Health

Bariatric surgery is a technique that adjusts the structure of specific parts of the digestive system to help you lose weight. Weight loss surgeries are an excellent way for you to eliminate unwanted fat and enhance your shape. As with all weight loss surgeries, success depends on making lifelong changes to your eating and exercise habits. All surgery has risks, and your weight, age, and medical history will determine your specific risk. Fortunately, doctors at The Bariatric Experts offer surgery revisions in Frisco to help patients maximize and maintain weight loss results.

What are the main types of bariatric surgery?

Doctors perform two primary weight-loss surgeries in most bariatric clinics: The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy. Both procedures are effective in treating obesity. Moreover, each treatment takes a few hours to perform and requires a short hospital stay. The Roux-en-Y is the most effective treatment for weight loss and it provides various health benefits.

What to expect during Roux-en-Y surgery

 Your surgeon will make small incisions on the abdomen to gain access to the abdominal cavity. Afterward, your card provider will place specific instruments on the incisions to serve as a passageway for surgical instruments to access the abdominal cavity. Your surgeon will observe the abdominal cavity using a laparoscope or video camera. Later your surgeon will create a small stomach pouch using a staling device. Separation of the small intestine into two sections follows.  Your doctor will attach the lower portion of the small intestine to the newly created stomach pouch. This approach allows food to pass directly into the small intestine, where digestion continues. The upper portion of your small intestines will then be reconnected to the lower part of the intestine. The bile and pancreatic fluids from the liver and pancreas allow for thorough digestion of food. After the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract has been altered, this leads to decreased hunger and increased feelings of fullness after meals.

What to expect during sleeve gastrectomy

As mentioned before, the Roux-en-Y is the procedure that most doctors recommend for patients seeking weight loss. However, in some cases, there is another surgery called sleeve gastrectomy. This procedure is similar to the Roux-en-Y. Your doctor will place surgical instruments into your incisions to access the abdominal cavity and view the abdomen laparoscopically.

The average human stomach can increase in size and hold up to one and a half liters of food. While in the stomach, food mixes with digestive enzymes to help break down the food to a more simple form for easy digestion and absorption when it is in the small bowel. During a sleeve gastrectomy, your doctor will create a thin vertical sleeve by using a staling device. This sleeve will typically hold between 50 and 150 milliliters. Part of the stomach is removed, which results in decreased hunger and increased feelings of fullness after meals. Re-routing of the small bowel is not necessary for the sleeve gastrectomy.

Contact The Bariatric Experts to learn more about the weight loss surgeries available to help you achieve your ideal size and shape.

Teeth whitening, as the name implies, is a process used to brighten natural tooth color. It is as simple as making our teeth sparkle and feel that we deserve to have whiter teeth, just like those pretty models on TV commercials that make us want to buy those products. Teeth whitening has been around for several decades, and the process itself has not changed much. While you should see a Hilliard teeth whitening specialist for your needs, you may want to try a few different options if you have mildly stained teeth. New teeth whitening solutions have come up over the past few years, so anyone can access them even without seeing a dentist. Here, we look at some of the options you have. Read on for more.

• Coconut Oil

“Oil pulling” is popular nowadays, thanks to the fantastic health benefits of coconut oil. And guess what? Coconut oil can also be used for teeth whitening. How does it work? Coconut oil’s natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties help remove plaque that causes teeth discoloration by preventing bacteria from sticking on your gums and teeth, thus reducing inflammation and giving your teeth a whiter look. Rub some coconut oil on your toothbrush and brush for 5 minutes just like you usually brush your teeth, then rinse after that and spit out the fat.

• Teeth whitening strips

This is one of the most popular ways to get brighter teeth without going that expensive route of professional whitening. You can buy teeth whitening strips over the counter, and they work by applying a thin film of peroxide on our teeth to make them brighter. Some even offer desensitizing action, which is perfect for those with sensitive teeth. However, these whitening strips only give you temporary results as they wash off easily when we eat or drink anything.

• Teeth Whitening Toothpastes

Another way to brighten teeth is by using teeth whitening toothpaste. However, before you grab any baking soda-based toothpaste in the market, make sure it has 1% hydrogen peroxide concentration or at least 1450 ppm fluoride concentration with a clinical paper backing its claims.

• Baking Soda

It is a cheap and natural teeth whitening solution as it acts as a mild abrasive to remove stains from our teeth. Wet your toothbrush, dip in baking soda, then brush normally, just like how you do it with toothpaste. You can also use a damp cotton swab to rub some baking powder against your stained areas and leave it for about 10 minutes before rinsing.

• Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has natural acidity, which can break down the stains on our teeth. Furthermore, it also helps reduce inflammation of gums, thus preventing periodontal disease. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar with water and rinse using the mixture for about 2 minutes but make sure not to swallow the solution. If you want to get quicker results, try jellied apple cider vinegar.

In summary, teeth whitening solutions have become increasingly popular. While you should see a dentist for this, you can try a few home solutions. They include apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and coconut oil. Teeth whitening strips and toothpaste can also help.

The spine is among the most fragile body organs. Damage to the spine may lead to complications affecting your body function. Different factors may lead to spine interference, including sports injuries, accidents, health conditions, and others.

Scoliosis is the most common disorder of the spine that alters your health and life quality. Dr. McNulty of scoliosis in Las Vegas is an orthopedic and spine surgeon. Dr. McNulty can help to provide the care you need to relieve your symptoms. Contact McNulty Spine today to schedule your consultation.

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition where your spine develops an abnormal curve like a C- or S-shape. Usually, scoliosis may not show any symptoms; however, it may become severe when not treated.

Scoliosis may show the following signs.

• Rotating spine
• Uneven hips
• Uneven breasts or chest wall
• Breathing problems
• Uneven shoulders
• Back pain
• One shoulder blade sticks out more than another
• Getting shorter

Similar to many health concerns, early diagnosis can help prevent the condition from becoming severe.

What are the causes of scoliosis?

Scoliosis occurs in different forms. It can be either structural or nonstructural. Some of the causes of structural scoliosis include:

• Injury
• Degeneration
• Congenital abnormality

Nonstructural scoliosis involves the postural curve of the spine, which may occur due to a significant leg length discrepancy.

Scoliosis can occur as degenerative, congenital, idiopathic, and neuromuscular.

Idiopathic scoliosis has no known cause and occurs in about 80% of scoliosis cases in children. The curves may not show any symptoms but then cause problems later in life when age-related degeneration occurs.

The age-related degeneration may also lead to scoliosis, causing difficulty standing up straight, making daily life hard.

Congenital scoliosis usually occurs at birth due to a spinal deformity.

Neuromuscular scoliosis occurs when the neurologic system or muscles of the spine have abnormalities. Some conditions may also lead to neuromuscular scoliosis, including

• Muscular dystrophy
• Cerebral palsy
• Spina Bifida and other congenital abnormalities

Poor posture and heavy backpacks cannot lead to scoliosis, your child probably had the condition at birth.

What are the treatment options for scoliosis?

Dr. McNulty performs thorough diagnosis and examination to identify the exact cause of scoliosis and provide personalized treatment. Your treatment option depends on the extent of your condition, your age, and the cause.

Dr. McNulty may recommend wearing a brace for children with a 25-40 degrees curve to prevent it from worsening. Dr. McNulty suggests regular checkups with X-rays to observe your condition for mild spinal curves in children and adults.

For severe cases where the spinal curve is around 40 degrees or higher, your provider may recommend spinal fusion surgery to correct the spinal curve.

Dr. McNulty performs spinal fusion surgery using metal rods and bone grafts, and cable anchors to correct and fuse the scoliosis curve. The treatment applies to all children, teens, and adults.

Younger patients may benefit from the new FDA-approved Tether system that corrects the curve while allowing motion and preventing fusion reconstruction. When necessary, the surgery provides exceptional results in correcting the curve and relieving the scoliosis pain.

Consult a scoliosis specialist today

If scoliosis affects your daily life, Dr. McNulty might be able to help you. Contact McNulty Spine today to book your consultation.

Several factors can make you lose a tooth or some teeth, even if they are designed to last a lifetime. However, you can still live as you have never lost a tooth by getting dental implants in Campbell. The tooth replacement option stands out from other alternatives like bridges and dentures by far. With a highly-skilled professional and trusted dental implant brands, you can effectively restore your teeth’s beauty and function to boost your confidence. Dental implants offer more benefits than you may have imagined. Here are several benefits you can gain from the innovative option.

Get a Permanent Solution

Although you can replace your lost teeth with dentures and dental bridges, dental implants offer a more permanent solution to your issue. Other tooth replacement options will need repairs or replacements periodically, but you only get dental implants once, and they serve you a lifetime provided you take good care. Once you get your implants, you can forget you even had lost teeth and aim to learn better ways to maintain your new teeth. The best part is that the teeth act just like your natural teeth, and you will not need much effort to maintain them.

Avoid Bone Loss

Staying without replacing a lost tooth or teeth can cause bone mass loss. When a tooth is in place, it stimulates your jaw bone, enabling it to maintain its mass. When getting dental implants, your provider must first ensure you have enough bone since the implants are firmly attached to your bone through artificial roots that act like your natural tooth root. Other tooth replacement options cannot restore jawbone stimulation loss. Still, dental implants replace your natural teeth in all ways meaning they will stimulate the bone to maintain the bone mass.

Your Bite Force is Restored

Dental implants function almost like your natural teeth since they are firmly anchored to your jaw. You will be able to bite with almost the same force as your natural teeth, meaning you will not be restricted much on a diet. But other tooth replacement techniques sit on top of your other teeth, and your bite force is restricted. You might have to avoid certain foods to maintain your smile and avoid complications, but you can eat your favorite foods with dental implants.

Avoid Facial Appearance Changes

Teeth are vital not only for your smile and digestive purposes but also for supporting your facial structure. If you lose some teeth, you will note that your appearance might gradually change before you get a teeth replacement. You might appear older than you are, lowering your confidence and self-esteem. But dental implants will act like your natural teeth in supporting your facial structure, and your appearance will not change.

Get a Natural Speech

Missing teeth can affect your speech negatively. But dental implants will also enhance your speech, and you can talk ideally like with your natural teeth. Other treatment options like dentures may impact the way you speak, like pronouncing words correctly, and you might not speak easily and naturally, making you less confident.

No Cavities

You will yet need to take care of your artificial teeth after the implant surgery to avoid oral health complications. However, cavities are not among the complications that can arise after you get dental implants. The material used to make artificial teeth cannot decay.

Get your dental implants at Ueno Center Dental Specialists today and enjoy the fantastic benefits accompanying the treatment. Your dental implant specialist will evaluate your needs to figure out if you are a good candidate. 

One of the most common reasons many people seek medical care is for pain associated with one or more joints, the connections between two bones forming a flexible hinge. Joint pain can be due to anything from arthritis to other kinds of inflammatory disease or infection to even an injury. Accurate diagnosis is essential because different types of problems may respond differently to varying types of treatments. You should therefore see Ron Marinaro DC, a joint pain specialist, for proper treatment.

Anyone can get joint pain, but people at higher risk include the elderly, overweight, and those with immune system problems like arthritis or psoriatic disease. Symptoms may include any of the following: redness, warmth, swelling around the joints, stiffness in the morning that can last for up to an hour, and decreased range of motion in the joint. In this article, we look at the different causes of joint pain.

• Bone Injuries

Accidents that injure bones, such as fractures or breaks, also typically cause pain. In some cases, the fracture may not appear on an X-ray until a few days after the accident because of initial swelling around the injury. This delayed appearance is why you need to see your orthopedic surgeon immediately if you suspect a bone injury.

• Inflammatory Diseases

Joints are also susceptible to inflammation of the immune system, known as arthritis or an arthritic condition. Many different types of arthritis cause joint pain, including diseases with specific names such as psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. These conditions tend to run in families and are often inherited. Arthritis can lead to permanent joint damage over time, including bone spurs and a decreased range of motion.

• Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are the most common types of joint injury, particularly among athletes. Sprains happen when a ligament is overstretched or torn due to a sudden movement that severely twists or pulls it. Strains occur when a muscle or tendon is overstretched or torn due to a sudden movement as well.

• Lack of Use or Overuse

In many cases, joint pain may be related to a lack of use or overuse. This is true for repetitive motions such as typing on a computer keyboard or playing a musical instrument, and also for joints that are held in one position improperly due to weakness from an injury or disease.

• Intense Physical Activity

Finally, joint pain can be caused by intense physical activity such as sports or weightlifting. This type of joint pain is often known as “jumper’s knee” and can affect the back of the knees if you repeatedly jump up and down. Many people try to treat this form of joint pain with over-the-counter pain medications. Still, it may be preferable to prevent it by stretching before engaging in high-impact activities.

In summary, joint pain is a common condition that sends people to the doctor. You can experience joint pain due to different causes such as intense physical activity, lack of use or overuse, and sprains and strains. Injury and inflammatory diseases are also common causes of joint pain.

The benefits of visiting a wellness specialist are huge. Everyone should see a wellness specialist in their life at least once in a while. First and foremost, the benefits include stress reduction. Many people have been stressed day in and day out from their jobs or any other reason. While it is essential to find ways to reduce this stress, it is also crucial to determine if we have any other issues causing stress. A Nova Physician Wellness Center can help you look at all aspects of yourself and life in general and pinpoint how these things may be affecting your health and wellbeing.

Another benefit is the promotion of physical and mental health. Everyone knows that exercise and a healthy diet can improve your health. Here are some more benefits of visiting a wellness center.

• Enhanced Energy Levels

Wellness specialists can help you improve your energy levels. These experts know how to promote the body’s health and wellness. When you go to these experts, they will be able to show you what steps you need to take for them to be able to find a way for your body to have increased energy levels.

While it is always essential to go to a doctor when you are not feeling well, wellness specialists can help promote your wellbeing, especially since it is the year for colds and flu. Symptoms of illness tend to be more severe this time of year because of drastic weather changes. Wellness specialists will help promote good health and determine if anything else is causing you to have more severe symptoms of illness.

• Stress Management

Wellness specialists will provide stress management tips. They will be able to analyze your lifestyle and determine what type of stress you are experiencing. Once they have decided what kind of stress you are dealing with, they will also find ways to reduce these stresses or even eliminate them.

• Getting in Shape

Wellness experts will help make sure that you are getting in shape. They will be able to show you the types of exercises and workouts that they recommend for good health and wellness, and these may even be different than what your regular physician recommends.

Wellness experts also know how to promote energy levels, making it easier to get in shape. These professionals will also determine the best way for you to eat to lose weight or gain muscle.

• Improved Sexual Health

Another benefit of wellness specialists is they can help improve your sexual health. Sexual health is an integral part of overall wellbeing, and these experts will be able to show you what type of food is healthy for sex and the types of workouts that will help improve your sexual health. It is essential to go to a wellness specialist if you have any issues with your sex life, as they may help improve these issues without medication.

In summary, a wellness center comes with many different benefits. First, it offers improved energy levels and enhanced sexual health. It also helps you manage stress and get in shape.

Shoulders are synovial joints that contain bone, cartilage, and ligaments that hold the scapula in place. It is also one of the most flexible joints in our body and the wrist because both rotator cuff muscles and deltoid muscles allow a free range of motion in the glenohumeral joint.

Injury to any one of these disks can cause pain in the shoulder and affect its movements negatively. If you have been playing many sports over the years, injuries in your shoulders are likely more common than in other joints. There is always a risk of damage due to their flexibility. You need to seek treatment from a specialist in shoulder pain in Brunswick so you can resume regular activity. Some of the common reasons that can cause shoulder pain are highlighted in this article.

• Muscle Strains

This is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, and it occurs if you use too much force in your shoulders when they can’t take it anymore. The muscles get strained due to an impact or sudden jerk, causing them to tear out from their original state.

Muscle strains can be of two types: Grade I and Grade II, and the former is less severe than the latter. There is stretching and damage of tiny fibers in grade I, while it is more extensive in grade II, with some fibers getting ruptured completely.

• Dislocations

Dislocations are also among the common types of aches that athletes commonly face. An injury generally occurs if your deltoid gets pulled out due to sudden jerks or movements. This typically happens because of an impact or a fall that causes it to dislocate.

Dislocations can also be divided into acute and chronic, and the former is much more severe than the second one. In acute dislocations, your rotator cuff muscles stretch out completely, whereas only partial tears occur in chronic dislocations.

• Avascular Necrosis

Avascular necrosis is an injury generally sustained by athletes who play sports that involve frequent overhead movements. It occurs when blood supply to your shoulder joints gets disturbed due to an impingement on the subacromial bursa causing it to die out.

• Rotator Cuff Injuries

A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that allow the proper functioning of your shoulder joints. Injury to this region can cause significant problems such as impingement syndrome and tendonitis because the overworked rotator cuff gets swollen up, thus increasing pain significantly.

• Tendonitis

This condition occurs as a result of injury to tendons that help keep your shoulder joints in place. Pain is felt when you try to move your shoulders and may become worse with time.

• Bursitis

Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that reduce the friction between tendons and joints. Injury to bursae can cause them to swell up, causing problems in your shoulders. It may cause stiffness and swelling that increases with time and returns to normal after resting for an extended period.

In summary, shoulder pain can affect your ability to move the shoulder joints. You can experience shoulder pain due to many different reasons, such as bursitis, tendonitis, and rotator cuff injuries. Dislocations and muscle strains are also common causes of shoulder pain. Although it happens rarely, you may develop avascular necrosis, which can also cause pain in the shoulder.

Neuropathy refers to conditions resulting from disorders of the nervous system. Disorders result in the loss or impairment of sensation, motion, gland, or organ function. Neuropathy is caused by many factors, including genetics, alcoholism, poor diet, injury, or toxicity. Neuropathy can be chronic or temporary, depending on the cause. While the development of neuropathy is not preventable, you can manage it by maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding toxins and heavy metals. By adopting positive health habits such as exercising regularly and medicating any underlying conditions, we can reduce our risk of developing this debilitating disease. If you have symptoms, you should see a Glen Rock neuropathy specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of Neuropathy

There are over 100 types of neuropathy. Symptoms vary depending on the type of neuropathy.

The most common type is idiopathic polyneuropathy which affects the arms and legs, causing muscle weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and burning sensations in the hands and feet. These often go away after resting for a while, but they can be so painful you cannot sleep. People with this type of neuropathy also may have difficulty walking.

Other types include autonomic neuropathy, which affects the nervous system that controls your body’s automatic functions, such as heart rate and digestion. Sensory nerve damage causes pain, tingling, numbness, and mononeuropathy, which is nerve damage causing pain and weakness in a single limb.

Symptoms depend on the type of neuropathy and where it occurs:

• Pain, numbness, or tingling (pins and needles)
• Muscle weakness affecting foot control, hand coordination, or arm strength. Common symptoms include difficulty with stairs, standing, getting dressed, and holding things.
• Fatigue – often accompanied by altered sensation in the feet or hands.
• A sensation of “pins and needles” (paresthesia) or burning pain (paraesthesia), typically affecting both sides of your body at once
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or leg, especially the feet or legs
• Problems with balance and physical coordination (ataxia)
• Speech problems, including slurring (dysarthria), breathlessness or hoarseness (dysphonia), or difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Constipation, urine retention, impotence in men

Causes of Neuropathy

There are different causes of neuropathy. However, most people develop the condition due to a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. Risk factors for neuropathy include:

• Family history of diabetes
• Previous diagnosis of diabetes or high blood pressure
• Overweight
• Tobacco use
• Excessive alcohol consumption

In some cases, neuropathy is triggered by an underlying medical condition such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency, kidney problems, or arthritis. In other cases, however, you can find no cause.

Treatment Options

Neuropathy treatments depend on the cause and type of neuropathy. Some treatments relieve symptoms temporarily while others reduce or stop disease progression. Treatments include medicines, such as pain medicine and antidepressants to reduce or prevent pain and other symptoms. Physical therapy and exercise can also help keep muscles strong and flexible. If you have muscle weakness and coordination problems, your doctor may recommend occupational therapy.

To summarize, neuropathy is a group of conditions resulting from disorders of the nervous system. The symptoms vary depending on the type of neuropathy. Many people develop the disease due to a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors. The treatments vary depending on the cause and style of your neuropathy.

People usually think of crowns and veneers as treatment options for only the most severe cases, such as badly decayed teeth or significant cosmetic issues. But in reality, you can use them to correct a wide range of dental problems. One of the most common reasons for crowns and veneers is to improve a smile’s appearance due to stains or discoloration. You can use them to cover up worn enamel caused by years of neglecting proper dental care, large fillings, small chips, or other damage that has caused teeth to look misshapen or discolored over time.

Crowns (also sometimes called caps) cover the entire tooth, restoring it to its original shape and size. On the other hand, veneers only cover the front of the tooth. Before getting veneers or crowns, make sure you consult with a specialist in crowns and veneers in Katy. But what benefits do these treatments come with?

• Maintains Existing Teeth

While crowns and veneers can replace missing teeth, one of their primary benefits is maintaining existing healthy teeth. After a tooth has been damaged or decayed to the point where it requires extraction, it no longer functions in the mouth for chewing or biting. That means your remaining natural teeth will have to work harder to digest food. That can cause them to wear out faster, leading to multiple teeth being extracted that may not have otherwise needed to be removed.

• They Strengthen Teeth

Crowns and veneers are often made from porcelain, the same material used in natural teeth. But unlike regular enamel, it’s solid and highly resistant to scratching and chipping, which means it won’t wear away over time. Crowns are also equipped with special adhesives that help them grip onto your teeth for added strength. It gives your remaining healthy teeth the added support they need to stay in place while keeping you from dealing with unsightly gaps in your smile.

• Easy to Clean

One of the most significant benefits of crowns and veneers is that your remaining teeth won’t have to worry about maintaining their natural enamel. Since crowns can be made in so many different shapes, sizes, and colors, it’s much easier to find one that blends in with your existing smile. It makes cleaning much more accessible than with a regular tooth. And because they have virtually no gaps or spaces, it makes them less susceptible to food and plaque buildup, so you won’t have to spend nearly as much time brushing and flossing.

• Reduced Tooth Sensitivity

Since caps and veneers cover your teeth entirely, they reduce or eliminate tooth sensitivity. Except for your gums, all other parts of your mouth can become sensitive due to cold drinks and foods. Not only is this uncomfortable to deal with when eating certain things, but it’s also a major cause of gum irritation. Crowns and veneers can give you back the comfort of your natural teeth. And because they’re made out of porcelain, they can resist chipping and cracking that cause sensitivity.

In summary, crowns and veneers offer many benefits besides the obvious. They can reduce tooth sensitivity and make them stronger. They also help maintain existing teeth. Additionally, they are easy to clean, so you can save time while improving your overall dental wellbeing.