Saturday, June 30, 2012

Gynecomastia Is Associated With Several Risk Factors

Not every male gets gynecomastia, but more get it than you would think. This is likely because few people like to talk about it. If you have not been affected by this condition, there is no way to tell for sure if you ever will. However, there are some factors that may be able to tell you if you have a high chance of developing gynecomastia.
One of the most common culprits is the impact of hormones. For this reason, it is likely that if you develop this issue, it will be during puberty. Of course, this happens to be when many boys are already self-conscious and possibly being humiliated for unrelated factors, so adding excess fat on the upper body can lead to increased social issues. You should know, though, that hormones are unbalanced when you are particularly old or young, too. This means that you can develop this condition in old age, and even some newborns have it, so hormones can strike at any time and lead to excess chest fat.
If you take certain medications, you may have an increased possibility of developing gynecomastia. Not surprisingly, anything that alters you hormone levels can have an effect. This means androgens and anabolic steroids can increase your chance of facing this issue. Even anti-androgens, which are given when you are fighting certain types of cancer, can cause this problem. Additionally, your risk of getting excess fat on your chest increases when you are given medication to treat AIDS, infections, or ulcers. This does not necessarily mean you should refuse medication because of the slight risk of getting this issue. Instead, let your doctor know your concerns if you are worried about this.
Before you skip medications, it is important to note that some conditions can actually increase your risk of gynecomastia. Examples include kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, and hypogonadism, and these are just a few conditions that can lead to excess fat on the chest when left untreated. For this reason, you should not avoid treatment for these issues just because of the slight chance of excessive fat.
In addition, self-medicating can improve your chance of developing gynecomastia. For example, if you regularly drink alcohol or take recreational drugs, you may be putting yourself at risk for excess chest flab, among other issues.
It should be clear by now that this condition has several risk factors. Some of them can be controlled, while others cannot. However, either way, you have some treatment options if you do notice flab in the chest region at any age.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Reasons to See a Knee Doctor Soon After You Notice Pain in the Area

For many people, a knee doctor is a necessity when they can no longer handle the pain. The discomfort can be in one or both knees, and it can range from mild to extreme. Whether you are suffering from pain that has been around for years, or have recently been injured, you should go to a specialist to get the care you need.
If you have a lingering injury in this part of your body, choosing the right knee doctor may allow you to finally get it treated. You should not have to live with constant discomfort. If it hurts to simply walk, you need to get treatment for the issue soon. Even if it only hurts when you are particularly active, such as while working out, you need help. It can be hard to stay healthy or get in shape when you have injuries in your legs, which means this issue can have a major negative impact on your life. Do not let your quality of life diminish because you have an issue that could be treated by a specialist.
If you recently got the injury, you should go to a knee doctor as soon as possible. Many people get these types of injuries in sports, keeping them from achieving their best. If you have impressive athletic abilities, do not let them go to waste just because your knees are out of commission. In many cases, surgery will be necessary. While this requires a recovery period, you at least have a date by which you can expect to start feeling well enough to play sports again. When you let injuries go untreated out of fear of what surgery will do, you face years of discomfort, and you may not even be able to play sports at all during that time. You certainly will not be at your best anyway.
Another reason to get the injury checked out is that it could spread to other parts of your body after a while. You may find that another area of your body has had to work harder to compensate for your knees, leaving you with additional problems. In fact, when you see a knee doctor, you may find out that you have a condition that starts in your knees and spreads to the rest of the body. Therefore, getting treatment early on can alert you about such conditions.
It clearly makes sense to at least get an initial consultation from a knee doctor near you. You will find out if you have to have surgery or if there is another treatment available. At that point, you can look forward to the pain finally going away in the near future.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Walk In Clinics For Fall Care

Walk in clinics tend to be busier during the fall and winter months. If you are getting sick, it is a good idea to visit a local facility to get the medical care you need. Doing so can help you to avoid some of the more devastating and difficult types of health problems that exist. During this time of the year, the demand for healthcare goes up. However, you do not have to wait in line at your doctor's office or deal with an ER visit that takes too long. Rather, just turn to one of these immediate care providers instead.
For Prevention
One of the main reasons to visit walk in clinics at the start of the fall season is to take steps to prevent illness. These providers can offer you a flu shot, for example. This can help you to ward off the more dangerous and more limiting types of flu that may be present this year. It may also help you to get a checkup so that you are well on your way to being healthy heading into the holiday season.
Sports and School
With the start of the school year, many of these facilities see an increase in the number of students that come in. Did you know that these facilities can provide you with a large list of services? The facility can help you to get the exams and health screenings necessary to enroll in school or sports programs. If you do get injured during a sport, they can help with the diagnosis of the problem as well as the treatment plan. In addition, many children need shots prior to heading into the school year. You do not have to wait for your doctor's office to have time for this. These facilities can do it for you, too.
Handling the Cold
Once people are back to work in closed quarters or in school buildings, the increase in the amount of illness present goes up. You are more likely to become ill during the fall months than in the summer. This is the prime time to go in and see these medical facility professionals for help. You can get medications that you need. You can make sure your child's fever is under control or get strep through cultures to rule out that condition.
Walk in clinics are fast and easy to use. You do not have to have insurance to make use of them either. They can serve as a simple tool to getting you back on your feet, back to school or back to work in no time. If you need medical care, turn to these facilities as a go-to solution that is right near you.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

After Hours Clinic: Urgent Care On Your Schedule

The proliferation of urgent care and walk in medical facilities has been an undeniable boost to a portion of the population that would have sooner skipped treatment altogether than make a doctor's appointment or go to the ER. These facilities are easy to use, don't require an appointment, and are often much more affordable than either specialist appointments or a trip the emergency room. That said, many of them are only open during regular business hours. This means that those who need to see a doctor at 6:00 PM still have to go to the ER. If you have an after hours clinic near you, however, you might have an alternative.
Work
Not everyone has a flexible work schedule. In fact, most people in the blue-collar world have very little chance of getting off work to go to the doctor. If it is an emergency, then perhaps. But for a cold? A slightly sprained ankle? These kinds of things are fodder for an overbearing employer to tell you to tough it out and see the doctor on your own time. This is unfortunate, but too many people are a single missed paycheck away from being in dire financial straits. This is where an after hours clinic can be unbelievably helpful. Not only are the prices reasonable, but they are also open during times when it is convenient for working individuals to get care.
School
When you combine extraordinarily early start times and after school activities, sports, and even detention, kids today spend a lot of time in school. While any parent has the right to take his or her child out of school to see the doctor, this can create problems in some circumstances. What if your child has to miss an important test? What if missing that day's football practice will mean riding the bench for next week's game? School is of paramount importance in a child's life, no matter how old he or she is. Why not take advantage of an after hours clinic, get your child the care he or she needs, and prevent him or her from missing any work in one fell swoop?
All Around Convenience
Sometimes it isn't work, school, or anything else keeping you from seeing the doctor, but simply the timing of your injury. You break your hand as the sun starts fading in the west, and you have no choice but to spend endless hours in the emergency room. But if you have an after hours clinic near you, you can skip the ER and get excellent treatment in a fraction of the time.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Pregnancy Week 4 Development: What To Expect And One Beneficial Food

What Is Happening Inside the Body
By this time, the journey of the zygote from the fallopian tube to the uterus should have been completed. On the fourth week, the uterus begins to thicken and it continues until the 4th month of your pregnancy. The zygote settles into the uterine lining and divides into two. The first half becomes the embryo and the second half forms a placenta which serves as the baby's lifeline until the delivery.
During this period, the embryo begins to develop. The inner layer develops into the baby's liver, lungs and the digestive system. This layer is known as the endoderm. Also known as the mesoderm, the second layer develops into the baby's kidneys, sex organ, bones, muscles and heart. On the other hand, the outer layer, which is known as ectoderm, forms into the baby's nervous system as well as the eyes, hair, skin. The growth and development of the organs at this stage is impressively rapid.
What Should You Expect During This Period
By this time, the signs and symptoms of pregnancy of your pregnancy might have become more evident. Just like the major changes taking place inside the body, you should also anticipate some changes outside the body. You may begin experiencing some PMS like symptoms. You probably have complained about dizziness, light-headedness, abdominal cramps, pains, morning sickness and feelings of fainting.
Early pregnancy symptoms such as mood swings and cramping may begin to manifest. Bloating should also be expected at this point in time. Blame it to the progesterone. This hormone slows down your digestion in order to allow nutrients to enter into your bloodstream. Your constantly changing mood should also be blamed to hormones. You might have a slight bleeding due to the implantation of zygote into your uterus.
You might even notice a little pressure on your stomach but this shouldn't cause you to worry. It is pretty normal during this stage. Your breasts may become more tender and appear bigger, and as time passes by, you will notice significant change in their size. Also, the breast becomes sore, tingly and fuller. This is due to the surge of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen in your system.
By this time, your heart should be beating more rapidly. In fact, you might have an additional 15 beats per minute. And you feel tired most of the time which causes you to fall asleep frequently. By the end of the 4th week of your pregnancy, your baby should be 1/25 inches long which is equivalent to a period (dot).
Appropriate Lifestyle for Pregnant Women
Observing a healthy diet and lifestyle is very important during this stage. Pregnant women are eating and breathing for two, therefore they should be careful in choosing the kinds of foods to take. They should take adequate amount of essential nutrients to optimize their baby's growth and development.
Limit your intake of softdrinks, teas, colas and cocoas, and prefer decaffeinated sodas and brews. Pregnant women are normally prescribed with health supplements during this period. You need to take plenty of iron, calcium and folic acid. Iron is best obtained from cereals, pulses, breads, meat and green leafy vegetables. Folic acid is important in preventing the onset of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
Some pregnant are prescribed with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, zinc, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, potassium, phosphorus, pantothenic acid, manganese, magnesium, iodine, copper, chromium and choline.
Oranges for You and Your Baby's Health
Oranges are probably one of the best fruits to eat during this early stage of pregnancy. Oranges are citrus fruits which provide additional protection to pregnant women. According to research, taking at least one orange in a day makes the body less prone to infections. It offers plenty of vitamin C which provides additional protection and resistance against diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis.
Furthermore, oranges are packed with massive amount of Vitamin B6 which is beneficial during the process of hemoglobin production. In effect, pregnant women are less likely to suffer from hemoglobin deficiency during this very crucial stage.
Oranges are also beneficial to the baby. This citrus fruit contains ample amount of folic acid and Vitamin B which are beneficial in the baby's brain development. The fruit also contains high level of potassium and iron which ply vital roles in protecting the cardiovascular system of the body, especially the heart. Though this citrus fruit is beneficial to the body, pregnant women should not eat more than 2-3 regular size oranges, as it can cause stomach acidity, stomach cramps and heartburn.