in a natural way? It is highly recommended to try not to resort to medication with lots of possible side effects, but rather to resort to the ancient practice of yoga and meditation.