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December 2021

Health

Common Questions About Dental Implants Answered 

Replacing missing teeth doesn’t have to be complicated anymore. If you are not interested in dentures, your dentist may recommend dental implants as an alternative. As the name indicates, a dental implant is implanted surgically into the jawbone or just above it. With a high success rate, dental implants serve as the anchor for replacement teeth, crowns, and bridges. If you are in Jasper, consult top dentists like Eric R. Koch, DDS, for an overview of the procedure. For your help, here is a list of commonly asked questions about getting these implants:  

  • What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a replacement tooth root. Made of titanium, a dental implant is placed surgically into the socket of the missing tooth. It can be based inside or just above the jawbone. Once the jawbone heals, it will secure the dental implant in place. The dentist will then take impressions of the patient’s mouth to order replacement teeth, and with the help of an abutment, the replacement teeth will be fixed on the implant. 

  • Are Dental Implants Better Than Dentures?

The short answer is yes. Since dental implants are permanent and don’t move around in the mouth, patients often enjoy better comfort while eating and talking. Dental implants can last a lifetime, unlike dentures, which must be typically replaced in a few months. However, it can take considerable time to get replacement teeth or a crown with dental implants. The whole process of healing can take many weeks or months. 

  • Is It Painful to Get Dental Implants?

Anyone who can withstand a tooth extraction can get dental implants. Local anesthesia will be administered in advance so that you wouldn’t feel a thing, but there could be mild discomfort. There are limited risks or side effects of dental implants, especially when a skilled dentist or dental surgeon is at work. The dentist will also recommend painkillers so that you can take care of any pain later. 

As for the risks related to dental implants, infection is a concern, even though it’s not that common. If you are a heavy smoker or have lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, let your dentist know. Immediately after the surgical procedure, you may have to eat soft foods for the next two days. The healing time for dental implants may vary but doesn’t usually exceed 12 weeks for most patients. Talk to a dentist today to find the detailed procedure for getting implants. 

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Health

What to Expect When You Visit a Gynecologist for the First Time

Visiting a gynecologist for the first time can be daunting for a lot of women and teenagers. However, seeing this doctor often results in a positive experience. In fact, there is no reason to feel anxious during your East Village gynecology visits. Gynecologists recommend that you must first see them when you are aged 13 to 17. Tell your doctor if you feel worried about your visit, so they can put you at ease and let you know what to expect from the visit. 

What Will Your Gynecologist Do?

Your visit with your gynecologist involves talking about your health and what could happen during your future appointments. Usually, your first visit does not involve a pelvic examination. However, you may need tests if you have health issues like heavy or painful periods. Expect your doctor to ask many questions to get to know you and know how they can help you. No matter how awkward those questions will be, you must be honest with your doctor. Don’t worry because they will ensure your information is confidential. 

Kinds of Examinations You May Need to Have

You may need to get a general physical examination which includes checking your blood pressure, weight, and heart rate. Also, you may need to have a blood test, so your doctor can determine if you have diseases like prediabetes. In addition, you may be tested for sexually transmitted infections if you are sexually active. 

An external genital examination may also be performed on you. This means your doctor will check your vulva, which is the area around your vagina. A bimanual examination may also be done. This is performed by putting two lubricated fingers into your vagina. The doctor will use their other hand to check your abdomen, so they can feel your ovaries and uterus to check for cysts or growths. 

Is Having a Pap Smear a Part of your Visit?

Often, you can get a Pap smear when you are at least 21 years old. However, this may be necessary if you have heavy periods, itching, or pain to determine the cause. During a Pap smear, a speculum is inserted into your vagina, to let the doctor hold your vaginal walls apart. This way, they can take a look at your cervix. Your doctor will get cells from the cervix using a small brush and tiny spatula. These cells are examined under a microscope. 

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Health

Five Tips to Keep in Mind When You Plan to Get Adult Braces

Some adults might have a second thought about getting dental braces to straighten their teeth. Often, they think braces are too much to handle and are uncomfortable. But, Cedar Park adult braces are not as bad as they sound. If you are considering getting these braces, below are some tips to help you go about it:

Decide If Braces are Right for You

Before you say yes or not to adult braces, ensure they are the ideal choice for you. Orthodontic treatment is not cheap. To make the right decision, consider if your dental issues are bothering enough to invest in braces. Also, consider if you can afford this orthodontic treatment. 

Ignore What Others Think

If you decide to get braces, you should not worry about what others think. Did you know that a lot of adults have braces too? While the majority of people will not comment on your braces, those who do might just be curious. Thus, even if you get comments from them, don’t take these as a negative thing. You don’t have to be insecure about something if you have braces because this treatment is meant to produce a positive outcome for you. 

Be Ready to Experience Some Discomfort

When you get braces, you will normally feel a bit of pain for the first week. To relieve the discomfort, just apply a heating pad to your jaw. Also, you can apply wax to the brackets and wires to create a barrier to ensure sharper pieces do not tear into your gums. 

Know What to Eat

Your dentist will tell you to be careful with what you put into your mouth for the first two days. You will need to eat only soft foods such as soups, pasta, and ice cream. But, even beyond these days, you should still have to be careful about what you consume. Do not eat chewy and sticky foods because they will get stuck in your braces. Also, do not eat hard foods like hard candies and popcorn kernels since they can loosen wires and break the brackets.

Clean Your Braces

Even if you maintain a soft diet, some food bits might still get stuck in your braces. So, clean your braces regularly using a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash. Your dentist can demonstrate to you how to do it properly to avoid deforming or damaging your braces. Having this cleaning kit ready will make it easier for you to clean your braces on the go. 

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Health

Having a Primary Care Team: Maintaining Good Health Does Not Have to be Complicated

If you want to stay healthy, you need the help of a reliable primary care doctor. Everyone seeks medical care at some point. And when you suffer from a serious illness, you will look for a primary care practice in San Pedro to get a diagnosis and treatment.

A primary care doctor checks up on adults who complain of having headaches, urinary infections, fever, back pain, and other common conditions. Also, they manage serious conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, depression, and anxiety. If you have a primary care doctor, there is a medical expert you can turn to every time you experience non-emergency medical issues. 

Picking Your Primary Care Team

The best primary care team works together to keep you healthy. Usually, the team is composed of medical assistants, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers. You may need support from any of these depending on your specific issue. 

When you pick a primary care doctor, you must think about your current health needs and status. Patients who have complicated medical needs or serious medical issues benefit from a primary care team to help with every aspect of health care. But, even if you are healthy and do not have a chronic medical condition, you can build a relationship with a primary care doctor who will get to know them and help them achieve their health care goals. 

Things to Do Before Your Visit

Before you go to your doctor, it is a good idea to collect our past medical records, insurance information, and medication lists. Also, prepare some questions to ask your doctor. Your doctor can better create a healthcare plan if they get information about you and your care needs. 

If you have several symptoms, concerns, or conditions, your doctor may ask you to visit again. Ensure your doctor addresses the most important concern. Also, you may need to visit other members of your primary care team when necessary. 

Look for ways to communicate with your primary care team between visits. A lot of practices have patient portals where team members can address non-urgent matters, potentially minimizing the need to visit in person. 

Moreover, your doctor can help you navigate care transitions if you should enter the health care system. You can more easily regain good health and independence when you have support and guidance from different team members every time you leave the doctor’s office and go home or go to a rehabilitation facility. 

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Health

A Complete Guide to Independent Medical Examination for a Genuine Settlement 

Mostly, anyone who has just met with an accident at work or on the road will tend to get better rather than running after the compensation. After things settle down, a person thinks about getting financial aid that can help him recover from financial losses. Your employer and the insurance company may ask you to undergo an independent medical evaluation or examination. The physician will assess the severity and extent of the injuries caused to you in an accident. An independent medical evaluation in Pittsburgh, PA can help both parties in many ways.

Getting a second opinion for assessment

Many people consider it as an additional burden on them. However, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion. An unbiased opinion can always help the victim get the right amount of compensation. In most cases, a certified and experienced doctor who specializes in the field of medical evaluation gives a second opinion. The doctors are contacted to be neutral, unbiased and trustworthy when it comes to making their reports.

These medical practitioners assess the severity of the injury and suggest the amount of compensation. The primary care practitioners may be slightly biased toward their clients. The law wants to be fair to everyone. That’s why a second opinion is needed before giving out the compensation.  Some of the factors assessed by the doctor include: 

  • Mental and physical pain
  • Physical damages or disabilities, if any
  • Causes of the symptoms after injury

The assessment process

In order to assess the patient, the doctor will perform certain tests, X-rays, CT scans to examine you thoroughly.  Blood and urine tests are also performed to evaluate if all the organs are functioning well. He will also get the details including lifestyle and habits. Depending on the reports, he may also suggest the medications and treatment options along with the explanation of test results.

Getting an opinion

It is a legal way to get the right amount as compensation. He plays a vital role in resolving the conflicts and disputes arising between you, your employer and the insurance company. You can remain stress-free while filing for the compensation because you will not lose your rights.

You can get the complete details of the doctor by searching on the internet.  You will get all the care and financial support that you deserve. You just need to find the best TIME in the town.

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Health

When is the Right Time to See a Pain Management Specialist?

Pain management has taken a special place in the treatment of different kinds of pain. They may be associated with a medical condition, injury and other problems. It has also been observed that they do not fade away even after taking a lot of painkillers and medicines. Additionally, these drugs may cause severe side effects after prolonged use. Skilled and qualified pain management specialists such as Garen Gajian MD can make a great difference when it comes to managing your chronic pain. You should contact them in the following events:

Undergoing treatment for chronic diseases

If you are taking treatment for medical conditions like cancer, you may experience pain during radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other procedures. Sometimes, the pain is not easy to manage. The pain management specialists are able to create a plan according to your history, treatment procedure and your status at the moment. They work closely with the patient to understand the root cause of the problem and target it rather than prescribing painkillers to suppress the pain.

Chronic body pain

If you are experiencing body pain due to workload, stress and lifestyle, you can benefit from these specialists. They have expertise in dealing with reasons for pain in the most effective manner. Sometimes, you may feel pain in the spine, legs, knees and lower back that comes back after you stop taking painkillers. In such a case, a pain management specialist can help you with the therapies and exercises to give you relief from the pain.

Pain due to injuries

In many cases, you may experience pain due to sports injury or while performing exercises. Pain does not go away after taking the medicines. Muscle pain and sprains can be unbearable sometimes which need medical attention. A pain management specialist is the best person who can figure out the root cause of the pain and suggest the best way to deal with it. 

Unable to understand the cause of pain

If you have been dealing with pain for a long time and your primary care specialist is unable to figure out the exact cause, you should get in touch with a pain management specialist who can diagnose it by performing a series of tests. This way, you can get the right treatment and relief from chronic pain.

It is always a good idea to find the contact details of the pain management specialist from the internet.

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Health

Things That Can Elevate the Cholesterol Levels in Your Body

We all are aware of what cholesterol is and that it can cause serious medical problems if the levels are elevated. A number of reasons can be held responsible for the higher levels. Regardless of the reason, it is important to keep a check on the level and control it well on time. It creates problems when it sticks to the blood vessels and hinders the flow of the blood. This can result in heart-related problems such as heart attacks and stroke. To treat Boynton Beach high cholesterol, you must eat a lot of vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains and beans. Some of the factors apart from the food that can increase the cholesterol levels are elaborated below:

Not performing exercises 

The major reason behind the elevated levels of cholesterol is the lack of exercise. In order to control them, it is highly recommended to perform cardiovascular exercises at least for about 30 minutes. These exercises may include cycling, running, climbing, swimming and jogging. It boosts up good cholesterol and reduces the risk of getting heart disease.

Obesity 

If you are not doing any physical activity, you are likely to get obese. Both these factors contribute to higher levels of cholesterol. It makes the level of LDL higher in the blood causing a number of heart problems. You should get in touch with a health care provider to know the ideal body weight, which you need to maintain. 

Quit smoking

Smoking and tobacco have adverse effects on the health of the heart. If you are addicted to smoking, it is time to quit it because it can increase the cholesterol levels in the blood. Moreover, it damages the blood vessels and walls. The particles can build up plaques on these walls that can narrow the arteries and limit the blood flow. This can cause strokes and heart attacks.

Large waistline

It might be surprising to know that the size of your waistline determines the risks of higher cholesterol in your blood. It is strongly recommended to control your body shape so that the cholesterol deposits on various body parts are under control.

Type 2 diabetes

It has been observed that type 2 diabetes can increase the levels of LDL in the blood. It also lowers good cholesterol in the blood.

You should discuss with your health care provider to know how you can improve your cholesterol levels and lead a stress-free life.

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Health

Understand the Signs When You Need to See an Eye Specialist

Eye problems are unpleasant and unpredictable. They may come when you least expect them but they need immediate medical attention.  It is fine to see your primary care specialist if your eyes are pink or red for about 24-48 hours. If the problem persists, you need to get in touch with an eye specialist such as Stephen M. Wolchok MD who can thoroughly check your eyes and provide the most-suited treatment. It is imperative to know when you should see an eye specialist and a few events are elaborated below:

Blurriness and inability to focus on objects

One of the most common problems in the eyes includes blurriness. It may happen due to many reasons such as inadequate sleep, low or high blood pressure and even fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. If the problem persists, you need to make an appointment with a qualified eye specialist.  He may ask you to get these tests done to rule out the possibilities of any underlying condition. Likewise, if you find it hard to focus on objects, you must call up your doctor immediately.

Pain in eyes

If you experience pain in your eyes, you must get in touch with an eye specialist. Sometimes, the pain is accompanied by nausea, blurriness, headache and vomiting. It can be a sign of glaucoma that can make you blind in a few days only. Some other reasons for eye pain include dry eyes, infections, scratches in the cornea and inflammation. Your health care provider will be able to figure out the exact reason for the eye pain and suggest medications.

Persistent Headaches 

If you experience frequent headaches while working on computers or otherwise, you should contact an eye specialist. Sometimes, the reason for headaches is the conditions like myopia or hyperopia. The eyes need glasses to be worn all the time. An eye specialist can check your eyes properly and figure out the number for the glasses.

Infections in eyes

In many cases, eye injuries can cause severe infections in the eyes that need to be treated well on time. If they are left untreated, they can cause problems such as glaucoma. It is highly recommended to wear sunglasses to avoid an eye injury.

To look for the best eye specialist in your town, you need to search online. Before calling up a doctor, you must read the reviews of the doctor so that you can choose the best one. 

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Health

Three Factors That Increase a Person’s Risk of Developing Venous Ulcers

Venous ulcers do not heal quickly and are usually painful. People who have a family history of this condition are at a higher risk of developing these ulcers. Also, some lifestyle and health factors can increase one’s risk. When left untreated, they can lead to skin and bone infections. Because of this, the patient may require long-term medical care that a The Villages venous ulcers specialist can offer. 

Typically, venous ulcers develop because of venous insufficiency, which occurs when blood is not sent back to the heart properly. The veins in the legs contain valves that keep the flow of blood toward the heart. Damaged valves associated with venous insufficiency will cause blood to pool in the veins, putting increased pressure on the leg.

As soon as venous ulcers develop, sufferers must seek medical care to avoid needing long-term wound care. Vein experts can diagnose ulcers and make sure the wound heals without recurrence. Also, they evaluate a person’s risk for these ulcers and recommend methods to minimize the potential of their wounds recurring. The following are factors that can increase one’s risk for developing venous ulcers:

Physical Characteristics

With age, veins can lose elasticity. Also, the valves in the veins can become weak over time. Such changes impact the ability of the veins to control the flow of blood and make a person susceptible to venous ulcers. 

Vein Conditions

Certain conditions that cause the veins to change physically can increase a person’s risk of venous ulcers. Phlebitis, which is a vein inflammation, can block valves and weaken veins. Also, thrombosis can damage the valves that regulate blood flow. 

Having varicose veins also increases one’s risk of ulcers since it increases pressure on the veins and impair function. Another risk factor is obesity due to the increased force exerted on the veins. 

Lifestyle

People who lead an unhealthy lifestyle are at risk of developing venous ulcers. These include those who smoke, have diabetics, are hypertensive, obese, or overweight, and those whose work requires them to stand or sit for an extended period. Therefore, these people can reduce their risk by not smoking, managing their diabetes, controlling their blood pressure, losing weight, and taking frequent breaks from standing or standing throughout the day. Also, wearing compression stockings can prevent the pooling of blood in the legs. 

If you want to know whether or not you are at risk of venous ulcers, see a vein specialist as soon as possible. Your specialist can also advise you on how to avoid the condition.  

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Health

Living With Hypertension? Here Are Ways to Effectively Manage Your Condition 

If you have hypertension, you probably know the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to keep your condition under control. However, certain habits provide the most benefits for your condition. If you want to successfully manage your hypertension in West New York, here are best practices to consider:

Avoiding Foods That Contain a High Amount of Sodium

While fast food is mouth-watering, it’s not good for your body. Taking too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure. Unfortunately, most people’s diets are filled with higher sodium levels than what experts recommend. Even if you don’t add sodium directly to your meal, you may get the excess from the type of food you consume. Processed foods, restaurant menu items, and canned foods contain excessive amounts of sodium. 

Staying Physically Active

If you are living with hypertension, you must stay physically active. This does not mean performing rigorous exercises. Even performing aerobic or cardio exercises for thirty minutes every day can reduce your blood pressure. Your doctor can help you establish a suitable fitness plan for you. 

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

If your weight is beyond what’s ideal for your height, you should lose around ten pounds to lower your blood pressure. You must prioritize weight loss if you have a body mass index greater than 25.

Not Smoking

There are many ways smoking can negatively affect your body. It is known for hurting blood vessels and hardening the arteries. Particularly, tobacco can elevate your blood pressure. And because it is quite addictive, you may need help from experts to help you stop your smoking habit.

Limiting Alcohol Intake

Drinking too much alcohol can elevate your blood pressure level. When you consume alcohol more than one time per day, your blood pressure medications will not give you the desired effects. 

Managing Your Stress

There are a lot of stressful situations you cannot avoid in life. However, if you want to control your hypertension, you must avoid stress if possible. When the body is under a lot of stress, stress hormones constrict blood vessels and increase your heart rate, temporarily increasing your blood pressure. You can manage stress by meditating, exercising, and doing deep breaths every time you are in a stressful situation. Also, it can help to watch funny videos or get a massage. 

Taking Medications

Medications play an important role in controlling hypertension. Your doctor may recommend medications to lower your blood pressure along with lifestyle modifications. If your blood pressure is too high, you may need to maintain certain medications to reduce your levels. 

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