Every person who decided to go under the knife has his own good reason. Some are seeking it to change a feature they never liked while others are doing it to maintain that young look regardless the intention is for professional or personal.

Cosmetic procedures come in two types – one that uses surgical instruments and the other does not. Both surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures come in a wide range and just last month, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery released their 15th annual multi-specialty procedural statistics, revealing the total number of surgical and nonsurgical procedures that were performed in the United States for the year 2011.

Based on the data, around 9.2 million cosmetic surgeries were conducted. And here is the top five most commonly performed procedures, which mainly involve application of surgical instruments:
  1. Liposuction – 325,332 
  2. Breast Augmentation – 316,848
  3. Abdominoplasty – 149,410
  4. Eyelid Surgery – 147,540
  5. Breast Lift – 127,054
However, with the invention of video chat technology, there is also one type of cosmetic procedure that is quickly growing in the US these days – the chin implants. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported an increase of 66 percent increase in the number of women who are considering chin augmentation as a way to restore youthful look and 76 percent in men. These figures are more than the total percentages of breast implants, Botox and liposuction.
 This rapid increase in the number of people availing for chin implant is not surprising because it is recorded that on average, a surgeon in the US who expertly uses the surgical instruments for chin implant is seen in the operating room in every 25 minutes working on patient’s chin and jawline, which are being considered as among the first areas to show signs of aging.

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17702438
http://www.surgery.org/media/news-releases/celebrating-15-years-of-trustworthy-plastic-surgery-statistics

 
 
There’s good news for those with expertise in providing professional healthcare service. Based on the US Labor Department’s employment projection, which the U.S News compiled and  published, jobs in healthcare industry are still among the best for 2012.

It was estimated that there will be around 5.6 million new openings not just for healthcare workers but also for those working in social services. And for the nth time, professionals with bachelor’s degree in nursing and are adept in using the basic medical instruments are still the most in demand in healthcare this year 2012. More than 70,000 positions for nurses are projected to open up in the next few years.

However, aside from job vacancies for nursing professionals who normally use the basic medical instruments for diagnosing like thermometer and blood pressure device, there are also other types of professional occupations  in healthcare that are in demand. Some of them are requiring higher education and expertise in using the different medical instruments and equipments. But there are also some that require only little or no specialized education. Aside from registered nurses, the other healthcare occupations that are in demand for 2012 are pharmacist, medical assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist, clinical laboratory technician, paramedic, and massage therapist.

Source: Best 25 Jobs of 2012

 
 
It is a misconception that those women who had experienced abortion have greater possibility of developing mental health problems. Just recently, the U.K.’s National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health reviewed 44 studies conducted all over the world for the past 20 years about the connection of mental health problems experienced by women and abortion. And the findings, it is not abortion that put the women’s mental health at risk but unwanted pregnancies instead.

Dr. Tim Kendall, director of the mentioned centre, stated that their analysis regarding women’s mental health problems seemed to be more associated with unwanted pregnancies. He added that in general, about 11-12% of women may suffer from mental health problems but that figure would rise to as much as one-third for women who had unwanted pregnancies.  Meanwhile for women who later had abortion, study finds no increase rate of mental health problems. With this recent analysis, Dr. Kendall concluded that women who are having unwanted pregnancy should be given with much concern as unwanted pregnancy is looked on to be more problematic rather than abortion. 

 
 
Becoming a nurse is just one of the ideal professions for persons who have dedication to help others whose health is in bad condition by lessening, if not taking away, the pain and suffering they are currently experiencing. Apart from dedication to make a positive contribution and improve the life of others, the demand for nurses today is still high because baby boomers are aging and some nurses are also retiring. So there is always a need for new health care workers who will be entrusted to properly take care and use the hospital medical equipments that will help determine the homeostasis if it is stable or not.

But more than its good points of becoming a nurse, do you know that this profession has also some disadvantages? One of them is about health matters. Just consider the working schedule of nurses. There are times that they will be assigned on night shift, which let them suffer from sleep-deprivation. According to health experts, sleep deprivation is one of the primary reasons why many nurses today are at risk of developing life-threatening diseases such heart disease, obesity, ulcers, as well as depression since the circadian rhythm of a person is affected.

And in a recent study that was first published on PLoS Medicine Journal, it also revealed that aside from the previously identified disorders, these people who are who are primarily responsible for using the different hospital medical equipments for monitoring vital signs have also a bigger chance to develop type 2 diabetes.

It is a known fact that when a person is still working on a period wherein he or she is supposed to be in bed, the glands that are responsible for producing hormones essentials for the overall function of body system is likewise disrupted. Too much or too little production of hormones, according to medical doctors who are more expert in using today’s innovative hospital medical equipments, could cause abnormalities in the body. With the case of sleep deprivation on nurses and their risk to develop Type 2 diabetes, the professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health named Dr. Franklin Hu said that lack of sleep affects the ability of the body to properly produce insulin, which helps regulate the blood sugar levels. 

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biological clock of a human/circadian rhythm
 
 
Are you one of those who have a family history of high blood pressure, have pre-hypertension, or suffering from hypertension? This post is perfect for you as it explains the best things you can so to keep your blood pressure stable. 
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Watch Your Eating Habits

Unhealthy eating habits can significantly affect one’s blood pressure level. So to reduce or prevent the onset of hypertension, it is a must to make dietary improvements. A healthy balanced diet for people who have greater chances of developing hypertension, according to medical doctors whose basic instrument is a blood pressure tester, should consists of more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods that includes lean meat, fish, nuts and beans.  Low-sodium diet is also highly advised to people who are at risk of high blood pressure.
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Get More Active

It is proven that once the BP of an individual who is into sedentary  life is checked using a blood pressure tester, the result is always higher. In addition to high blood pressure, absence of physical activity is also linked to increase the risk of developing chronic ailments. This is exactly the reason why healthcare professionals often advise individuals to be more active in their daily life because it really helps in keeping your BP level stable and your heart healthy. There’s no specific exercise for lowering blood pressure. You can do any activity as long as it makes you feel warm and slightly out of breath. 
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Don’t Smoke and Drink Less

The nicotine found in the cigarettes causes the constriction of blood vessels and this can lead to hypertension. Too much alcohol consumption also contributes to a number of health complications including high blood pressure as it interfere the circulation of the blood to the heart. So to avoid overstraining the heart and prevent the narrowing of blood vessels, it is highly advised to stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption. It is recommended that men should drink no more than 2 servings of alcohol per day and women should limit to 1 serving for day.
How much is one serving of alcohol?
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12 ounces (355 mL) of beer is 1 serving

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5 ounces (148 mL) of wine is 1 serving

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1.5 ounces (44 mL) of 80-proof liquor like vodka, gin, scotch, bourbon, brandy, or rum is 1 serving


 
 
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A handful of walnuts included in a daily diet plan may reduce women’s risk of developing breast cancer. This is what the researchers of Marshall University have just revealed after they studied the effects of having walnuts in the daily diet of transgenic mice.

 Based on the result of their research, which was published in the Journal Nutrition and Cancer, mice that were fed a diet containing 2 ounces of walnuts a day have significantly dropped the risk of developing breast cancer up to 50% compared to mice with typical diet. Aside from that, the number and size of tumors seen on a group of mice with walnut component in their diet were by far smaller and lesser.

When asked what’s in the walnut that help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, Dr. Elaine Hardman who spearheaded the research said that it is the high levels of vitamin E component of walnut that primarily helps slow down tumor growth. It was also quoted in her interview that if people will only adapt to a more healthy diet, which means eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nuts; it will be easy to prevent breast cancer risk and other life-threatening diseases.

 
 
Recent studies revealed that both marriage and divorce can lead to weight gain among couples. But these life-changing events affect men and women differently. A team of researchers from Ohio State University spearheaded Dmitry Tumin found that women are more likely to gain weight after marriage than men. On the other hand, men tend to get a few extra pounds after a divorce. The swings for both genders become more distinct after the age of 30.
 
Determining the exact reasons why major weight gain is more likely for men after a divorce and for women after marriage was not included in the study. However, Prof Zhenchao Qian who is part of the research team believed that the patterns of diet and physical activity of both genders during this marital transition can somehow be among the contributing factors.
  
In this post, I decided to look at some of the most common reasons that may lead to weight gain once a woman decided to marry.
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Doesn’t need to attract a partner – The primary reason why many unmarried woman are so conscious about their body shape is to attract a partner. But sad to say, once they already found their partner and been secured through marriage, they often discard those healthy lifestyle habits that keep them look and feel at their best. 
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Becomes pregnant – It is expected that once a woman marry, she will bear a child. According to healthcare professionals who are primarily tasked to use those hospital medical equipment for birth delivery, most pregnant women crave for foods believing that they have to eat a lot to provide the needed nutrients of the developing life in their womb. Unfortunately, many child-bearing women desire for foods that are less nutritious. Apart from overeating, they become inactive too. Overeating + less physical activity results to unwanted fat.
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Learned to cook for gratification – Traditionally, it is included in the responsibility of married woman to prepare meals for the family. Many married women likewise use their cooking skills to impress their partner. But the more the husband appreciates the food and cooking effort of his wife; the food often becomes the gratification source of the woman. As a result, additional weight is gained by the couple.
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Eat as much as their partner – The amount of energy needed by a person depends on his/her body size and daily activities. Once the couple gets married, both of them eat as much as their partner does. This is usually the problem encountered by women whose husband has bigger body built because they (the woman) often go beyond their recommended dietary intake.
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Becomes the food garbage bin – Being frugal is often one of the qualities of most married women. With today’s tough economy, many moms can’t stand seeing those leftover or uneaten foods on the plate of their partner or children. So what they did is to eat them even if they are already full. These kinds of moms perhaps avoid wasting of foods but they never realized that they are also getting unnecessary calories from that.
 
 
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For many years, we’ve known Morocco as one of the best tourist destinations in North Africa. This place has been so popular for its great culture, exotic foods, beautiful beaches along the Atlantic coast, and historic sites.  But aside from their wonderful tourist spots, do you know that Morocco’s affordable plastic surgery clinics is also one of the many reasons why more and more people from foreign countries are visiting this place?

That’s true! Morocco is becoming one of the favorite destinations of beauty-conscious tourists. Just recently, the article of AFP correspondent Charlotte Cans was featured on Yahoo News regarding the increasing number of tourists in Morocco. She mentioned in her write-up that a lot of people from foreign lands are flocking to this particular place in North Africa not just for sun, sea, but also for its plastic surgery clinics. She stated also in her written piece that the price of the cosmetic operation such as face-lift, nose job, tummy tuck, and the likes are much cheaper compared to other countries across Europe. And this can be a good reason to consider why beauty-conscious people who want to spend their money wisely are attracted to visit the place.

An Overview of Plastic Surgery in Morocco
·  Plastic surgery in Morocco has been around since 1950s.
·  80 percent of the plastic surgeons of both public and private clinics are operating in the country.
· Liposuction and breast enhancement are the most popular cosmetic operations availed by patients.
·   Approximately 1,000 to 1,200 cosmetic operations are done every month. 10 to 15 percent of the patients are foreigners.
·  75 percent of total cosmetic surgeries are performed on women according to SMCPRE (Moroccan Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery). However, the number of men availing for plastic surgery (penoplasty in particular) is also increasing.


 
 
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image source: joint-pain-solutions.com

If you are a healthy person, your immune system acts as the body’s protector. It is the one responsible for identifying the pathogens and tumor cells that could cause infections and illnesses and then prevent them from entering your body. But when your immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells, you are already suffering from an autoimmune disorder. There are so many diseases that are categorized under autoimmune disorder because of their unknown cause. A good example for this is the juvenile arthritis (JA).

Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States. Based on data provided by arthritis.org, about 294,000 kids in America are being affected by the said disease. When we speak of juvenile arthritis, it refers to a chronic condition that involves inflammation in one or more joints of children ages 16 and below. It is not a contagious disease. But because the symptoms range from mild to severe, which could affect the entire life of a youngster, protecting your child from the said type of arthritis is imperative. And since the whole July is being observed in US healthcare as the Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, I decided tackle about JA and share what are the steps you can do to help your child if ever he/she is one of those who have the said disorder.

A child can only be identified as positive for JA after the doctor has get the patient’s medical history, performed physical exam, and do some lab tests. Aside from that, some doctors would also use certain hospital medical equipment called X-ray to determine joint deformities especially if the patient is already experiencing severe symptoms. Common symptoms of JA include persistent pain, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness of joints. These are all because of damage joints. Aside from joint pain, a juvenile diagnosed to have arthritis especially if it is already affecting the entire body may also have high fever and skin rash.

As mentioned earlier, JA is a chronic disease and that means a lifelong condition. But through proper and immediate care management, symptoms may gradually lessen or disappear as they enter the adulthood. So if you are one of those parents who have a kid complaining about joint pain or is at risk for JA, it would be beneficial if as early as now you are going to bring him/her to a pediatric rheumatologist who will look at your child medical history to find signs of JA. If ever your kid is positive for the said disorder, the pediatric rheumatologist often prescribes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to relieve inflamed joint. Meanwhile for patient whose JA is already in moderate to severe cases, more powerful medications or a combination of medicines are prescribed. Aside from that, you can also help improve the condition of your child’s joints by following the recommended treatment plans of his/her medical specialist. Often, doctors for JA advised the patients to improve their physically activity, undergo physical and/or occupational therapy for better range of motion, visit the ophthalmologist for eye care and dentist for dental care. Last but not the least, ensure proper nutrition. The ideal diets for children with JA are those that will control or reduce joint inflammation such as low-carb diet, lean protein diet as well as foods rich in mono and polysaturated fats.
 
 
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While on my way to work, I got a shocking message from my best friend Lyn telling me that her grandfather has just passed away at around 3 in the morning. I felt so sad because Lyn’s grandfather has been so good to me. He considers me just like his own grandchild. I have no idea what was the cause of his death and since using of cellular phone is not allowed in our working station; I keep on wondering why he died so soon.

During our 1-hour lunch break, I didn’t let the time pass without asking my best friend what was the cause of his grandpa’s death. And she quickly replied liver cirrhosis. I don’t have much knowledge about the said disease so I immediately did a research and here’s what I found on Wikipedia. Cirrhosis derives from a Greek word kirrhos, which means tawny (yellowish-brown/orange-brown). The English medical suffix –osis means disease. And from that root words, I was able to conclude that liver cirrhosis is a disease or a condition in which the liver becomes yellow-brown or orange-brown in color.
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A normal or healthy liver, once examined using hospital medical equipment, appears in brown color and has a smooth surface. It weighs about 1200 to 1600 grams and considered as the largest and strongest organ found inside the body. Strongest because it is responsible for a number of functions such as to regulate metabolism, produce enzyme, and detoxify poisons or excessive waste build up. This digestive organ has also the capacity to regenerate most of its cells when they become damage. However, just like any other organs found in the body, the liver will then fail to function especially if not taken care well. And cirrhosis is one of the common conditions associated with the liver. 

So how does cirrhosis of the liver happen? For sure this is also the question that runs in your mind. Well, based on my research, liver cirrhosis could either be due to hepatitis (an infection of the liver), poor lifestyle, metabolic or inherited disorder, primary biliary cirrhosis or autoimmune chronic hepatitis. Apart from those causes, too much alcohol consumption is also associated with the said liver disease.  

Alcohol causes the liver to make more fatty acids. These fatty deposits in the liver if not cleared out of the body causes damage to the liver. From uncleared fatty acids, the liver may now generate fibrous scar tissue or fibrosis. Fibrosis is still curable through abstinence on alcohol and having a healthy diet. However, if the person continues to drink, cirrhosis may develop in which the liver cells die and the body is no longer capable to regenerate them. Liver cirrhosis is categorized under chronic disease, meaning nothing can be done to repair the liver or cure the disorder especially if it is already at the end stage. And this is what happened to my best friend's grandfather. He continues to drink alcohol and never shared to his family the moment he experienced abnormalities in his system. Since his liver damage is already at worst stage, the doctor can no longer save his life. 

Aside from cirrhosis, I also learned that there are so many diseases associated with alcoholism like cancer, tuberculosis, anemia, lung- and heart-related diseases, mental disorders, infertility, sexual dysfunction, diabetes, and other infectious diseases. 



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