Lasers Redefine Medicine At the Speed of Light

Lasers are making common medicine safer and faster.
(NewsUSA) - In the past, lasers were fictional weapons created in comics to combat evil-doers. Today, fiction has become reality as medical specialists rely on advances in laser medicine to help provide patients of all ages with better and earlier detection of disease and improved treatments for common medical problems -- combatting "evil" disease and medical problems worldwide.

"Chances are, you or someone you know has benefited from laser medicine or surgery," said R. Rox Anderson, MD, president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS). "Lasers have had a tremendous impact on how we detect and treat diseases, improve aging skin, and manage conditions that in the past were difficult to treat with traditional therapies or systemic medications. There are no signs that this technology has reached its peak; on the contrary, we expect new laser devices and applications will continue to be discovered in the years to come."

When used in medicine, lasers work by delivering tiny pulses of light or energy in various wavelengths to target particular areas or particles in the body. Lasers and other energy sources offer patients tremendous benefits, including less-invasive procedures, reduced recovery times, elegant results, less bleeding and speedy healing. In fact, many laser procedures are now performed in a physician's office using only topical or local anesthetic -- eliminating the need for general anesthesia.

From corrective eye surgery, skin rejuvenation and dental disorders to throat surgery, treatment of acne and birthmarks, and early detection of numerous types of cancer, lasers and related technologies are improving the quality of medical and surgical care. Even persons of color, who previously were not good candidates for laser skin treatments, are now able to enjoy the advantages of most laser therapies and related technologies.

To help ensure a positive laser experience, the ASLMS suggests you consider the following tips:


1. Ask questions.

2. Find out who will be administering the treatment.

3. Discuss your medical history with your physician.

4. Ask whether this laser or other light source is right for your skin type.

5. Be realistic about expectations and results.


For more information and to find a laser doctor near you, please visit www.aslms.org

Walk Your Way to Better Health

Walking is a great way to burn calories and reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases.

(NewsUSA) - Want to get outdoors, improve your health and socialize with friends? It might be time to put on your walking shoes.

Regular physical activity may help control weight and lower the risk for certain diseases.

Some exercise is always better than none. If you're not used to exercise, walking is a great way to become more active. Walking requires a pair of sturdy walking shoes to get started, and proves a viable way to burn calories, build bone density, reduce the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and socialize with friends.

Not sure how to get started? Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better, a national initiative of the Weight-control Information Network (WIN) designed to encourage Black women to exercise and eat healthier foods, offers the following tips to get moving:

* Make it fun. Find a partner. Your walking partner should be able to match your speed.

* Find proper footgear. Wear shoes with proper arch support, a firm heel and thick, flexible soles.

* Wear clothes that will keep you dry and comfortable. Look for synthetic fabrics that absorb sweat and remove it from your skin.

* Divide your walk into sections. Warm up by walking slowly for five minutes. Then, increase your speed and do a fast walk. Finally, cool down by walking slowly again for five minutes. Do light stretching after your warm-up and cool-down.

* Try to walk as often as possible. To avoid stiff or sore muscles and joints, start gradually. Over several weeks, begin walking faster, going farther, and walking for longer periods of time. Aim for 30 minutes of walking a day on most, if not all, days of the week.

* Set goals and rewards. A goal might be participating in a fun walk or walking continuously for 30 minutes. Reward yourself when you meet a goal, but not with high-calorie foods.

For more information and tips, visit the WIN site at www.win.niddk.nih.gov.

Hip and Knee Pain: When is it Time to Consider Surgery?

Take measures to relieve joint pain before surgery is necessary.

(NewsUSA) - Chronic joint aches and pains caused by arthritis can interfere with everyday life, limiting mobility and function.

In early stages of arthritis, pain relief can be obtained from acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen or, for some, injections into the joint (intra-articular injections). However, when arthritis progresses, the cartilage between the bones disappears, and the joint is "bone on bone." At this stage, these conservative measures may not be enough.

"As the progression of arthritis cannot be stopped, patients should consider joint replacement surgery when the pain in an arthritic joint is severe and disabling," says Alejandro González Della Valle, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

The criteria used for recommending joint replacement surgery include disabling pain associated with limp, loss of function and mobility. The best candidates for surgery are people who have seen deterioration in their quality of life or impairment in their activities of daily living due to arthritic pain. Activities such as going for a walk or performing some non-impact recreational sports should not be difficult for people without major health problems.

Before arthritic pain is severe enough to consider surgery, some simple measures can be implemented to diminish pain and promote joint health.

* Respect the pain you feel. Perform activities only to the point of discomfort.

* Plan ahead and be realistic about what you can do.

* Learn how to pick things up properly. Bend from the knees when lifting and carrying weights more than 30-40 pounds.

* Reduce repetitive impact on joints, and distribute weight among them to protect joints.

* When walking more than four or five miles, wear well-padded shoes with rubber soles.

* Think about your weight. The impact on your joints will be less detrimental if you are not carrying extra weight.

"No one is too young or too old for joint replacement," says Douglas E. Padgett, M.D., chief of the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at Hospital for Special Surgery. "Every condition can be addressed, even when compounded by other medical conditions."

The Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at Hospital for Special Surgery is the world leader in hip, knee and surgical arthritis patient treatment, education, innovation and research. For more information, visit www.hss.edu.

Kids Take Gum Disease to Heart

Proper oral health early in life will pay off later.

(NewsUSA) - Teaching your kids to care for their teeth will do more than ensure a healthy smile -- it may also help them avoid health problems later in life.

Many parents consider cavities a normal part of childhood -- after all, children eat more sweet foods than adults and often neglect brushing and flossing. But research links cavities and gum disease with serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease.

Research suggests that there is a relationship between gum disease and heart health. The American Academy of Periodontology reports that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to have heart disease. Likewise, in a study of 657 heart-disease patients published in "Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association," lead researcher Moise Desvarieux, M.D., Ph.D. of Columbia University discovered that patients with harmful bacteria in their mouths were more likely to have a clogged artery in their neck, a precursor to stroke.

Researchers believe that, when the harmful bacteria that cause gum disease invade the gum line, they also access the bloodstream. Once they enter the circulatory system, these harmful bacteria can cause disease in other parts of the body.

But kids will be kids, and some may stop brushing their teeth before they finish singing "The Star Spangled Banner" or forget to floss after eating that ice cream cone. Even if kids are excellent brushers and flossers, they can't get rid of the harmful bacteria living in every part of their mouths.

Parents can skip the risk by giving their kids probiotics for oral care, like EvoraKids (www.myevorakids.com), a chewable that contains beneficial bacteria that are normally found in healthy mouths. When these good bacteria adhere to the teeth, they leave less room for harmful bacteria to grow, helping to support tooth health.

"Daily use of a product such as EvoraKids is an easy way to naturally maintain oral health," says Dr. Jeffrey Hillman, D.M.D., Ph.D. and chief medical officer for Oragenics. "The good bacteria inhibit the growth of the damaging bad bacteria, leading to better health and breath."

For more information, visit www.myevorakids.com.

Preparation is Key to Cold and Flu Prevention Year Round

Don't think that warm weather means that you don't have to worry about cold and flu.

(NewsUSA) - While most people associate cold and flu with winter, warmer weather does nothing to cut your risk -; you can catch a cold at any time, year round. Despite the extensive warnings about the H1N1 virus in the fall, the majority of Americans saw this past cold and flu season as about the same or only slightly worse than the previous year, according to an online survey conducted by Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., makers of Zicam Cold Remedy.

The survey also revealed that many Americans heeded the warnings about H1N1 -; in fact, 95 percent of respondents said they took proactive steps to avoid cold and flu this winter. And those who took proactive steps to defend themselves against the flu shouldn't stop now.

"It's important to remember that preparation and early treatment are the best defenses against the common cold, which can strike year round," noted Dr. Tim Tucker, Pharm.D., FAPhA, and immediate past president of the American Pharmacists Association.

Dr. Tucker recommends acting as soon as cold and flu symptoms become apparent. "Zinc products, such as Zicam Cold Remedy, can reduce the duration of your cold if taken within the first 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms," said Dr. Tucker.

In addition to basic precautions, like getting enough rest, taking a daily multivitamin, drinking fluids and washing hands, Zicam Cold Remedy offers additional tips to help you stay healthy all year:

1. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and clean frequently touched surfaces, such as keyboards and door knobs.

2. Eat a balanced diet, and avoid sugar. Do treat yourself to dark chocolate, as it contains antioxidants and mood-boosters.

3. Exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes a day. Regular exercise strengthens the immune system.

4. Avoid stress. Setting a hectic schedule can cause immune-weakening stress and fatigue and interfere with your ability to get enough rest.

5. Relax. Recharge your batteries at least once a day, even if only for 10 or 15 minutes.

For more information, visit www.zicam.com.

Protect Yourself: Plan in Case of Disability

No one expects a disability to happen to them, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't practice planning and prevention.
(NewsUSA) - Monica, a 37-year-old professional and mother, shattered her elbow when she slipped on her porch. In most cases, the story would have ended there, but Monica wasn't that lucky. After her elbow surgery, Monica developed a condition called osteonecrosis, which caused her bones to crumble.

Once a successful worker in the financial sector, Monica became confined to a wheelchair and required a hired caretaker to bathe, eat and dress. Monica was awarded Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI), but it took two-and-a-half years to start seeing payments -- years in which Monica couldn't work and couldn't afford rent. Monica used up her retirement savings to pay for her care. By the time she received SSDI, it was too late to save her finances.

Unfortunately, Monica is not alone in neglecting to plan for disability. According to a 2009 Harvard study, over half of all personal bankruptcies are caused by illness or injury.Yet, many people fail to consider that disability can happen to them. According to the Council for Disability Awareness (CDA), 60 percent of people feel that their chances of becoming disabled are 2 percent or less during their working years. The real number, according to the Social Security Administration, is 30 percent.

But you can take steps to protect yourself. First, visit www.whatsmypdq.com to learn your Personal Disability Quotient (PDQ), or your chance of an injury or illness that will keep you out of the workplace for an extended amount of time.

Then, evaluate your lifestyle and see if there are any changes you can make to reduce your chances of disability. The CDA recommends cultivating healthy behaviors, such as eating well and exercising to maintain a healthy weight. Regular check-ups and cancer screenings can catch problems before they lead to disability. Simply staying aware and using activity-appropriate safety equipment, like seat belts, safety goggles and helmets, can help you avoid disabling injuries.

"Through planning and prevention, people can minimize their chances of becoming disabled -- or at least minimize the financial impact a disability can have on their income and lifestyle," said Barry Lundquist, president of the CDA. "For most people, their income is by far their most valuable asset, and their ability to earn that income cannot be taken for granted."

To learn more, join the discussion at www.twitter.com/the_CDA or explore the tools and resources available at www.disabilitycanhappen.org.

Salt and Your Health

Lowering your family's salt consumption will decrease the risk of developing high blood pressure.
(NewsUSA) - Salt is essential to keeping your body's fluids in balance. But too much salt can lead to a host of health problems.

The chemical name for dietary salt, or table salt, is sodium chloride. Most doctors focus on the sodium part.

"The best-known effect of sodium on health is the relationship between sodium and blood pressure," explains Dr. Catherine Loria of the National Institutes of Health.

Dozens of studies, in both animals and people, have shown that increasing salt intake can raise blood pressure. And high blood pressure has been linked to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and other health problems.

About one in three adults nationwide has high blood pressure. Another third have blood pressure numbers high enough to risk developing high blood pressure. That's why, Loria says, "it's really important for the majority of the population to reduce their blood pressure."

Experts recommend that people take in less than 2,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day. People with high blood pressure should shoot for 1,500 mg or less. But right now, the average man in the United States takes in over 4,000 mg of salt per day, and the average woman over 2,800 mg.

Would you miss the taste? "Several studies have shown that as you gradually reduce sodium intake, you lessen your desire for salty food," Loria says. In the U.K., where salt consumption has dropped by 10 percent over the past five years, surveys found that most people didn't notice any difference in the taste of their food.

Most of the salt in the average American's diet comes in prepared and processed foods, including restaurant food, cold cuts and canned foods. Surprisingly, over 20 percent comes from grain products, such as breads, cereals, crackers and chips.

"I think the best guidance we have is for people to pay attention to nutrition facts on the labels," Loria says. Try to choose foods that list less than 5 percent of the daily value of sodium per serving on the nutrition facts label.

Even small reductions in salt can help your blood pressure. If you can't find a low-salt alternative to a particular food, try something that's lower than what you usually buy.

Why not start now? Make small changes at first, and then keep working to gradually lower your family's salt intake.