Discovery Health Today

We all assume that the desire for a Hollywood smile is a recent development, but the human race has been yearning for the perfect smile long before the celebrity boom. As far back as Ancient times, we have been perfecting treatments to straighten our teeth, the majority of which have bought us to the advances in dentistry that we know of today.

Ancient Man

Discoveries have been made in the past of Egyptian mummies with rudimentary wires wrapped around their teeth that suggest the first attempts at dental realignment have been around long before we ever imagined. A little way down the line, at around 400 BC, Hippocrates and Aristotle both pondered the various ways to straighten teeth. But there was a gap in the documents to suggest any advances until the 1700′s, where the field of dentistry started to be studied and developed further.

The Surgeon Dentist

Pierre Fauchard, a French Dentist, wrote ‘The Surgeon Dentist’ in 1728, which featured a chapter on the treatments available to alter a person’s bite and teeth alignment. Fauchard suggested the use of a metal arch fitted in the patient’s mouth to raise the arch and adjust the bite. It is considered to be one of the most groundbreaking references in the field of Orthodontics. Shortly after ‘The Surgeon Dentist’ several other books were released with developments being made on Fauchard’s design and the study of tooth placement.

The Father Of Orthodontics

In the early 1900′s, American Dr Edward Angle quite literally wrote the book on Orthodontic practice with ‘Angle’s Classification of Malocclusion’ a study of the adverse placement of teeth in patients. In his book, Angle set about creating a system for Dentist’s to use to classify how crooked a patient’s teeth were and how they fit together in the mouth. This classification is still used by Orthodontists today and Angle is considered to be one of the major contributors to the field of Dentistry.

Metal Vs Plastic

In the 1970′s, it was discovered that adhesives could be used fix braces to the tooth enamel rather than wires being wrapped around the tooth. This new development was studied further and, in 1975, lingual braces were invented- where the braces are fixed to the inside of the tooth- which were considered to be the first invisible braces. It wasnrsquo;t until 2000 that the world was introduced to plastic braces, despite the concept being devised in the mid-1940′s. Orthodontistrsquo;s realised that a series of plastic frames could adjust the formation of the teeth without the need for visible wires or metal brackets. This altered Orthodontic practice dramatically as it meant that people could improve their teeth without having to worry about the stigma that is attached to metal braces.

Orthodontic practices have developed dramatically over the years, from simple wires to invisible braces, and there have been key observations made that have resulted in the practices that we use today. It seems as though dental appearance has always been an important issue to us, and thanks to the advances in Orthodontic studies, we now have effective treatments available to us to help modify the appearance of our smiles.

Nadine Ryans wrote many articles about different subjects such as wedding planning, holiday cottages and invisible braces.

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Prostate cancer affects one in six men. The American Cancer Society estimates doctors will diagnose more than 241,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 2012. While only men suffer from prostate cancer, this disease affects countless families every year.

Anatomy of Prostate Cancer

The prostate is located in front of the rectum and below the urinary bladder; its job is to produce some of the fluids that protect and nourish semen. The urethra carries semen and urine out of the body.

Special glands within the prostate produce seminal fluid; almost all prostate cancers develop within these glands. Healthcare professionals use the term adenocarcinoma to describe the type of cancer that develops in these gland cells. While there are other types of cancers that affect the prostate, they are very rare.

Prostate cancer can metastasize, or spread, to surrounding tissue, lymph nodes or nearby bones. Some cancers spread very quickly but most prostate cancers grow slowly. In fact, a man may never know he has prostate cancer. Countless autopsies find prostate cancer in men who died from other causes; in many cases, neither the men nor their physicians knew of the disease.

Incidence and Risk

Prostate cancer is most common in North America and northwestern Europe. In the U.S., African Americans suffer a higher risk for prostate cancer than other ethnicities. Prostate cancer is very rare in men under the age of 40, but the risk of prostate cancer increases very quickly after a man reaches 50 years of age. Almost two out of every three cases of prostate cancer are in men over the age of 65.

Family history seems to play a role in prostate cancer; researchers are still working to establish how genetics increase the risk for developing this disease. Lifestyle choices, such as eating red meat or high-fat dairy products, smoking and obesity seem to raise one’s chances for prostate cancer as well.

Diagnosis

A doctor diagnoses prostate cancer through a digital rectal exam or with a blood test known as a PSA, or prostatic specific antigen. If either of these tests indicates cancer, a physician will recommend a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. During a biopsy, the physician removes a small amount of prostate tissue and then sends this sample to a laboratory, where specialists look for and grade cancer cells to predict how quickly these cells will grow.

Treatment Options

There is a variety of treatment options available to the modern prostate cancer patient, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. While each therapy improves a patient’s chances for remission, some forms of treatment carry less risk for side effects, including discomfort and unintended damage to healthy tissues near the prostate gland or elsewhere in the body.

A prostatectomy is the surgical option for prostate cancer treatment in which surgeons remove the prostate gland. This procedure endangers nerve bundles residing near the prostate in the pelvic area.

Radiation uses X-ray beams to destroy cancer cells, or at least prevent them from dividing. The downside to this treatment is that radiation beams damage nearby healthy tissue; other side effects include incontinence issues, fatigue and blocked lymph nodes near the prostate.

Proton therapy is a radiation treatment that uses a beam of protons to target cancer cells. Each beam is is filtered through an aperture that was designed to the individual patient’s tumor, thus sparing surrounding tissue to a greater degree. Patients who choose proton therapy report fewer, less severe side effects than with other forms of therapy including x-ray therapy.

Other therapies include chemotherapy, cryosurgery to the cancer cells and hormone therapy that acts on testosterone levels to slow the spread of prostate cancer. These treatments may increase the risk for side effects associated with prostate cancer, including sexual dysfunction and damage to the urethra and/or rectum.

Early detection and treatment improves the outcome for many men with prostate cancer. Continued research and effective therapy reduces the burden prostate cancer poses to older men and their families. To date, more than two million men in the United States consider themselves prostate cancer survivors, and these numbers increase every day. If you or someone you know is affected by prostate cancer, talk to your doctor today and join the ranks of survivors tomorrow.

Melissa Crossman writes on behalf of the IU Health Proton Therapy Center.  She lives in Indianapolis with her two dogs.

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Bacterial vaginosis is an illness which afflicts a woman’s vagina and is caused by a bacteria that can easily be confused with some other common vaginal ailments. There are several bacteria that are associated with bacterial vaginosis, but they are different from the typical, fairly harmless bacteria that are normally present inside a vagina. There are several symptoms which can point to bacterial vaginosis, and it does not have a direct association with sexual transmission. Instead, vaginosis is primarily a dysfunctional balance of the bacteria that are normally within the vagina.

Who Can Get It?

Any woman can get bacterial vaginosis. In some cases, it is possible to transmit vaginosis during sexual intercourse, it can also occur in sexually inactive people. The women who are the most at risk are those whose immune systems are partially compromised or altered, such as those who are pregnant or who have a sexually transmitted infection. In some cases, vaginosis may even occur in a woman who is post menopausal. In short, nearly any woman can get vaginosis, independent of her age, sexual tendencies or most other factors. However, there have been some causes identified as being more likely to be present in a woman afflicted with vaginosis.

What Causes This Problem?

Bacterial vaginosis comes about primarily because of a destabilization in the bacteria within the vagina. This bacterial flora is always present, but typically contains a high concentration of lactobacilli. These fairly harmless bacteria can become less prevalent because of a ph imbalance, the use of antibiotics or other factors. Once this happens, other bacteria can grow in numbers and begin to take over the area.

In pregnant woman, bacterial vaginosis tends to happen alongside a subclinical level of anemia or irron deficiency. As well, there is even a link between psychological and social stressors and bacterial vaginosis in women who have no other significant risk factors.

How is it Diagnosed?

Often, a white and odious vaginal discharge occurs after sexual intercourse when vaginosis is present. This can be positively diagnosed as such when a technician adds potassium hydroxide to a slide containing some of this discharge. If the discharged fluid begins to smell like rotting fish, it is considered a strong diagnosis. Further, if the vagina’s level of acidity has dropped substantially below its normal ph of between 3.8 and 4.2, it is a reasonable indication of vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis occurs when there is a bacterial imbalance in the vagina. This imbalance can occur in any woman at any time in her life. Vaginosis can be identified by a fishy odor or by identifying that the vagina is not as acidic as it normally would be.

About the Author: Marvis Walenta is a healthcare research analyst who enjoys studying commonly misdiagnosed and confused conditions, including bacterial vaginosis, a yeast infection, and other conditions that mimic each other but aren’t similarly treatable.

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We’ve all heard of eating fibre for a healthy digestive system, vegetables for essential vitamins and calcium-rich dairy products for our bones and teeth. But have you ever considered what you should be eating for healthy eyes?

There are so many pieces of dietary information out there, and often various pieces of advice seem to contradict one another. Take the chocolate argument: whilst sugars in excess are bad for us, recent research has shown that a piece of chocolate a day may help reduce the risk of heart problems. Here is my guide to the best foods for eye health (and none of them are contradictory, I promise!)

Kale, spinach and greens

Green vegetables are rich in iron and contain lutein ndash; a powerful antioxidant which has been proven to lower the risk of development of macular degeneration in the eyes (which can also develop with age). You will find lutein in kale, spinach, cabbage, peas and other green vegetables.

How to eat it: Green vegetables are great when steamed and served with a simple meat and potato combination. If you overcook green vegetables, they lose their taste and iron levels, so ensure you only steam them for a few minutes. If yoursquo;re not a fan of green vegetables, why not add them to sauces and soups to disguise them slightly whilst getting the same amount of goodness from them.

Carrots

Okay, so it has long been a phrase passed through generations: ldquo;carrots help you see in the darkrdquo;. Whilst not strictly true in the simplest form of the claim, carrots can indeed help your eyes as they contain Beta Carotene which the body can turn into vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for our eyes as without it we could end up with something called night blindness, meaning we wouldnrsquo;t be able to see in low light levels. In fact, most orange fruit and vegetables are high in Beta Carotene, so are a great food for eye health.

How to eat it: Try some raw carrots grated over a salad of lettuce and tomato. In winter, stews are great for a on pot supper, put chunks of carrots in the pan and allow to cook for a few hours on a low heat.

The key with any dietary advice is to enjoy foods in moderation. Too much of anything can be bad for you, so ensure you keep to a varied diet full of grains, fruit and vegetables, meat and fish.

Amy enjoys writing about health surrounding our eyes, blogging for Direct Sight - a leading provider of glasses online.

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Obesity is a major problem in the United States, and that problem is not reserved for any age group. We find overweight people of all ages including the very young as well as the very old. In fact, statistics show that 65% of all adults are overweight with 31% of them being classified as obese. The CDC reports that obesity and overweight conditions are typically associated with the occurrence of some of the following disorders.

• Osteoarthritis
• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels
• Stroke
• Sleep apnea
• Coronary heart disease
• Gallbladder disease
• Some cancers
• Respiratory problems.

When you take a good look at the list above, you will find that these disorders are very serious, and in many case life threatening. At the same time, individuals wishing to avoid such diseases and threats to their lives must understand that even though it may not be easy to implement plans for creating better health, it is vital to their wellbeing. One of the best approaches to creating a healthier lifestyle is to engage in physical exercise. So how does one go about instituting a regimen for getting healthier?

One of the best ways of getting and staying fit is by engaging in routine exercise that includes some type of cardiovascular exercise, reducing the amount of calories that are consumed, and modifying the behavior which has led to being overweight and out of shape. That could include using the best elliptical exercise equipment on the market or by simply walking for 20 minutes or longer each day. Of course for those who do not understand which piece of equipment is right for them, there is always the opportunity to read elliptical reviews to get a better picture of what is being offered.

What To Expect From Quality Exercise

Many people wonder what they can expect as they begin to take exercising seriously. Often times they are concerned that by initiating a weight loss program that involves activities that they are not familiar with they will find themselves in pain. While in some cases this may be true, depending on the individual’s condition at the beginning of the program, this is typically a short-term problem. Once the muscles and joints become accustomed to training, they will become stronger and the pain will abate.

While pain can sometimes provide people with a reason to forego exercise, there are a tremendous amount of positive reasons for getting started with regular physical activity. For one thing, many people who are overweight experience a level of depression. Once an exercise routine is started, the psychological benefits can be enormous. The more active a person is the less time they have to dwell on what is worrying them, but there is more to physical exercises than keeping one busy. There is something to be said for the anti-depressive effects of aerobic exercise.

Just as those suffering from depression can benefit from physical activity, so can those who suffer from anxiety. Taking control of your life has a positive effect on other areas of health as well. Eliminating some of the worries of life can also elevate your mood, which can in turn alleviate some of the stresses that try to invade our lives. Those experiencing arthritic pain, such as older adults, often find that pain is relieved when they engage frequently in some type of exercise.

Other Benefits Of Regular Exercise

There are many other benefits to be had from regular physical exercise, not the least of which is the fact that cardiovascular disease is reduced. Blood pressure is also affected by increased activity, which in turn helps to increase the efficiency of the heart. Type 2 diabetes is favorably affected when folks engage in regular exercise. It is a well-established fact that physical inactivity has the effect of weakening the insulin regulatory mechanisms of the body.

Regardless of the age of the individual, but particularly for those in age groups that are most susceptible to stroke, it has been proven that regular exercise can lower the risk of stroke. Lung and multiple myeloma cancers, colon cancer, and breast cancers are all reduced in those individuals who are physically active. However, it has been demonstrated that in order to get this positive effect it is the moderate to intense physical activity that has the greatest impact.

Inactivity negatively affects the musculoskeletal system of the body. Strength and muscle mass begins to decrease as do endurance and power. Even though this has been thought of as being natural for those who are getting older, studies have shown that it is simply a matter of the inactivity that often occurs with aging. With that in mind, it would be wise to continue to get adequate amounts of exercise throughout life to hold off on this type of deterioration.

Enhancing the health of all ages must include adequate amounts of well-planned exercise.

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What are embarrassing health problems that people face? These are health problems that affect unsightly places and they make you uncomfortable in front of people.

You feel like every time you have to stay somewhere where no one can see you with your problem. The face and hands are the worst parts to be attacked. This is so because they mostly stay uncovered, unless it’s winter season. What you can do is to find remedies that will treat or cure your disease.

Some of the most embarrassing healthy problems are:

1)Body Odor
Normally, body odor comes from the armpits. The armpit is the place where bacteria are likely to grow, because of its hidden nature. When you wash thoroughly during a shower will minimize the growth. If you don’t wash carefully you’re bound to bacteria over growth. The bacteria will clog your pores together with dirt causing it to “stink.”

2)Stinky Feet
The feet have so many sweat glands which is why if you don’t keep it clean and dry, it produces awful smell. To avoid this from happening, you need to wear a pair of socks only once before washing. If you repeat your socks more than once, dirt will accumulate. This causes odor.

3) Bad Breath
We all know what this is. If you don’t brush your teeth twice a day, bacteria will act on the food causing bad breath. Not only do teeth need to be brushed but your tongue as well. The tongue holds most of the odor causing bacteria in the mouth.

4) Frequent Belching
Some people they can’t stop belching which they find annoying and embarrassing. This can be caused by food that has lots of carbon like beverages, and swallowing air. You can minimize this by cutting down on soda and things that cause air to go in your stomach.

5) Dandruff
Whatever you wear gets powderly if you have dandruff. It is more obvious especially if you wear a dark shirt as it will show the flakes more clearly.

For all these embarrassing health problems you can use natural remedies that will reduce the symptoms. Below are natural remedies that can be used.

Natural Remedies for Most Embarrassing Health Problems

1. Baking soda is good for treating bad odor. For the mouth, you can make a solution of 1.tsp baking soda and 1 cup water. After brushing your teeth, rinse and gaggle with the solution. For the feet, sprinkle a sizable amount inside your shoes before wearing.

2. Vinegar
Vinegar is effective in treating dandruff. Mix 1 part of apple cider vinegar and 2 parts water, and use when you shampoo your hair.

3. Aloe
Applying aloe vera juice in your hair before washing will get rid of dandruff. Make sure to let it sit in for a few minutes before rinsing it out.

4. Lemon juice
Cut a lemon in half and rub it in your arm pits when taking a shower. It kills the bacteria because of its acidity.

5. Olive oil
Rubbing olive oil on your skin when going to bed helps in relieving dry skin. Olive oil has vitamin e oil that is a good moisturizer and antioxidant.

6. Water
Water helps to flush toxins, therefore drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will in many problems including gassy stomach.

7. Garlic
Garlic is an antiseptic that helps cleanse your system. Adding garlic in food or drinking garlic tea will give you all the benefits. Garlic also helps in digestion, for those with indigestion problems.

Cynthina Carlisle is a stay at home mom who loves to come up with craft projects for her two children she home schools. When she needed to seek out information on a life insurance policy for the third child she and her husband are expecting in August, she checked out http://www.lifeinsurancequotes.org/ for a great deal!

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