Why Do My Ears Stick Out? And the Surgery to Fix it

April 30th, 2012

The ears make up a small and often unnoticed part of the face. Since they sit way to the side of the face and are often obscured by hair, they make little impact on one’s facial appearance. Unless they have a congenital alteration of its complex cartilage structure which causes them to become visibly prominent. The most common cartilage deformity is that which causes the protruding ear.

There is a certain amount of distance between the ear and the side of the head which makes it either indiscriminate or very noticeable. Known as the auriculocephalic (ear to head) angle, it should generally be no greater than 30 degrees. When the ear sticks out more than that, it becomes a facial focal point. Known by a lot of unflattering names, dumbo ears and elephant ears to name a few, protruding ears can be a source of poor self-image and ridicule.

Protruding ears are caused by a variety of cartilage malformations. The most common reason that an ear sticks out is that the antihelical fold is either absent or underdeveloped. (weak fold) The antihelical fold is the inner fold just inside the outer rim. (helix) It is the fold that turns the helical rim back in, preventing the ear from angling far outward. The other structure that can cause ear protrusion is the size of the concha. Known as the bowl of the ear, it is the cartilage structure that wraps around the ear hole and extends outward to meet the outer ear folds. If the concha gets too big, it can drive the outer rim of the ear to stick out.

Correction of the protruding ear (otoplasty) has been around for nearly a hundred years. Many different plastic surgery techniques have been used but all are based on some manipulation of the cartilage problem. Most use suture creation of a more visible antihelical fold, reduction of the large concha, suture setback of the prominent concha to the mastoid area, or some combination of two or more of them. While all of these methods are well known, it takes an artistic sense to mix and match them for each individual ear setback.

A good otoplasty result is one that does not trade-off one ear deformity for another. Overcorrection (setback too far) is known as the telephone ear deformity and looks like an ear plastered to the side of the head. Symmetry of the ear correction is relatively important even though both ears are not usually viewed at the same time. But patients will pay much more attention to their ears after surgery so intraoperative matching and attention to detail is important.

One aspect of otoplasty that is often overlooked is the earlobe. While it does not have any cartilage in it, it often will stick out too far with the rest of the ear as well. I frequently will set it back with the cartilage of the ear through a fishtail pattern skin excision on its back surface. This simple otoplasty maneuver can make a good ear result look even better. The helical rim of the ear should be seen as flowing from the top down to the bottom of the earlobe without outward deviation.

Otoplasty surgery requires an appreciation of the cartilage problem and matching it with the correct cartilage manipulation techniques. Done through an incision on the back of the ear, it is a simple but eloquent outpatient procedure that produces immediate and dramatic results. In some protruding ear problems that are not severe, the surgery can be performed in the office under local anesthesia.

Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified premiere plastic surgeon in Indianapolis, Indiana where he practices at his Ology Spa locations at Clarian North Medical Center in Carmel Indiana and at Clarian West Medical Center in Avon Indiana.(http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com. Dr. Eppley can be heard weekly on his radio show, Doc Chat, on WXNT 1430 AM every Saturday afternoon.

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What To Do When You Have A Toothache

April 29th, 2012

How often do you have to go home early from work because of a toothache becoming worse? Or wake up in the middle of the night bombarded by a throbbing pain that originates from a deeply carious tooth? Dental pain is usually caused by tooth decay and tooth abscess.

Tooth decay usually exhibits signs and symptoms including a sharp pain in the tooth generally occurring when you bite or chew your food. There is also a feeling of soreness and pain in the teeth, gums and jaw. Most often, a person who has a decaying tooth exhibits bad breath that comes from the decomposing tooth structure aggravated by the decaying food particles that are usually trapped and left in the dental cavity. A bad taste in the mouth will also be felt especially when the dental decay becomes severe or there is already the presence of a tooth abscess or infection.

The signs and symptoms of a tooth abscess on the other hand include the following:

1. Severe pain in the tooth and jaw.

2. A loose tooth caused by the damage in the periodontal ligaments. Periodontal ligaments are the tissues that hold the teeth to the surrounding alveolar bone. Impaired integrity of these tissues is caused by gum disease that results to subsequent periodontal disease when left untreated.

3. Gum disease characterized by red, swollen and bleeding gums.

4. A person suffering from tooth abscess may experience fever brought about the dental infection.

5. Earache.

6. Swollen glands in the neck.

If you are suffering from toothache, it is important that you should see your dentist especially if you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of tooth abscess. Until then, you can follow these home remedies that can provide some relief from your dental pain.

1. If the pain you are suffering is caused by pressure due to trapped food bits in between the teeth, a simple dental floss manipulation can remove the irritant. You can then rinse with warm salt water.

2. If you feel pain in your gums, suck on an ice cube to numb the area or an ice pack will do the trick for a painful jaw.

3. Try to apply a heat pack if cold application is not working. Apply a hot compress on your jaw and gargle with warm salt water.

4. A wet black tea bag placed on your sore gum for 30 minutes will relieve the soreness and may even stop the bleeding.

5. You can put oil of cloves onto your aching tooth every 20 minutes using a cotton swab. This will ease some of the pain.

6. Take over the counter pain reliever but never take aspirin if you are expecting a dental procedure. Aspirin can increase the bleeding and may jeopardize the procedure and may put you at unnecessary risk.

7. Never place aspirin on your gums to relieve the pain. This may worsen the condition and create burns to your gum tissue.

You may require emergency care and need a prompt dental visit if you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of a dental abscess. Otherwise, you can call your dentist for advice if you are experiencing a toothache that lasts for more than a day or two. A throbbing tooth pain, a tooth that responds to both hot and cold stimulus and a tooth that hurts during pressure may be exhibiting signs of a dental cavity. You may already have gum disease if you are experiencing swelling, redness, soreness and pain in your gums. This may also indicate an impacted tooth.

Michael Russell Your Independent Dental guide

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Non Surgical Breast Lift – Lift Bust Without Surgery

April 24th, 2012

When it comes to breast lifts, you can either go under the knife in the form of a breast augmentation, or you can choose a non invasive breast augmentation. This non invasive breast augmentation or a non surgical breast lift as it is some times called. Regardless of what you call it, the surgical breast lift is practically risk free and in some cases it can even be healthy for you. In most forms of non surgical breast lifts, one would use a breast pump which works by placing tension on the breasts in order to stimulate growth in the chest region.

These breast pumps can be both electric as well as manual form, but they all do the same thing which is to help stimulate breast growth. What it does is to pull on the epidermis creating a slight gap which in turn the body tries to fill up this gap in a manner which increases the breast size.

Another form of non surgical breast lift is that which is slightly invasive by the means of using thread and barbed hooks to but the pressure in the skin of the breasts which in turn has the same outcome as a breast pump. The difference with the use of barbed hooks and thread is that the shape and contour of the finished product can be better controlled while at the same time allowing for a little more tissue growth than the use of a pump.

Besides using these types of breast lifts, one may even opt for a natural enhancement. From various herbal remedies which focus on new tissue growth by the means of natural supplements to that of the hormone replacement therapy. In recent studies, it has been shown that an increase of estrogen will stimulate new cell growth where there was none previously. This can also include the increase of cell growth of breast tissue.

No matter which alternative you choose, the outcome is the same. Some people can actually use a non surgical breast lift with great outcomes however some may not be able to see any growth at all. When a natural or non invasive procedure fails to work your only real choice is to undergo a breast augmentation, but it is worth it in some cases to try those that are risk free first then those which have certain risks.

Dr. Jim Greene would like to provide you with critical information:

Non surgical breast lift

Natural breast lift

Breast lift exercises

The above information will help you make a informed decision regarding breast lift without surgery and other options.

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Therapeutic Communication in the Nursing Profession

April 18th, 2012

Nursing is a caring profession. It is also a profession that is more and more evidenced based in practice. In as much as the scientific aspects of nursing is increasing due to the complex technological advancement of medicine and the machinery that is used at the patients bedside, the fact remains that the nurse is the first person that the client usually comes in contact with in any emergency or hospital setting.

Having said this, the term, “caring” is an essential emotion that all nurses, for that matter, all individuals in the health profession must possess. With caring comes the trained ability of the nurse to facilitate therapeutic communication. One might ask, what is therapeutic communication? To better answer this question, the term communication should first be defined.

Communication can be defined as “The Process of transmitting messages and interpreting meaning.” (Wilson and others, 1995) With therapeutic communication, the sender, or nurse seeks to illicit a response from the receiver, the patient that is beneficial to the patients mental and physical health. Just as stress has been proven to adversely affect the health of individuals, the therapeutic approach to communication can actually help. In any given situation everyone uses communication.

Everyone has seen the individual that looks like they are either angry, stressed, feeling ill or maybe sad. These emotions are communicated to others not always by words, but by gestures and facial expressions. A nurse must always be aware of these expressions in clients, for these expressions may be the only way that the nurse can tell if there is something else going on that needs their attention. The term given to this type of non-verbal communication is called, meta-communication. In meta-communication, the client may look at their amputated stump and say that it doesn’t really look that bad, while at the same time tears are rolling down from their eyes.

In a case such as this the nurse should stay and further explore how the person actually feels. There are many factors associated with the healing and comforting aspects of therapeutic communication. Circumstances, surroundings, and timing all play a role in the effect of therapeutic communication. If a client is being rushed down for an emergency surgery there might not be time for a bedside conversation, but the holding of a hand could convey much more than words to the client at such a moment.

Ideally, for therapeutic communication to be effective the nurse must be aware of how they appear to the client. If a nurse appears rushed, for example, they are speaking quickly, their countenance looks harried, and they are breathing heavily, their eyes not on the client but perhaps on an intravenous bag on the client in the next bed. In a case like this, there is nothing that this nurse could say to the client in a therapeutic manner that the client would believe. The helping relationship has not been established and therefore therapeutic communication cannot be facilitated. Some of the emotions associated with therapeutic communication include but are not limited to the following: Professionalism, Confidentiality, Courtesy, Trust, Availability, Empathy, and Sympathy. (Potter, Patricia A., Perry, Anne G., Co. 2003, Basic Nursing Essentials for Practice, pg. 123, Mosby)

All of these emotions go into the client nurse relationship, which must be established by the nurse as soon as possible upon first meeting the client. To begin to establish this nurse client relationship, the nurse must assess the overall message that the client is communicating to the nurse, such as fear, pain, sadness, anxiety or apathy. The nurse should be trained in keying into the message that the client is sending. Only then can the nurse determine the best therapeutic approach. Anyone that has to be thrust in to a hospital or emergency room environment has level of anxiety.

This level can go up considerably when the client feels that they have been abandoned or that there is no one there that really cares about how they feel. When a client is the recipient of therapeutic communication from a caring individual, a level of trust is achieved and more than, that the clients entire countenance can change for the better. Their blood pressure, respirations and levels of stress can simultaneously decrease. When this takes place, the management of pain, if any is involved, can be resolved more quickly. The goal for a nurse is to become proficient in the medical

Learn more about nursing education at The NET Study Guide.

The nursing entrance test study guide provides nurses the assistance they need with the nursing entrance test. The nursing study guide helps nurses. Visit http://www.nurseslearningcenter.com for more information.

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Symptoms of Sinus Drainage Bad Breath (Halitosis)

April 16th, 2012

Hygiene, precision, and fragrance are the incarnation of a modern, civilized individual. Bad breath which is also known as halitosis, in medical terms – can hamper the illustration you are trying to develop. Bad breath might also obstruct you from maintaining social relations with other persons as you might be too uncomfortable to talk to anybody or others are turned off by the unpleasant smell.

Well, the single way to actually solve this trouble is to recognize the cause of bad breath. There are lots of probable reasons due to which bad breath may happen from the foods that you consume to inappropriate oral cleanliness and some primary medical situations, like diabetes, periodontal disease (gum disease), along with others.

Although most probably next to foods and cleanliness, the most general cause related to bad breath is the sinus drainage. Many researchers have revealed that 85 – 90 percent of people suffering with bad breath have this disgusting odor coming from their mouths. Hardly ever have you seen some cases where bad breath comes out of the nose. Whenever this type of case occurs, this situation is in fact caused by sinus drainage bad breath.

When there is a trouble in a sinus bad breathe is caused due to very simple causes, i.e. drainage from the sinus runs to lower position towards the back of the esophagus and onto the last position of the tongue. This drainage is a high resource of protein as it has dead sinus cells that have sloughed off, blood cells, pus cells, and additional molecules formed by the body. These are the best things that oral bacteria prefer to utilize for nutrients. With a balanced and continued food supply from sinus drainage bad breath boosts up with the growing population of bacteria.

The type of bacteria that generally produces sinus drainage bad breath and other bad breath also, are anaerobes, i.e. these bacteria used to live in oxygen free surroundings. They cannot resist noteworthy quantity of oxygen – the back of the tongue is an ideal place for them to conceal. They move down in the tiny channels between tongue papillae and taste buds, and simply wait for food to come to them. When the food comes, they take what they necessitate and generate stinking smelling impulsive sulfur compounds as an unintended consequence of metabolism. Regrettably for the individual with an irritated sinus bad breath is the ultimate consequence.

Sinus drainage bad breath is not just a warning sign of sinusitis, but it is a situation in which the sinuses become unhygienic or swollen. It can happen because of a viral infection, similar to the case of colds, or to allergens, similar to the case of allergies. At times, sinusitis may perhaps be associated to asthma attacks. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, sinusitis usually moves in the direction of sinus drainage bad breath.

Whenever a person suffers from sinusitis, the mucus coating of the sinuses happens to be aggravated and begins to generate too much quantity of mucus. A normal person on a regular basis generates mucus to maintain the nasal passages hygienic and clear. On the other hand, when these mucus coatings are aggravated, they go on overdrive and generate excessive mucus, resulting in a general sinusitis symptom called postnasal drip, which consecutively could direct to sinus drainage bad breath.

In addition, the disease causing sinusitis may perhaps also cause swelling of the nasal passages. These nasal passages join the nose via your sinuses to allow air into the lungs. When these nasal passages are swollen, the channel is pointed because of blockage, therefore resulting in accumulation to the complete trouble by blocking the regular drainage of mucus. Thus, the mucus gets ensnared inside these nasal passages and begins to catch the attention of bacteria towards it, which flourishes on dark and wet places.

These bacteria will reproduce, grow in number and excrete waste products which comprises of toxic sulfur compounds resulting in sinus drainage bad breath.

The excellent thing is that curing sinus drainage bad breath is truly no different from curing any other kind of bad breath. A lot of people experience post nasal drip, which basically generates the same kind of sinus bad breath. So, bad breath products that work for normal bad breath will work fine in this case also. Obviously, a product that works by lessening the population of bacterium living at the back of the tongue will be the most successful. Try to find out oral care products that are antibacterial in a number of ways – they may actually eliminate tongue bacteria or they may kill them. Also, it should lend a hand in reducing the smell of your breath and let you to concentrate on lessening the uneasiness of the sinus problem, as a substitute of perturbing about your sinus drainage bad breath.

With the intention of curing sinus drainage bad breath, you may think about medicines generally taken to cure the warning signs of sinusitis. Several well known nasal sprays, antihistamines, and decongestants perform their functions by relieving the swelling and blockage and drying extra mucus.

My passion is research and writing. For more information or to learn more on Bad Breath (Halitosis), please visit my blog

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What Are the Causes of Pain in Lower Right Back?

April 9th, 2012

Back pain is a complaint doctors hear about frequently. People want information on backaches. They want doctors to treat pain in the back. Many want to know the causes of pain in the lower right back.

Information about the Lower Right Back

It is important to understand the structure of the lower right back if we are to understand what causes pain there.

Your back, with its spinal column of vertebrae, connecting ligaments, tendons, large muscles, and nerves, is designed to be incredibly strong and flexible. Yet things can go wrong with this awesome structure.

* Muscles can be strained

* Ligaments can be torn

* Joints can be injured

* Bones can be fractured

* Nerves can be irritated

* Discs can be herniated

* Stress can tighten back structure

The lower back seems especially susceptible to injury, since it bears the weight of the torso, and makes more movement than the upper back. Its constant work can cause parts to break down and wear out over the years.

The lower right back has soft tissues that can be involved in pain. Those large, complex muscle groups that support your spine and help you move can be strained by improper lifting or posture. In fact, muscle strain is the most common cause of lower back pain. Twisting or pulling one of the following muscles can produce pain in the lower right back.

* Extensor muscles: These paired muscles in the lower back and gluteus help support your spine. If the one on the lower right back is injured, it will be painful.

* Flexor muscles: Attached to the spine’s front, these muscles help you flex, bend forward, and lift things. Again, injury to the right flexor muscle can cause lower right back pain.

* Oblique muscles: This muscle group is attached to the sides of the spine. The oblique muscles help your spine rotate, and give you good posture.

In addition to simple muscle strain, injury to ligaments, joints, and bones can also cause muscle pain. If one of these structures is injured or inflamed, back muscles can go into spasm, drastically limiting your movement and cause pain in the lower right back.

Stress is a common cause of pain in the lower right back. Stress will make your back muscles tighten. This happens to every muscle in the body, as we move into a “fight or flight” response. Muscles that are tightened lack the energy they need to support the spine. If the stress is frequent, and measures are not taken immediately to relieve it, lower right back pain can easily develop.

Information on Chronic Lower Right Back Pain

If lower right back pain lasts more than two weeks, you are likely to stop using the aching muscles in order to protect yourself from that pain. With disuse, the muscles can waste (atrophy) and weaken. This will increase the pain, since your muscles are less able to support your spine. If you increase your protection, and continue to avoid using the muscles, the cycle will continue, with the pain worsening at each turn. Chronic lower right back pain will result. This is why doctors urge patients with lower right back pain to exercise daily.

Information about Lower Right Back Pain Symptoms

You need to understand the symptoms of your pain as well. It is difficult to treat pain without knowing clearly what and where the symptoms are. You will want to gain a sense of exactly where your lower right back hurts. Is the pain focused in one small area, or does it spread throughout the lower right back? Is it confined to the lower right back or does it radiate into other parts of the body? Here are two major kinds of pain in the lower right back.

Lower Right Back Pain Symptom #1

Is yours a deep, aching, dull, or burning pain? Does it travel down your leg? If so, your lower right back pain may be chronic back pain.

Lower Right Back Pain Symptom #2

Perhaps yours is a very sharp pain, deep in the lower right back. This symptom may be the result of a back injury.

Information on Relieving Lower Right Back Pain

My personal physician assures me that the best relief for lower right back pain is usually exercise. Gentle exercises, performed daily with warm-up and cool-down, will strengthen the core muscles around the lower back area, relieving the pain and making them less susceptible to future injury.

CAUTION: Pain in the lower right back may also be caused by kidney stones or other non-muscular problems. Be sure to ask your health care provider for advice on any back pain.

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna herself is a back pain sufferer, and can sympathize with your problem. She invites you to read more of her articles about back pain at: http://www.backpainreliefblog.com Anna has posted additional information on that site about the lower back, and articles that tell how to exercise away your lower right back pain.

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Are Plastic Food and Beverage Containers Safe?

March 31st, 2012

Question: Have plastic food and beverage containers been proven safe?

Answer: No.

During the film’s graduation party in THE GRADUATE, Mr. McGuire pulls Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) aside to offer sage advice for his future. His future would be one word: “plastics.”

Of course, we all know Mr. McGuire’s advice and prognostication was correct. Plastics can only be made by man in his infinite wisdom, hence they are patentable. The profit in the manufacture of plastics has been huge. Plastics are everywhere. Plastic manufacturing now uses 4% of the world’s oil production annually. Automobiles are now 9% plastic. It is of my special concern that more foods and beverages are being put into plastic containers. Plastics are ubiquitous now. They persist and accumulate in our society as their production exceeds their chemical degradation rate. Harmful chemicals from plastics are now commonly found in groundwater, waterways, and drinking water.

While standing out in the summer heat in Phoenix, Arizona in 1981, my girlfriend asked me what was causing the film to form on the inside of the windshield of her new Mazda 626. She said that she had to wipe it off every morning so she could see to drive to work. I didn’t know then. I do now! It was phthalates, the chemical that was added to the plastic dash cover to soften it and prevent cracking. I’m sure by now most of the phthalate has evaporated into our atmosphere and the Mazda is in some junkyard with a cracked up dash.

Phthalates are EDC’s (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.) They are chemicals found in recycle codes #1 through #6 plastics. Another EDC (Bisphenol A) is in recycle code #7 plastics. All of these types of plastic EDC’s interfere with the function of sex hormones receptors. In THE GRADUATE Benjamin was quite a stud. I wonder if he’s now taking one of the popular drugs to treat erectile dysfunction, a disorder that has become one of the many epidemics in our new plastic world.

In 2003 a group of Croatian scientists reported that phthalates in plastics dissolved in various solutions. They used a variety of plastic items, including plastic food containers. After 10 days of sitting in distilled water, an average of 55.4 mg/ of phthalates from each kilogram of plastic “migrated” into the water. To a lesser degree the phthalates from plastics dissolved into acetic acid 3% (44.4 mg/kg) and 10% ethyl alcohol (32.3 mg/kg).

The Croatian study shows what Benjamin would suspect, if he took chemistry in college: Water is the universal solvent; and it dissolves even the primarily fat soluble phthalates. The more that you filter water to remove other toxic solutes, the more aggressive water becomes in its power to reach osmolar equilibrium by dissolving its non-inert containers.

What is also obviously missing from the Croatians’ controlled, static testing model are the temperature variations that the plastic bottled water product goes through to get from bottling point to the mouth of the consumer. Transport trucks probably reach a very high temperature in the non refrigerated cargo areas that carry PETE (recycle code #1 plastic) bottled water in the summer. Heat facilitates the dissolution of phthalates into the water. Then the bottles may be stored for a much longer time than 10 days prior to consumption. Furthermore, freezing the containers produces micro-fissures in the interior surface of the plastic bottle container as the water expands, exponentially exposing more solute surface area. Traumatic handling or any motion of the package will further enhance diffusion. Applying the laws of physics, all of these factors clearly by extrapolation will increase the water dissolution of the plastic containers.

Fatty foods in plastic containers are even more problematic, as fats are absorbed differently and carry their phthalate solvents into our bodies more easily. Phthalates bio-accumulate because of their fat solubility. Phthalates concentrate in such fat organs in our bodies such as brains, prostates, testicles, ovaries, breasts and, unfortunately, breast milk. (The other popular food alternatives for infants are worse. Commercial baby formulas are loaded with the manmade phthalates.)

I think the worst example of food containment in plastic is milk. All milk except non-fat milk contains fat. Cow milk itself represents a major source of the fats ingested by the public, especially children. Cattle concentrate these chemicals by bioaccummulation because EDC’s from plastics are ubiquitous in water and most animal food sources. Meat and dairy products are therefore a major contributor to this group of human food chain derived toxins, regardless of their containment. It is now irresponsible to add more phathalates to the products by putting the milk products in plastic containers that add MORE EDC’s.

Cattle have intentially been “fattened up” by adding hormones AND unintentially “fattened up” more by the contamination of cattle food and water by EDC’s. The combination of these chemicals passed on to the consumers in concentrated form in milk products will most likely exacerbate obesity in humans that consume them as well.

Our current scientific knowledge and common sense screams for an end to consumer purchase of milk bottled in plastics. Until milk companies have their products quantatatively analysed for these EDC’s by competent independent laboratories, my strong recommendation is to avoid purchase and consumption of milk and dairy products contained in plastic.

Sadly, the Croatian authors’ 2003 conclusions about the safety of plastics were: “These (exposure) levels would not present a hazard for human health, not even for a prolonged period of time.” However, what was deemed acceptable levels of phthalates in 2003 now is recognized as “crystal clearly” too high.

Selective interpretations from the ACC (American Chemistry Council) lead to this erroneously high level being “set” for past toxicity standards. The ACC is an “industry group” advisor. It’s much like the wolf guarding the henhouse. Thanks to the ACC efforts, control regulations placed upon this chemical class are minimal. An ongoing perpetuation of phthalate approval for use in virtually everything, including containment of food, has resulted. In fact, the perpetuation of these mythological high safety standards has resulted in the majority of our food being wrapped or contained in plastics that leach EDC’s into our foods.

The ACC’s Phthalate Esters Panel is made up representatives from BASF, Eastman Chemical, Exxon-Mobil Chemical, Ferro, and Teknor Apex Corporations. After graduating, Benjamin could have gone to work for any of these companies to share the wealth that plastics manufacturing have reaped, instead of hanging around and sporting Mrs. Robinson for the summer!

I love one of the rationalization examples the ACC makes on their PHTHALATES INFORMATION CENTER webpage: “Thanks to phthalates, your nail polish doesn’t chip.” I wonder if they are aware of the “unexplained” high rate of breast cancer in manicurists. I also wonder if they are aware that most breast tissues and breast cancers have sex hormone receptors that are acted upon by the EDC’s found in plastics.

To further confuse the public, the ACC webpage also redefines the PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE which in its un-perverted definition simply is: A (chemical) should not be considered safe until it is proven safe. Environmentalists who are trying to unravel the cause-effect relationships of environment chemicals, to the otherwise unexplained epidemics of various diseases now affecting man as well as every species on our planet, encourage its application. The ACC’s watered down version suggests that cost effective, fearless risks are worth taking.

Can the ACC keep up the phthalate safety illusion forever? The American Tobacco Association almost got away with it!

We now know that EDC’s, like hormones themselves require very minute amounts to have physiologic impact. EDC’s are active in parts per trillion! For example, the usual adult maintenance dose of levothyroxine, a drug to replace depleted natural thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism, is 1.6 micrograms/Kg/day. Why would I even think about saying that a dose in the milligrams (1000 times as much as a microgram) of a known EDC would be safe, especially for a child or developing fetus?

We now know that phthalates also work in synergy with chemicals in other classes to exert “more than additive” physiologic effects.

Previous experiments in rodents showed that high levels of phthalates interfer with testosterone during gestation resulting in birth defects of the genitalia, testicular cancer, and infertility in the rats.

The ACC inspired acceptable level of phthalate myth should be blown out of the water with a recent study completed by the University of Rochester School of Medicine and dentistry. This study of 85 human infant boys reported in May 2005 showed that phthalate levels found normally in the general population adversely influenced sexual development. The phthalate exposure these children had correlated with smaller penis size and incomplete testicular descent, which is a condition that greatly increases the risk of testicular cancer if left untreated.

Solution 1 – Choose glass containers over plastic for purchase and storage of food and beverages including milk and water.

American children can consume several milligrams of phthalate each day.

I wonder if THE GRADUATE’s Mr. Robinson noticed that most of the teenage girls now-days have bigger breasts than his seductive wife (gynecomastia), and that they begin thelarche (breast development) and menarche (menstruation) at a significantly younger age, or that many more have an endocrine pathology called PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).

The chances of a woman getting breast cancer in her lifetime has probably gone from a risk of less than 1 in 10 (10%) before THE GRADUATE was made to a 1 in about 7.5 (13.2 %) rate today.

The choice to avoid food chain plastics is a “no-brainer” when you understand how these chemicals persist and accumulate in our environment, and how they function in our bodies!

Solution 2 – Choose stainless steel containers over plastic for storage of food and beverages including water.

Unfortunately, we are past the point of no return with phthalates. Just like



cigarettes I think we’ll have to live as prisoners with their impact on future generations. The only defense we have at this time is to individually choose to avoid them when we can, to mitigate their effects on our health.

Phthalates clearly act upon hormone receptors in both men and women. A concern is the potential phthalate impact on breast and other hormone sensitive tissue in human females, but phthalate’s demasculinizing potential on males is more of a threat to all species on the planet.

Unlike Mr. McGuire, I think we can choose a better future by avoiding his “one word.” We should start by trying to reduce plastics in our food chain exposures.

Bottom line:

I would strongly advise consumers to purchase beverages and non-solid food products packaged in glass rather than plastic if given the choice.

Getting Along With People of Diverse Backgrounds

March 27th, 2012

In society today, people of diverse backgrounds must learn to get along with each other. How can we accomplish this goal? Here are some ways people of diverse backgrounds can get along together.

These are by no means the graven in stones rules, but I will list my ways to get along and live in a steady, peaceful environment.

One of the many ways people can get along is by asking questions about a person or situation to better understand or to gain more insight about a person of a diverse background. When you ask questions, both you and the other person can better get along and live in harmony.

The second way get along with people of diverse backgrounds is to not prejudge people and their situation. This means when you first see someone, don’t be so quick to say something bad about the person. Don’t dislike someone just because you had one bad experience with that nationality in the past. We must learn that different people do different things.

The third way you can better get along with people of diverse backgrounds is by listening to others’ opinions. Don’t be so quick to shoot them down or ignore them. If their opinion makes a good point, don’t disagree just because you want to be right. Take everybody’s opinion just as if it was your own opinion.

The fourth way is by taking somebody for his or her character. This means don’t prejudge them but rather take them for what kind of person they are. If they are nice, fun, and easy to get along with, judge them by their character. Accept them for their good qualities and not by how they look or dress. Don’t label somebody for his or her outward appearance.

These qualities can be instilled in children at a young age. If the mother and the father teach them the right way, they will grow up to be good-hearted people. It’s all up to us to put forth the effort to get along. That’s why people of diverse backgrounds can get along together.

It’s all up to us to put forth the effort to get along. That’s why people of diverse backgrounds can get along together.

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Endometrial "Chocolate" Cyst – What is Sweet About It?

March 25th, 2012

Are your female parts messing up on you right now…(your gyny just told you that you’ve got an endometrial “chocolate” cyst)… could you not even imagine having sex anyway, no matter how hot your partner or the guy next door is? You know it would probably hurt like heck.. and besides, you need to shave your toes and who else knows where! You’re not feeling at all sexy… in fact you feel rather like a bloated fat cow! Guess how I feel?

Well, when you’ve got “endo”, then endometrial cysts, known also as chocolate cysts because they contain dark, old blood are often just around the corner. I love chocolate, but to have something named like it in my body is gruesome. Endometriosis is causing me enough pain already, but now this on top it it, it is really unnerving.

The other day my mum called, and I told her that the doc said I’d an “endometrial chocolate cysts”, and guess what she said? She said why don’t you write about it, they’re so many women out there who have the same worries like you. I think she is actually right, why not?

O.k., so just let me go back to what I said about these chocolate cysts that are not sweet at all. You can find them also under “endometrioma”, or endometrioid cyst.

These ovarian cysts are termed as abnormal, or complex because they are made of solids, and fluids. In my understanding ‘complex’ means also more complicated. This type of cyst on the ovaries, however, does not necessarily posit danger – as once again, some of them are just benign, I mean not cancerous.

Endometrial, “chocolate” cysts may not cause specific symptoms. The symptoms may be the same as those of endometriosis, since the endometrioma may not be the only site of endometriosis.

Some women have no symptoms; others have severe menstrual cramps, pain with intercourse, or pain during a bowel movement. These cysts form as the result of endometriosis, a disease in which patches of tissue from the uterine lining are found outside the uterus. Such a cyst is formed when a small patch of endometrial tissue bleeds, sloughs off, becomes transplanted, and develops to enlarge inside the ovaries.

A complication is, for sure, internal bleeding. It may be caused if the contents of a ruptured endometrial cyst of a good size spill into the pelvic cavity. The other pelvic organs in the vicinity can also be at risk if the contents reach their surfaces. Pelvic inflammation causes a lot of pain, and affects your tubes, and the ovaries. The cyst may also twist and damage your ovary.

As these cysts can reach a size of a tennis ball, it is really the question what you’re going to do to shrink them. I’ve never been a good medical patient, and I actually don’t trust doctors a lot. Western medicine, and procedures oftentimes only treat the symptoms but no the root cause, and this holds also true for treating cysts.

surgery is very expensive, and perhaps not always necessary. I rather believe in natural, holistic ways of healing, and I would try everything else first before I’d consider operation. There is no question about it, in emergency cases I’d go to hospital but not if I know about my condition, and I’ve got time to do something about it. How does this sound to you? Do I make sense here?

If you’re interested in ovarian cyst surgery methods, and want to find out more you can go to my website http://cystonovarycure.info

You can also click this link now to discover the secret natural methods that heal your endometrial chocolate cyst, but no matter what your decision, these secret methods will change your health for the better!

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Nursing Careers – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

March 22nd, 2012

Switching careers to go into registered nursing is all the rage these days. After all, the demand is high, the pay is great, and a career as a registered nurse comes with excellent benefits and a flexible schedule. It’s the perfect career choice, right?

Well, maybe.

The classes required to get a degree as a registered nurse will take you a minimum of three years – a year of prerequisite classes and two years for the associated nursing degree. That’s a big chunk of your life, to say nothing about the expenses – most likely tens of thousands of dollars in tuition.

It can be a great job, but it is definitely not the job for everyone. Here is a breakdown of the things you should consider before applying to nursing school:

THE GOOD: Every day that you go into work, you are helping sick people get better or feel better. You are teaching sick or injured people how to take care of themselves. You are in a job where you are truly, urgently needed. You are also working in a field with such high job demand that many employers are offering thousands of dollars in financial incentive to work with them.

You can choose what shifts you want to work, what type environment you want to work in – elementary school? Prison? Travel nurse? Emergency room? Labor and delivery? Plastic surgery? doctor’s office? Research facility? Hospice? Long term care facility? You have the opportunity to work tons of overtime if and when you want to. Your employer will pay to further your education. You can work three twelve hour shifts and have that be considered full time in some facilities.

The BAD: You will have to be able to deal with a lot of emotional stress. Depending on the type of nursing job you end up in, you may witness death and heartbreak, right in front of you. You may love your patients and then watch them pass away. Their family members may be right there when that happens.

You also have taken on a job with life and death responsibility, and must be on your toes at all time. You are giving your patients medicine, and monitoring desperately sick people for any change in their condition, and you could cause serious injury or death if you make a mistake.

The ugly: The risk of lawsuits, dealing with angry and hostile patients, dealing with angry and hostile families of patients. Anyone who works in the healthcare field runs the risk of being sued. You can minimize that risk by being careful, being competent, being prepared, following all procedures correctly, documenting everything that you do, and refusing to take on work in an unsafe environment where you know you are not able to give adequate care to patients, but you can never make the risk go away completely.

To an extent, you can lessen that concern by getting your own medical malpractice insurance on top of whatever protection you get from the hospital, but a lawsuit is always going to cause stress.

As for angry and hostile patients – you are dealing with people at the absolute worst time in their life, when they are sick, afraid, and in pain. And they may not react well to being in that situation. And frankly, some people are just unpleasant and angry and difficult to deal with even on a good day – and they need medical care too. You can pick the type of facility that you work in, and if you are working in, say, an elementary school, or a plastic surgeon’s office, or a resort, you are certainly much less likely to deal with the most difficult, high stress type of patients.

These are all things to consider before embarking on a nursing career. But remember, also, there are many nurses out there who love their jobs, and are well paid to do the job they love. Talk to some nurses, think about the risks and benefits, and then if it makes sense for you, contact your State Board of Nursing for a list of nursing schools near you.

For plenty of great tips and resources on what type of nursing school is best for you, getting past nursing school waiting lists and finding money for nursing school, visit [http://www.nursingschoolprograms.com]

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