Vision and the ability to differentiate between colors in the spectrum are extremely essential in order to meet day-to-day chores of life. Human eye contains two specialized kinds of photoreceptor cells namely rods and cones that actively participate in regulating these activities. Any abnormalities or errors in these cells can result in the individual being unable to identify colors, a medical condition better known as color blindness or color vision defect.

Abnormalities in the color vision can occur either due to genetic disorder or acquired.

Genetic defects or inherited disorders are primarily as a result of mutated genes. Inherited color vision defect is primarily an X-linked disorder that is mostly prevalent in males. This is because males have only one single X-chromosome while females carry two sets of X-chromosomes. Hence, if the X-chromosome transferred to the male contains mutations that can cause color blindness, the child is definitely going to suffer from the disease. In case of females, chances of both the chromosomes carrying mutations are practically negligible. There are three different types of inherited color vision defects; namely monochromacy, dichromacy and anamolous trichromacy.

There are different reasons due to which a person can acquire color blindness and color vision defects. Some of these include any disease in the eye, injury to the retina, ageing, injury to the optic nerve, damage to the brain, damage caused due to excessive exposure to UV radiation or even as a result of side effects of certain medications.

Defects in the color vision were first identified and reported in 1798 by John Dalton, an English chemist. As a result, these diseases are sometimes referred to Daltonism. Today, detection and diagnosis of color blindness is extremely simple and easy. There are certain specialized color vision tests such as pseudoisochromatic plate tests and arrangement tests that are routinely used to screen for inherited color blindness disorders.

More independent physicians are partnering with their local hospitals to deliver efficient care to patients. These doctors and hospitals are employing a range of new information sharing technologies in order to facilitate access to patient information.

Without the aid of information sharing technology, hospitals and doctors often need to contact one another to ensure they have all the necessary information to prescribe treatment. This can lead to delays in treatment due to the waiting time for the transfer of patient information.

Information sharing networks eliminate this downtime by allowing physicians in private practice and those in community hospitals to access all records pertaining to a specific patient instantly.

This also diminishes the risk of valuable information being forgotten or omitted. Patient allergies to medications and previous treatment information are particularly relevant to physicians when trying to prescribe treatment. With new information sharing systems, doctors have a more reliable source to turn to for these types of information.

Integrated technology systems also facilitate physician workflow efficiency. Care providers can electronically submit laboratory and radiology orders to be viewed instantly by physicians either at their practices or at the community hospital.

York Hospital in Maine and San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in California are just a few of the hospitals that have found the use of information sharing technology helpful, enabling them to offer safer, more efficient care to their patients. These programs generally work with the hospital’s existing electronic infrastructure and are therefore easy to implement and use.

The ready sharing of information can also help to strengthen bonds among medical professionals. New technologies are reducing the barriers to information between physician practices and hospitals and creating a larger sense of community among those involved with patient care.

We are all aware of the need to balance our financial portfolio so that in times of hardship or when disaster strikes — stock market drops, pink slips, etc — we will be affected by financial challenges as little as possible. Having a substantial bank account allows us many opportunities that people with lesser financial savvy and preparation must for ego.

Perhaps you are at a “comfortable” financial level, able to pay off bills and credit cards timely, and have enough disposable income to enjoy a good quality of life. Perhaps you enjoy an “extremely high” financial level, with unending “toys”, travel when and where you want, and other opportunities for the “good life”. Either way you are able to handle sudden financial challenges and able to take advantage of financial opportunities as they come your way. Feels good, doesn’t it?

But what about your health portfolio? When faced with challenges such as a cold, flu season, children’s ear infections, etc. do you just accept them as part of life? What about when disaster strikes in the form of a serious health challenge to you or a family member. Is your health bank account equipped to fight back?

In the United States, the average age of disability (when quality of life becomes so poor that you need help for daily activities of living) is 65 years old. Modern medicine is providing miracles in keeping us alive longer — increasing our “lifespan”. But what about the quality of our lives? If we want to continue our “health span” along with our “lifespan”, it is imperative to raise the level of our health bank account as well as balance our health portfolio.

If you think the cost of health care has gone through the roof now, wait until the majority of baby boomers reach the “age of disability”. Now is the time to take a serious look at your own health bank account and ask “Do I have all the energy I need each day?”, “What is my ‘cushion’ in case of serious illness?” and “Does my health portfolio need balancing?”

So you had been suffering from backache for days, now, you decide that you needed a help. Chiropractors can treat neck pain, back pain, headache, and various other aches and pains that may occur within the body.

The first time you visit them, they will have to ask about your health history and general health condition so they would be able to detect the main cause of the problem and to decide about the best remedy for your condition. Prepare about 30 minutes of your time on your first visit, preceding ones will only last for about 15 minutes or less. The time however would vary depending upon the kind of treatment that your body may call for.

Here are the lists of the things that you can expect on your first visit:

o Chiropractor may ask about your personal and your family medical history

o Ask about some major illnesses that you’ve experienced in the past

o Confirm about surgeries or operations that you had

o Medications or anything that you are currently taking

o Will ask you to describe your present condition

o Steps that you performed in order to deal with your current condition

o Will ask about your diet and exercise

o Check your sleeping habits, work routine, home life, and stress level.

As simple as these questions may seem to be, they are important to the chiropractors since through these set of questions, they can obtain a thorough background of your life in the long run. Answer each question properly and truthfully, it’s for your own good after all.

Now-a-days people are facing various health problems due to the inappropriate health care taken in their hectic and busy life. This calls for a need to provide appropriate healthcare for everyone. An average American is not able to afford the skyrocketing hospital charges and the amount spent on health care is much higher than any other expenses.

Studies reveal that the expenditure on health care in 2002 reached to a whopping $1.6 trillion. This doesn’t mean that people have a lot of money to spend on health care but this gives a picture of the percentage of amount being spent from their income towards the medical expenses. In general, one can say that ‘medical bills just keep eating people’s money away’. This condition would really hurt the people’s mind-set which might result in dire consequences.

The only solution for this situation is to make health care affordable. Many companies voluntarily are working to solve this issue in their own ways. One such company which is majorly focusing on providing affordable health care is Ameriplan. As a part of this initiative, Ameriplan has started discount plans which help every individual save up to 80% of the medical expenses. Ameriplan discount plans provide services such as dental care, vision care, and chiropractic care and prescription drugs at a lowest cost ranging from $19.95 a month that covers whole family. Many more benefits are said to be provided by Ameriplan which aim at reducing the costs incurred towards health care. One thing to be remembered is that Ameriplan discount plans are not insurance, in fact they are much more than insurance.

There are many health benefits of aloe Vera:

• Treating skin disorders
• Promoting wound healing
• Fighting allergies
• Maintaining healthy hair and scalp
• Treating teeth and gum disorders
• Reducing inflammation and pain
• Promoting healthy immune system

Elaborating further, aloe acts as a deep skin moisturizer, increasing collagen and reducing pigment formation. It cleans the skin by removing bacteria and also nourishes it. By eliminating dead skin cells, scars, wrinkles and blemishes are eliminated.

The aloe plant is very effective for cuts, boils, abscesses, cold sores and skin ulcers. The impurities are drained out and the natural healing process of the skin is sped up.

Because of allergies, pain and itching occur and aloe Vera acts as an anti-allergenic substance, allowing the body to deal the harmful substances.

Deep penetrating actions by aloe allows nutrients to access the scalp. It soothes scalp itching and the dead skin cells are discarded allowing new growth which combats dandruff and seborrhea infections.

The active aloe ingredients reduces inflammation of the gum and rids the mouth of pain. Mouth sores and surgical wounds heal better with the application of aloe gel.

Pure aloe also reduces body inflammation and pain by externally and internally attaching the symptom. As a juice it treats symptoms of IBS, indigestion colitis, peptic ulcers and even excessive stomach acid.

Because of its wide range of vitamins and minerals, aloe Vera is the best immune system stimulant. It creates in the body a better defense against viruses and bacteria and allows the body’s own healing abilities to tackle foreign substances.

A word of caution, Aloe Vera is not to be used as a substitute for genuine medical emergencies. A doctor should always be consulted prior to using aloe Vera especially if you are pregnant or have been diagnosed with diabetes or gall bladder problems.

Integration of technology and neuroscience has now made it possible to impart vision to individuals suffering from blindness. Scientists around the world are trying to use the principles of neurotechnology and other fields of sciences in order to develop devices that can mimic the human eye so that blind people can be benefited.

Described below are some important innovations that have been made in this area and how neurotechnology is helping blindness.

1. Eye-pod: This is a device that has been developed by Neurotech, a Rhode Island based biotech firm. Using their proprietary Encapsulated Cell Technology, scientists and engineers at this institute have come out with a porous membrane that is filled with genetically modified human retinal cells capable of secreting a protein called as ciliary neurotrophic factor. This protein is known to protect the eye. This device has to be surgically implanted into the eye.

2. Another major innovation developed by engineers and scientists at Optobionics, Illinois, is a sensory device or a chip that can be surgically implanted into the eye. This device is based on the thought of integrating electronic devices directly into the human body. Known as Artificial Silicon Retina (ASR), this device is actually a 2mm wide silicon chip containing thousand of photovoltaic solar cells. These cells are capable of converting external light into electric currents that are capable of stimulating retinal cells in the eye.

3. Second Sight is another biotech firm based in California. Scientists at this organization have developed an electrode array that when implanted in the eye captures images by means of its small camera. These images are then processed and transferred to the electronic implant device present in the eye. This device then electronically stimulates the retina.

It really surprises me at just how our normal lifestyle has become so draining and is affecting our health in such a way that finding the energy to do something about it can lead to even more stress.  Ask yourself the question, when did you last meditate?  Or take a long walk in nature to clear your mind?

Learning about our organ health and the emotions that are represented by them can generate a clear insight into where in our body our Qi is not flowing freely.

The Liver

Also known as the lifer because it is the giver of life, the liver is the largest gland in the body and has a variety of functions such as storing blood when we rest. When the liver is not in balance then we usually experience intolerance which leads to frustration & anger and in very extreme cases, Rage. The element that is associated with the liver is wood and its colour is Green.

The kidneys

You might not know it but your kidneys work extremely hard in pumping and balancing fluids in the body, circulate around 15 gallons of fluid every hour, amazing` let’s hear it for the kidneys. The emotion connected to the kidneys is inappropriate fear and anxiety during normal day to day activities. The element for the kidneys is water and the colour is deep sea blue.

The Spleen

Here is another organ that really affects our mental health when out of balance and one function is to filter our blood. The spleen is emotionally connected to pensiveness or you could call it the worry organ when out of balance. The spleens element is earth and the colour is earthy yellow.

Organs are Emotions

So you begin to get the picture when we look at the body from this perspective that the organs are right at the core of our mental health and taking yoga & fitness classes or going on long walks really helps to create balance.

Learn to Meditate

Learning to meditate brings with it so many benefits with many different methods used all over the world. Mindfulness meditation has proven to be one of the most popular today and has some really good studies to back it up. Also walking meditation has been a great way of building and maintaining much clarity for our minds.

What is meditation?

Meditation can be practiced in many ways but one of the best is the observation of thoughts passing through your mind without feeling the need to think about them or become involved with where the thought came from and why it is here.

Attend a yoga & fitness retreat.

Retreats have become incredibly popular over the decades and you can find many offering yoga health and fitness in Europe and all over the world. All you have to do is ensure you choose the right one that suits your needs for building and sustaining a healthy and mentally fit lifestyle.

 

With the skyrocketing costs of health care, the issue of health travel or “medical tourism” has been generating lots of buzz in the media. Within the last few weeks, stories about health travel have hit the pages of publications like US News & World, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, detailing how health travel offers people high quality health care at a price far more affordable than the US. It’s a benefit without boundaries – meaning, the cost savings are for anyone who wants them, including the thousands of insured who are nevertheless facing higher premiums, reduced coverage, and higher out-of-pocket deductibles and co-payments.

While much of the press has focused on exotic locales like India, Mexico is actually the most common destination for Americans traveling for health care. Last year alone more than 50,000 Americans traveled to Mexico seeking everything from heart surgery, hip replacement, cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic surgery procedures, preventive screenings and even homeopathic health treatments. Mexico is widely recognized for its number of leading gastroenterology (weight loss) surgeons.

In its study Medical Tourism: Consumers In Search of Value, Deloitte estimates the number of medical travelers is expected to reach 6 million per year in 2009. The growth is not surprising – the typical medical traveler receive outstanding quality health care at significantly lower cost over U.S. pricing.

For example, in Mexico, weight loss surgery ranges from $6,000-$11,500 vs. the $25-35,000 price tag in the U.S. Hip replacement is $10,000-$12,000, compared to $60,000+ in the U.S. A $100,000 angioplasty in the U.S. is $25,000 in Mexico – featuring a surgeon who regularly spends at least three months of his operating time in the U.S.

Mexico offers the additional benefit of having direct flights from many U.S cities, and most surgeons are fluent in English as well as Spanish. The hospitals that welcome medical tourists are sleek, modern affairs featuring amenities such as patient suites, sushi restaurants and a medical traveler concierge, while even newer, more sophisticated hospitals continue to be built.

Do your research to find the medical tourism company that best suits your needs. There are companies that guide patients through the process of getting medical treatment abroad, handling every detail of your trip – from insurance to financing, arranging for air travel, accommodations, appointments, transportation to and from your procedure and even keeping you in touch with friends and family.

A hernia is a very painful disease and if it goes into the last stage, it has to be operated. There are many patients who prefer to go for surgery instead of continuing with the medication because it helps cure fast.

However, there is a different alternative to surgeries and it is becoming more and more popular among hernia patients. Technology has advanced in every possible way in the health section and doctors have come up with amazing solutions to make sure that you can get hernia treatment without surgery. This treatment involves controlling your diet plan, starting an exercise program and also wearing garments that would help heal a hernia. In fact, there are similar cures for piles treatment that doctors have come up with up in the recent time. But, what is it that will help you cure a hernia without having to go for the traumatic surgery? Let’s find out.

A systematic diet

One of the most important parts of treating a hernia without surgery is to have a good diet plan. Just like you have a diet chart when you want to lose weight, similarly there is a specific diet plan when you have hernia. However, it is important that you follow the diet religiously in order to quicken the process of recovery. Foods that are rich in fiber would be ideal for this situation. In addition to fiber rich foods, you should also include lots and lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. Since hernia patients lack minerals and vitamins in their body, it is essential that you eat food that are rich in vitamins and minerals and also zinc. All these will combine together to make collagen so that your skin gets the right amount of protein. A primary concern for hernia patients is their weak collagen content due to which the hernia occurs in the first place.

People exercise for various reasons, but for those who have a hernia, there are also exercises that helps to cure a hernia and prevent patients from undergoing a surgery. The exercises meant for hernia patients are mainly muscle exercises because the abdominal muscles have to be strained in order to cure the hernia. The main target area would be the muscles that lie just below the 6 pack. As those muscles are strained higher towards your stomach, the chances of curing your hernia increases. The most ideal exercise in this case would be Pilates as they directly deal with the abdominal muscles and will not only cure a hernia, but will also prevent it from growing any further.

Change in attire

That is the reason why many companies have come up with abdominal belts and pants that can keep your abdominal muscles tight. This in turn will help in ensuring that the hernia is prevented from getting worse.