The face is a part of the body that every one desires to keep as its best, because it's the most visible part of our body. So, if this important part becomes disfigured, an emotional reaction occurs. That is why people are so conscious whenever they have any spots on their face. It makes them feel less confident on the way they deal with people because of the affected self esteem that these marks could bring. An example of an upsetting skin...more
Step back and take a deep breath. Feels great, doesn't it? With the winter season well upon us, it is time to stop and think about the quality of the air you are breathing. Air quality issues do not get the same attention in the winter months as they might in the summer, but that does not mean that they do not exist. In fact, a number of studies have shown that indoor air quality is often worse in the winter.This happens for a number of...more
Sleep Apnea or Obstructive Sleep Apnea as it is sometimes called, usually involves loud snoring as one of the symptoms. Anyone that has ever slept with a snoring partner knows that it can be seriously disruptive to one's own sleep. But what effect, long term, does it have on a marriage? It is a common situation in many marriages and apparently has more impact than many couples think.Obviously the experience of sleeping with a loud snoring partner is not positive, but what can be done? This is the question that The Sleep Disorders Center at Rush University Medical Center recently set out to ask and hopefully solve. In doing so, they hope to save marriages that might be in danger of divorce due to this cronic, ongoing struggle to get enough rest at night....and all the interpersonal implications of not achieving a balanced level of sleep.The Center is currently evaluating 10 couples in which the male has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The couples begin by completing surveys about sleepiness, marriage satisfaction and quality of life. After this step the couples spend the night in the Center's sleep lab where technicians determine each partner's quantity and quality...more
Over the past six years, I have belonged to two support groups, and they've both been helpful in different ways. In my bipolar support group, I was one of the sufferers, though our group also welcomed family members and friends. My Alzheimer's support group was for caregivers of those with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia. Both groups...more
If we fail to ask questions when we have an appointment with a medical professional, we may not be getting the full value from the visit. Asking direct, relevant questions of a doctor is not an imposition. It is our right and is also in the best interests of the doctor to provide all of the information we need. Forgetting to ask questions during an...more
The art and science of permanent makeup goes by many different names: micropigmentation, permanent cosmetics, derma pigmentation, intradermal cosmetics, dermagraphics and cosmetic tattoos. As the procedures associated with permanent makeup become more main stream the public becomes more aware of the benefits, especially for individuals that suffer from illness, disease, injury or scarring. In my recent article "Building a Bridge: Cosmetic Surgery and Micropigmentation" I explored the relationship between cosmetic surgery and permanent makeup. I would now like to discuss how permanent makeup can work as part of the solution for a variety of medical conditions. Physicians as PartnersAccording to the Third Edition of "Medical Issues for Permanent Cosmetic Technicians" published by the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals "permanent cosmetic professionals are part of a new and exciting trend in the aesthetic medical arena". It goes on to say that plastic surgery and dermatology centers are now offering permanent makeup procedures in order to attract new patients. At times physicians recommend permanent makeup to compliment other cosmetic procedures, such as Botox or a...more
One of my favorite things to do when I was younger was go to air shows. There, I could feel the planes flying over me, even before I could see them. Having been born with a hearing impairment made me particularly sensitive to sound, and I had to...more
For anyone with even a remote interest in Pilates, the equipment used for training is extremely interesting. With exciting names like the Reformer and the Cadillac, how could one not be interested? While there are literally dozens of individual...more
When we decide to lose weight the first thing we do is eat less food, right? We may miss meals or eat small amounts in the hope that our body will burn off the fat on it's own. In actual fact eating less makes it more difficult to lose weight.When...more
Trying to find the simplest way to order your contact lenses may have been a difficult feat in the past, but not anymore. With the world wide web so easily accessible to many, the availability of ordering the perfect contact lens online is great. ...more
What is Your Cellular Age?Dr. Jonas Frisen was working in his lab, when he found something that almost caused him to fall off of his lab stool.Dr. Frisen is a stem cell biologist in Stockholm. He was working on developing a new way to estimate the...more
Inflammation has been in the news a lot lately. Not just inflammation but silent inflammation. It's been the topic in countless newspaper articles and TV news reports. So what's all the fuss about silent inflammation?According to Dr. Barry Sears...more