Family dentistry deals with maintaining oral health of the entire family. Family dentists diagnose, treat and prevent various dental conditions in all members of the family. Family dentistry overlaps with a number of other fields in a number of ways. For example, family dentistry and general dentistry have a lot in common, but they differs from other fields in a number of ways too. Most notably, they deal with providing dental services to anyone in the family whereas other fields deal with a specialized procedure or age group. Family dentist plays an important role in maintaining the overall health of our society.
What are the responsibilities of the family dentist?
Family dentist performs a number of procedures to diagnose, treat and prevent the various diseases and conditions that affect the teeth of the family members. He is also responsible for providing proper information and guidance to maintain oral health.
Here are some of the most common procedures performed by family dentists:
• Cleanings: To prevent conditions such as dental caries and bacterial infections, it is essential to clean your teeth periodically. Brushing twice a day helps, but some food particles may still get trapped in between the teeth and sometimes can only be removed by the dentist. The family dentist uses various instruments such as dental picks, elevators and drill instruments to clean the teeth. Ideally, cleaning procedures should be performed once in every four months. This way, any infections or dental caries can be detected early on and appropriate measures taken to stop it from progressing and causing any significant damage.
• Dental fillings: Dental fillings are performed to rectify holes in the teeth, which are usually due to bacterial infections or dental caries. Bacteria emits harmful chemical substances which attack the surface of the teeth and causes holes to develop. Food particles may get stuck in these holes and lead to further infection. Dental caries is an infectious disease, it damages the structure of the tooth and if not treated on time can lead to teeth having holes. Dental fillings are done to cover these holes and improve the functionality of teeth. Most common types of dental fillings are amalgam, gold and metal alloys, or porcelain/composite filling (matches your tooth color).
Family dentists also provide information on various dentistry related topics. If you have any doubts or wish to know more about a specific dental procedure, the best way to start would be to contact your dentist.
Naturopathic medicine is based on the philosophy of “Vis Medicatrix Naturae” (the healing power of nature) & applies the Laws of Nature to diagnose, prevent, & treat disease. The naturopathic physician realizes that illness is an imbalance at some level (physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual) & uses natural agents to restore that balance in the client. More than any other single method of treatment naturopathy is a multi-disciplinary approach to promoting natural health through the use of complementary therapies and alternative medicine.
The aim of a holistic doctor is to promote health rather than just treating disease symptoms. In many ways naturopathy is a philosophy of life rather than a set of fixed inflexible principles. One of the main aims of naturopathic doctors is to educate people towards improving their lifestyle to prevent further illness.
* Herbal Remedies;
* Nutrition;
* Remedial Massage;
* Homoeopathy;
* Counseling;
are the main therapies used by a naturopath, with significant emphasis on:
* lifestyle;
* physical activity;
* sunlight;
* fresh air;
* pure water.
Naturopathy has been used for hundreds of years & there now exists a large amount of scientific research, which proves the effectiveness of naturopathic medicine in the treatment of numerous health problems. Naturopathy evolved through observation and application of the lessons of nature. Its origins can be linked to observing the instinctive behaviour of animals when they are unwell, when they will search out certain plants to eat.
As complementary medicine has grown in popularity more and more research is confirming that it is holistic health care and a healthy lifestyle that is required for good overall health. The methods that naturopaths have used for many years in promoting natural health (especially dietary and nutritional measures) are now being confirmed and accepted by the research of mainstream medical doctors. Modern research is also confirming the importance of the relationships between, not only the physical but also the mental and emotional well-being of patients.
Although natural medicine had less impact in the 19th century when drugs and surgery were becoming established many forms of alternative medicine are now becoming more popular as people are realizing the importance and effectiveness of natural cures. Although Naturopathy remained a fringe therapy for a number of years as it was swamped by the political power of the orthodox medical profession a shift in health consciousness is now changing from pharmaceutical to natural remedies.
In ancient Greece, Hippocrates – the Father of Medicine – was one of the first people to understand the importance of natures own healing power. Hippocrates taught basic rules of hygiene and nutrition. He also recognized the significance of a fever as a manifestation of the body’s efforts to heal itself by killing off the bacteria that cannot survive when the body raises it’s temperature.
CONSULTATION
THE CONSULTATION
A naturopathic consultation generally takes longer than a visit to your mainstream doctor or other health practitioner. This is because the naturopath needs to understand as much as possible about you regarding your state of health. Some questions might include those relating to:
* Symptoms;
* Lifestyle;
* Diet;
* Sensitivities or allergies to certain foods;
* Sensitivities or allergies to environmental factors;
* Home & work environment;
* Hereditary background;
* Constitution.
As well as asking you numerous relevant questions about your health condition, a naturopath may utilize other diagnostic techniques such as;
* Vega testing, (allergy and electro-dermal diagnosis);
* Iridology (iris diagnosis);
* Kinesiology (muscle response testing);
* Tongue, fingernail or pulse diagnosis;
* Examination of the spine for restrictions or mobility problems.
Any or all of these methods will be used to ascertain as detailed a case history as possible in order to create your personal and unique health profile.
It is important to realize that the naturopath places more emphasis on the reasons for the development of an illness than on putting a label on the symptoms.
Naturopathy treats the cause, not the effects. Having made a diagnosis, the naturopath then decides on a plan of action for restoring your body to good health. This usually takes the form of a program which can include lifestyle & dietary modification, relaxation therapy, exercise, counseling & patient education, as well as therapies or remedies which will help stimulate the body’s own healing capacity.
THE TREATMENT
The naturopath may choose any of a variety of natural remedies or techniques to help restore your health. The choice will depend on your individual health needs. For example, five different arthritis sufferers might be treated in five different ways, one with homoeopathics, one with dietary advice & nutritional supplements, one with herbal remedies, one with remedial massage & one with a combination of these. Each person is an individual and in each case the cause of the arthritis may differ.
The naturopath treats the cause, not the effect!
If you suffer from severe indigestion you know just how brutal the pain can be this condition is initiated by acid reflux or GERD (gastronomic reflux disorder)many people around the world suffer from this condition. Indigestion can cause hard pain in and around your heart. This pain is caused by stomach acid being pressed into the gullet, which produces a burning sensation at the rear breast bone. Therefore, the effects of indigestion are painful and very discomforting. Classic indigestion signs are soreness and intense burning at the back of your breastbone, that is frequently associated with burping, and gas. From time to time, an acidic flavor can be sensed in the backside of the throat. Sings are often more sever after consumption of foods, particularly after big dinners. Acid Reflux also gets worse once you drink some alcohol, coffee or after smoking one cigarette. Indigestion typically is worse when you will try to rest after any of the above activities. Indigestion sings might cease after you take an over the counter (OTC) medication for acid reflux relief. But if you suffer from severe indigestion, it’s usually recommended to take either Prilosec otc or Prevacid on a regular basis to eliminate the onset of acid reflux.
Lastly, if you are suffering from severe indigestion, continuous medication treatment is the best option this will prevent acid reflux from occurring. There are three medications that might offer you fast release. Here are some examples: OTC Antacids like Maalox, Gelusil and Rolaids. OTC and recommended Proton drive inhibitors like OTC Prilosec, Nexium treatment, Prevacid or Protonix medicine. You must always remember that taking pills all the time to heal your indigestion isn’t the most ideal method to heal your body, so be certain that you will talk to a doctor. You can also do a lot of thinks to prevent acid reflux try consuming smaller amounts of foods at slower rates. Also avoid alcohol coffee and smoking as much as possible.
When I think of indigestion, heartburn and nausea, the popular ad campaign for Pepto Bismol with the dancing symptoms starts playing in my head. Then the pink chalky residue comes to mind, ew. So what is a natural health girl to do when she has a stomach ache? Consult the herbalists and alternative medicine gurus, of course.
The main symptoms of indigestion include abdominal pain, a burning feeling in the upper abdomen, nausea, heartburn, bloating, belching, vomiting and flatulence. Sounds like a good time, eh? Please do consult with your alternative medicine practitioner if you have a chronic problem, but if it is just the occasional malady, here are a few natural remedies that may help:
Indigestion Prevention – Drink a mixture of one teaspoon ginger and two tablespoons baking soda in cold water before eating to avoid indigestion altogether.
Bananas – Ripe bananas are actually natural antacids that help to soothe the lining of your stomach. I guess that is why pediatricians often recommend them when the little ones are not feeling well.
Cider Vinegar or Lemon Juice – Add either of these to hot water and drink to alkalize the acid in your stomach if you do not have a banana handy.
Tea – The following teas are excellent for indigestion: ginger, peppermint, fennel, lemon balm, cinnamon, slippery elm powder.
Why water=bad with a meal – Yes, the glass is on the table at dinner, but you shouldn’t drink while eating according to experts. Water can dilute the gastric acid in your stomach which causes indigestion.
Naturopathy is both a science and philosophy of healing dating back many centuries. It places emphasis on preventative medicine and encourages the body’s natural ability to heal itself by employing the healing powers of nature. As a result, naturopaths utilise natural substances such as herbal medicines, vitamins, minerals and foods or other natural means such as exercise, meditation, etc to restore the body to health.
An ever-increasing number of people are becoming dissatisfied with orthodox medicine. Many of these have been put through a battery of often invasive orthodox tests only to be told that nothing is wrong with them. It is important for us to realise that orthodox medicine deals with detectable pathologies, whereas naturopathy deals with imbalances in the body hopefully before they develop into pathology.
The best way to illustrate this is via the triangle of health, which perceives the body as a multidimensional, wholistic creation rather than a complex. This paradigm presents humans as existing in spiritual, physical, and mental or emotional dimensions. When the triangle is equilateral, the sides are obviously in balance and the person represented exists in a state of optimal life-force and health. In truth, no body is ever 100% in balance, but the body constantly compensates for this. Unfortunately, sometimes the body is unable to cope with the extra demands placed on it and needs assistance to restore balance and we get something that looks a bit lop sided like this.
Naturopaths attempt to identify these imbalances and correct them. We do this by taking a detailed case history and utilising diagnostic methods, including iridology, which involves analysis of the iris of the eye to gain valuable information on the overall state of health of the body, inherent strengths and weaknesses, nutritional requirements and the location of toxic accumulations), as well as finger and tongue diagnosis.
Whereas a consultation or general practitioner takes as little as 5 minutes, an initial consultation with a naturopath usually takes at least 1 hour. This is because whereas conventional medicine focuses primarily on the presenting symptom, naturopathy addresses every aspect of the person from what they had for breakfast, to their emotional state, hobbies, stress levels and how many bowel movements they have a day.
At the end of the first consultation with a naturopath the patient is usually prescribed things like herbal medicines, nutritional supplements as well as a few diet and lifestyle changes so as not to overwhelm them too much. At subsequent visits the patient is educated on the underlying cause/s of their problem as well as any other imbalances which came up during the initial consultation. They will then receive a course of treatment which may include nutritional supplements, herbal medicines, diet and lifestyle changes and flower essences or homeopathic remedies.
Since naturopathy addresses imbalances and underlying causes rather than symptoms, it may take several weeks before you notice any positive effects. In addition, in order be fully effective, the treatment should be continued for several months.
The first few years of life – a time when most children receive the weight and grow much more rapidly than they will later. Sometimes, however, infants and children do not meet expected standards of growth. Although most of these children should be the pattern of growth, which are variations of normal, while others are believed to have “failure to thrive.”
This is a common diagnosis, with many possible causes. Common to all cases, however, failure to get weight as expected, which is often accompanied by poor growth in height. Diagnosing and consideration of the child who is unable to flourish, focusing on how to identify any underlying problem. From there, doctors and the family are cooperating to bring the child into a healthy pattern of growth.
What is failure to thrive?
Although it is recognized more than a century, failure to thrive lacks a precise definition, partly because it describes a condition rather than a specific disease. Children who are unable to thrive do not receive or are unable to adopt, maintain, or use the calories, was supposed to gain weight and grow as expected.
Most diagnoses of failure to thrive done in infants and toddlers – for the first few years of life – a crucial period of physical and mental development. After the birth of baby’s brain grows well in the first year, as it will grow during the rest of the child’s life. Poor diet during this period can have permanent negative effects on the mental development of the child.
Taking into account that the average term baby doubles his or her birth weight by 4 months and triples it in 1 year, children with failure to thrive often do not meet those milestones. Sometimes, a child who is sent to “plump” and who shows signs of growing well, can begin to decrease in weight gain. After some time, linear (height) growth may slow as well.
If the condition progresses, undernourished child may:
* Becomes indifferent to his or her environment
* Avoid eye contact
* Becomes irritable
* Do not reach the milestones associated with the development of a meeting, walking and talking in the usual age
What causes this?
Failure to thrive can result from a wide variety of underlying causes. Some children are unable to thrive because of:
* Social factors. In some cases, doctors may not identify a medical problem, but may find that parents actually cause failure to thrive. For example, some parents inappropriately restrict the amount of calories they give to their babies. They may fear that their child raspolneet or put him or her on a limited diet, similar to one they follow. Or, they may not simply feed the child enough or because of lack of interest or because there are too many distractions in the household, which contributes to neglect of a child. Living in poverty can also lead to the failure to provide the child necessary food requirements.
* Conditions involving the gastrointestinal system like gastroesophageal reflux, chronic diarrhea, cystic fibrosis, chronic liver disease, and celiac disease. With ebb esophagus may become so irritated that the child refuses to eat, because it damages. Constant diarrhea may encounter with the body’s ability to hold on to nutrients and calories from food, is eaten.
Cystic fibrosis, chronic liver disease, and celiac disease – conditions that limit the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. They are known as the riots – the baby can eat a lot, but his or her body does not absorb and retain enough of the food. Celiac disease should be a sensitivity to dietary protein found in wheat and certain other grains. Invalid immune system’s response to this protein brings losses leveling intestine, when confronted with its ability to absorb nutrients.
* Chronic illness or medical disorder. If a child has trouble eating – because of prematurity or a cleft lip or palate, for example – he or she may not take sufficiently many calories to maintain normal growth. Other conditions that can lead to failure to thrive, would include the heart, and respiratory disorders. These disturbances can increase the thermal needs of the child so that it became difficult to keep up with them.
* Milk protein intolerance. This condition can initially lead to difficulty absorbing nutrients until it is not recognized. It can also put the entire class of food out of reach, restricting the diet of the child and sometimes leads to failure to thrive.
* Infections (parasites, urinary tract infections, tuberculosis, etc.), which placed high demands on energy in the body and force it to use nutrients rapidly (and appetite may be weakened as well), sometimes causing a short – or long-term failure to thrive.
* Metabolic disorders, which may also limit the child’s ability to maximize the calories consumed. Metabolic disorders can interfere with the body break down, process, or to obtain energy from food, or they can cause a build-up of toxins during an emergency process that can make the child feed poorly or vomit.
In some cases, doctors unable to pinpoint a cause.
Although doctors in the past tended to categorize cases of failure to thrive as any organic (caused by major medical disorder) or inorganic (caused by the actions or their parents), they are less likely to make such sharp distinctions today. Therefore, medical and behavioral causes often appear together.
For example, if the child has severe reflux and refuses to eat, feeding times can be tense for. He or she may be a time and upset, and this may interfere with attempts to feed the child maintain an adequate amount of food.
How is diagnosed?
Many normal babies are brief periods when their weight gain plateaus or they even lose a little weight. However, if the child does not get the weight for 3 consecutive months during the first year of life, doctors usually become concerned.
Doctors diagnose failure to thrive by using standard growth charts to prepare a child’s weight, length, and the main circle, which were measured in each well-child exam. Children who fall below a certain range of weight for their age or who are unable to gain weight at an expected rate, will likely further evaluated to determine whether there is a problem.
In addition to obtaining a full medical and feed history and performing a detailed physical examination, the doctor may order a complete blood count, urinalysis, and various chemical and blood tests electrolyte, which may be useful in the search for major medical problems. If the doctor suspects a particular disease or disorder as a possible cause, he or she may perform additional specific tests to identify the condition.
To determine whether your child gets enough food, the doctor of the child (sometimes with the help of a doctor – a dietitian) will account calories after ascertaining the parents that the child eats every day. And speaking parents can help the doctor identify any problems at home, such as neglect, poverty, household stress, or feeding difficulties.
As discussed?
Children with failure to thrive need the help of their parents and doctors. Sometimes, the whole team of doctors affects the case of a child.
In addition to the child’s primary doctor team might include a nutritionist to assess the dietary needs of the child and the professional, or speech therapist to help the child and develops a successful nutritional behavior and refers to any absorption or swallowing problems that could have a child. Professional and speech therapists are often helpful because of their expertise in the muscular control, is involved in the food.
Because treatment failure to thrive involves consideration of any disease or disorder that causes the problem, specialists such as a cardiologist, neurologist, or gastroenterologist may also be part of the team care.
Especially in cases of failure to thrive, which is thought to be caused by the actions or the parents, social worker, psychologist or other mental health professional can help address the problems in the home environment of the child, and provide any needed support.
Often, in cases of bad food, processing can be done at home with frequent follow-up visit to the doctor’s office or clinic. The doctor recommends that high-calorie foods and place the baby in the high-calorie formula.
More serious cases may call for the pipe, which pipe is inserted, which runs from the nose to the stomach. Liquid food is provided on a sustainable rate through the pipe. Once the pipe is laid in place, the child usually eats at night so as not to face his or her actions or to limit the desire of the child to eat during the day. (Approximately half of the thermal needs of the child can be put through a continuous drop of the night). Once the child more adequately fed, he or she will feel better and probably will have more on his or her own. At that point can be removed pipe.
A child with extreme failure to thrive may need to be hospitalized so that he or she could eat and checked continuously. At this time, any possible underlying causes of conditions can be evaluated and treated accordingly. It also gives the team an opportunity to observe the processing directly feeding technique and the interaction between the child and while in other cases.
So, how long treatment lasts varies greatly from case to case. Weight gain takes time, so several months may pass before the child is returned to the normal range for his or her age. Children who require hospitalization may stay for 10 – 14 days or more to establish satisfactory weight gain, but it may be many months, until signs of severe malnutrition are no longer present. Failure to thrive caused by chronic disease or disorder may have to be periodically checked and treated for even longer, perhaps for a lifetime.
My child has failure to thrive?
If you are worried that your child is not able to thrive, remember that there are many reasons why he or she might be slower to gain weight than failure to thrive. For example, bottle-fed babies and bottle-fed babies are often given weight at different rates in the early newborn period.
Genetics also plays a large role in increasing the weight, so if you and your spouse are thin, your baby may not put on pounds quickly. However, infants should still gain weight steadily, and can be difficult to monitor it from home. Thus, it is important to see the doctor of your child on a regular basis.
As the directive, babies usually eat eight to 12 in 24-hour period (a few ounces [60 milliliters] every few hours) in the first weeks after birth. By that time, when they – 2 – 3 months, number of bedrooms, six – eight, but the amount they eat each time has increased. At 4 months of approximately 30 ounces (890 milliliters) per day provides sufficient food most bottle-fed infants.
The doctor of your child will have many opportunities to identify the problem at regular well-child checks. You can also periodically check the weight of their child at home if you feel that you need a certification.
When should I call the Doctor my child?
If you notice a decrease in weight gain, or your child does not seem to have a normal appetite and do not come into contact with the doctor of your child. Any major change in eating pattern also ensures call to the doctor. Babies and other children may be days and sometimes weeks when they show little interest in food, but this should not happen in babies.
If you have trouble breastfeeding your baby, your child’s doctor can offer some advice. For whatever reason, when the child does not readily eat, parents tend to get upset and feel that they do not care about your child well. This may increase the problem and increase the tension and for you and your child. Instead, get help for both of you, in consultation with the doctor of your child.
Genetic disorder are either hereditary disorders or a result of mutations. Some disorders may confer an advantage, at least in certain environments. There are a number of pathways to genetic defects, the simplest of which are summarized below.
There are genetic disorders caused by the abnormal chromosome number, as in Down syndrome (three instead of two “number 21″ chromosomes, therefore a total of 47).
Triplet expansion repeat mutations can cause fragile X syndrome or Huntington’s disease, by modification of gene expression or gain of function, respectively.
Defective genes are often inherited from the parents. In this case, the genetic disorder is known as a hereditary disease. This can often happen unexpectedly when two healthy carriers of a defective recessive gene reproduce, but can also happen when the defective gene is dominant.
Currently around 4,000 genetic disorders are known, with more being discovered. Most disorders are quite rare and affect one person in every several thousands or millions. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common genetic disorders; around 5% of the population of the United States carry at least one copy of the defective gene.
Terms you should know:
GENE: A small segment of DNA that codes for the synthesis of a specific protein. Genes are located on the chromosomes. Examples: ABO blood group gene, Rh blood group gene.
CHROMOSOMES: genes for the same traits, in the same order.
LOCUS: Position or location of a gene on a chromosome.
ALLELE: Refers to the different forms of a gene at one locus.
GENOTYPE: The specific pair of alleles present at a single locus. This are features seen genetically but may or may not have phenotypic (observable) characteristics.
PHENOTYPE: The clinical features or the observable characteristics of an individual determined by a pair of genes at a given locus (or genotype). The phenotype can vary following interaction with modifying genes or the environment.
PENETRANCE: The frequency with which individuals carrying a given gene will show the clinical manifestations associated with the gene.
DOMINANT: A gene (allele) which is expressed clinically in the heterozygous state. In a dominant disorder only one mutant allele need be present as it covers up, or masks, the normal allele.
RECESSIVE A gene (allele) which is only expressed clinically in the homozygous state i.e. it can be suppressed if present with a dominant gene and will not show it’s character in presence of a dominant gene. In a recessive disorder, both genes at a given locus must be abnormal to manifest the disorder
Types of Genetic Disorders
1 Single gene disorders including Mendelian Disorders (i.e, follow mendelian order of inheritance i.e. Autosomal and X-linked and Y-linked) and Non-Mendelian disorders (i.e, do not follow mendelian order of inheritance e.g. mitochondrial inheritance)
2 Multifactorial and polygenic disorders
3 Disorders with variable modes of transmission
4 Cytogenetic disorder: including autosomal disorders and sex chromosome disorders.
I] Single gene disorders
Where genetic disorders are the result of a single mutated gene they can be passed on to subsequent generations in the ways outlined in the table below. Genomic imprinting and uniparental disomy, however, may affect inheritance patterns. The divisions between recessive and dominant are not “hard and fast” although the divisions between autosomal and X-linked are (related to the position of the gene).
For example, achondroplasia is typically considered a dominant disorder, but young goats or children with two genes for achondroplasia have a severe skeletal disorder that achondroplasics could be viewed as carriers of. Sickle-cell anemia is also considered a recessive condition, but carriers that have it by half along with the normal gene have increased immunity to malaria in early childhood, which could be described as a related dominant condition.
Subclasses of single gene disorders are as follows:
Autosomal dominant Only one mutated copy of the gene is needed for a person to be affected by an autosomal dominant disorder. Each affected person usually has one affected parent. There is a 50% chance that a child will inherit the mutated gene. Conditions that are autosomal dominant have low penetrance, which means that, although only one mutated copy is needed, a relatively small proportion of those who inherit that mutation go on to develop the disease, often later in life.
E.g. Huntingtons disease, Neurofibromatosis 1, Marfan Syndrome.
Autosomal recessive Two copies of the gene must be mutated for a person to be affected by an autosomal recessive disorder. An affected person usually has unaffected parents who each carry a single copy of the mutated gene (and are referred to as carriers). Two unaffected people who each carry one copy of the mutated gene have a 25% chance with each pregnancy of having a child affected by the disorder. E.g. Cystic fibrosis, Sickle cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease, Spinal muscular atrophy.
X-linked dominant X-linked dominant disorders are caused by mutations in genes on the X chromosome. Only a few disorders have this inheritance pattern. Males are more frequently affected than females, and the chance of passing on an X-linked dominant disorder differs between men and women. The sons of a man with an X-linked dominant disorder will not be affected, and his daughters will all inherit the condition. A woman with an X-linked dominant disorder has a 50% chance of having an affected daughter or son with each pregnancy. Some X-linked dominant conditions, such as Aicardi Syndrome, are fatal to boys, therefore only girls have them (and boys with Klinefelter Syndrome).
E.g Hypophosphatemia, Aicardi Syndrome,
X-linked recessive X-linked recessive disorders are also caused by mutations in genes on the X chromosome. Males are more frequently affected than females, and the chance of passing on the disorder differs between men and women. The sons of a man with an X-linked recessive disorder will not be affected, and his daughters will carry one copy of the mutated gene. With each pregnancy, a woman who carries an X-linked recessive disorder has a 50% chance of having sons who are affected and a 50% chance of having daughters who carry one copy of the mutated gene.
E.g Hemophilia A, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Color blindness, Muscular dystrophy, Androgenetic alopecia and also includes G-6-PD (Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency.
Y-linked Y-linked disorders are caused by mutations on the Y chromosome. Only males can get them, and all of the sons of an affected father are affected. Since the Y chromosome is very small, Y-linked disorders only cause infertility, and may be circumvented with the help of some fertility treatments.
E.g.Male Infertility
Mitochondrial This type of inheritance, also known as maternal inheritance, applies to genes in mitochondrial DNA. Because only egg cells contribute mitochondria to the developing embryo, only females can pass on mitochondrial conditions to their children.
E.g. Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
II] Multifactorial and polygenic disorders
Genetic disorders may also be complex, multifactorial or polygenic, this means that they are likely associated with the effects of multiple genes in combination with lifestyle and environmental factors. Multifactoral disorders include heart disease and diabetes. Although complex disorders often cluster in families, they do not have a clear-cut pattern of inheritance. This makes it difficult to determine a person’s risk of inheriting or passing on these disorders.
Complex disorders are also difficult to study and treat because the specific factors that cause most of these disorders have not yet been identified. On a pedigree, polygenic diseases do tend to “run in families”, but the inheritance does not fit simple patterns as with Mendelian diseases. But this does not mean that the genes cannot eventually be located and studied. There is also a strong environmental component to many of them (e.g., blood pressure).
E.g Gout: It is a genetic/acquired disorder of uric acid metabolism that leads to hyperuricemia and consequent acute and chronic arthritis. The recurrent but transient attacks of acute arthritis are triggered by the precipitation of monosodium urate crystals into joints from supersaturated body fluids which accumulate in and around the joints and other tissues causing inflammation.
Cause of gout: Unknown enyme defects or known enzyme defects leading to overproduction of uric acid like partial deficiency of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) enzyme (as person lacks the genes to produce this enzyme). Also high dietary intake of purines as in pulses, as purines are metabolized to uric acid. Thus it has both a genetic (due to enzyme malfunction) and environmental predisposition(such as diet) and hence multifactorial.
Other examples are
heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cancers.
III]Disorders With Variable Modes of Transmission:
Heredity malformations are congenital malformations which may be familial and genetic or may be acquired by exposure to teratogenic agents in the uterus. Heredity malformations are associated with several modes of transmission. Some multifactorial defects are cleft lip, congenital heart defects, pyloric stenosis etc. Certain congenital malformations are either multifactorial or by a single mutant gene (thus a different class of their own).
E.g. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: It is characterized by defects in collagen synthesis and structure. These abnormal collagen fibres lack adequate tensile strength and hence the skin is hyperextensible and the joints are hypermobile. Causes include either of the following- deficiency of the enzyme lysyl hydroxylase, deficient synthesis of type 3 collagen due to mutations in their coding genes, and deficient conversion of procollagen type 1 to collagen due to mutation in the type 1 collagen gene.
IV]Cytogenetic Disorders:
These may be from alterations in the number or structure of the chromosomes and may affect autosomes or sex chromosomes.
E.g. Fragile X chromosome. It is characterized by mental retardation and an inducible cytogenetic abnormality in the X chromosome. It is one of the most common causes of mental retardation. The cytogenetic alteration is induced by certain culture conditions and is seen as a discontinuity of staining or constriction of in the long arm of the X-chromosome.
Other disorders include Down’s Syndrome in which the number of chromosomes is increased by a third “21st chromosome” and hence a total of 47 chromosomes occur.
What Types Of Testosterone Therapy Are Available In Australia, The Us And UK?
Just as medicine would have today, there are a number of different forms of testosterone replacement treatments available on the market.
testosterone injections; long acting testosterone injections; implants; patches; capsules; testosterone gel; other synthetic androgens
Commercial testosterone applications contain only the natural testosterone molecule. This is chemically manufactured from natural plant materials ( which I can’t say is a bad thing ) On these grounds all testosterone treatment replacement therapies can be considered to be pretty much natural products.
Testosterone injections
Testosterone injections usually of of 1 ml are injected into the muscle, in most cases the buttock, on average every two to three weeks. This usually depends on the dose and the desired results to be achieved. Injections of 250 mg are known as very much a standard treatment however, lower doses (100 mg) sometimes are used. Different males react differently to the wide variations in testosterone replacement levels across the weeks, or even find the injections very painful, and in some cases alternative delivery methods of testosterone replacement should be considered. As the testosterone is dissolved in an oily base, it is recommended it be warmed to room temperature to make the injection process easier.
It is highly advised that Testosterone injections should not be administered to men with bleeding disorders, including males taking anti-coagulants (blood thinning medication)
Long acting testosterone injections
Only just recently a new intramuscular injectable form of testosterone was introduced to the market that lasts up to 14 weeks, and was also approved in Australia. This new type of testosterone treatment is administered as a deep intramuscular injection into the buttock. Following the initial injection a second injection follows after 6 weeks and then on average every 12 weeks after that. The testosterone is released slowly so that men do not have to endure the peaks and troughs that are common with standard testosterone injections on the normal scale. Again, it should be duly noted this form of treatment is not appropriate in men who have bleeding disorders (or who are taking blood thinning medication).
Testosterone implants
A completely different form of testosterone treatment is the insertion of small small ‘pellets’ (about 1 cm in length and each containing 200 mg of testosterone) and these are generally placed under the skin of either the abdomenal area or the buttock. Only Doctors who are experienced in this technique can perform the implanting procedure, which is carried out using local anaesthetia. Most men will need about three or four 200 mg pellets implanted each time on average. The small pellet testosterone implants produce normal testosterone levels in the body over a long period of time and last usually between four and six months on average.
Unfortunately however, some pellets can find their way to the top of the skin and actually work their way out.. Because of the lasting sustainability of testosterone pellets, implants should be used with caution in older males.
Testosterone patches
Another form of testosterone treatment is patches which are usually put on the skin at night and work ahe time with the body absorbing the testosterone through the skin. The patches can be placed the back, arms, shoulders, abdomen or buttocks.
In some cases however, rashes can develop. This can sometimes be avoided by changing the place where the patches are put on and possibly applying cortisone cream under the patch.
Capsules – Oral absorbed testosterone undeconoate
Capsules always need be taken with liquids that contains actually contain fat (for example, milk) This assists the absorbstion of testosterone into the body. Usually, most people take two capsules three times per day. This method of testosterone doesn’t normally replace full testosterone levels, and in most cases is only administered when males can’t handle other forms of testosterone treatment therapy. However, if males have had low levels of testosterone for a long time, then the capsules are seen as an appropriate way to start treatment slowly.
Testosterone gel
Testosterone gel, which is rubbed into the skin once a day, is available in Australia and has proved very popular overseas. This is one of the common forms of testosterone treatments, because of its ease of application and no pain such as injections. When the gel is applied, testosterone is absorbed into the skin, which acts as a reservoir. This results in a slow, continuous delivery of testosterone into the bloodstream, at consistent rates over 24 hours.
Some side-effects of testosterone Treatment therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy has been known to increase prostate growth in males. It can also make any prostate cancers more aggressive. Testosterone should not be taken by men with prostate cancer.
Other side-effects are uncommon. Mild acne, weight gain, breast development (gynaecomastia), male-pattern hair loss and changes in mood (including increased aggression) can happen and should be monitored by a doctor.
Sometimes testosterone replacement therapy can increase red blood cells leading to issues or complications with blood circulation. This is generally known toe more of an issue for older males, particularly if they have sleep apnoea.
Other complications that may arise are migraines, sleep apnoea or androgen-sensitive epilepsy can also worsen with testosterone treatments.
Physical therapy may not be your cup of tea, but muscle pain comes along for almost everyone at some point in life, even if you’re a couch potato. Your pain can be reduced, possibly stopped altogether by visiting a massage therapist.
Relaxation —
The first step to muscle repair of any kind is relaxation. Everyone understands the value of letting the muscle rest and decreasing inflammation. A deep muscle massage by an intuitive massage therapist is more effective than little blue pills at relaxing your sore muscles.
Circulation —
Oxygen and good ole fashioned water are needed to remove the toxins that build up in a sore muscle to create pain. Deep muscle massage helps to increase blood flow to and through a muscle which brings oxygen and water to the muscle to help cleanse away the toxins.
Strengthen —
Flexing muscles improves strength and agility of the muscle. Intuitive massage helps the muscle to work properly, flexing and relaxing, to improve overall working ability of the muscle. The combination of intuitive massage and relaxation techniques improve overall muscle health.
Good physical therapy includes intuitive or deep muscle massage and a combination of other massage therapies. Visiting a good massage therapist on a regular basis can help improve muscle tone and quality, sustaining good health over a lifetime. Finding a quality massage therapist with appropriate credentials is beneficial to getting a good massage.
While the neighbor kid may have the ability to massage your tired sore muscles, he probably won’t have the knowledge to understand what he’s doing and may inadvertently injure a muscle in the process. Seek out a quality masseuse from the beginning for your overall comfort and good health.
Lasik vision correction surgery is increasingly becoming a preferred method for individuals wanting to improve their vision. The Lasik procedure takes just a few minutes, is painless and has a very high success rate. There is no need for hospitalization and patients can walk out of the surgery center a few hours after the surgery. Post surgery there are just a few restrictions and that too for a limited period of time. All these do not come cheap though. Lasik vision correction surgery comes with a rather high price tag, which escalates further in case of eyes that have deteriorated to a great extent. The cost of Lasik surgery varies greatly from place to place. Since Lasik surgery is elective, you will find that most insurance companies do not cover this procedure.
You should check your insurance plans before you decide to go in for Lasik eye surgery. Even if you have vision insurance you may find that your plan may not cover Lasik eye surgery as it is considered an elective procedure. You should also check with your employer. Some employers have an agreement with certain Lasik centers to give their employees special rates and discounts.
Some insurance companies now offer a new kind of plan called ‘expanded vision insurance program plan’. This covers more than just the basic eye examinations, contact lenses and eyeglasses and could also include Lasik surgery in the plan. An expanded vision insurance program plan may not always pay the entire amount needed for the procedure, but it could offset a percentage of it and if you are lucky that could be 50%. If you do have an expanded vision health plan, go through it and see if it covers Lasik surgery.
After you’ve decided to go ahead and have Lasik surgery to correct your vision, the next step is to check out the various surgeons that perform this surgery and the cost of the surgery. Lasik surgery costs differ greatly form one place to another and Lasik ads are often deceiving even though they may not be outright lies. What most Lasik ads quote is just the basic Lasik surgery price, which would apply to individuals who need a small degree of corrective surgery. But the higher degrees of vision correction incur higher costs. The average cost of Lasik surgery is around $2000, but it could cost more. Also a more experienced surgeon would charge much more for performing the surgery than a surgeon with less experience. Do not base your choice solely on the doctor’s fees. The extra money may be well worth it if it means choosing an established and reputed doctor who has a lot of experience and access to the latest technology.
You should also explore the possibilities of having your Lasik surgery in a more Lasik-friendly country. Most insurance plans in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia do cover Lasik surgery even though it is an elective procedure. However this is not the case in Canada and the United States, so your personal financial burden could prove to be much higher in these two countries.
If possible you should opt to pay for your Lasik surgery through the flexible spending account offered to you by your employer. If you have enough money saved in your flexible spending account it could help pay for the entire surgery or at least partially cover the cost of the surgery. You need to inform your Lasik doctor if you are paying him in this manner, as there could be some paper work involved between the surgery center and your employer. You should also check the possibility of deducting the costs of Lasik surgery from your federal income tax. Your tax accountant should be able to help you out with this.
It is a good idea to explore the various payment methods to help you defray the high cost of Lasik eye surgery. Talk to your Lasik doctor who will be glad to work out the most appropriate plan for you.