Then I found this Hyperwear weighted vest searching online for “best weighted vest.” I ordered the vest even though it is expensive—2 to 3 times as much as the ones I found in stores. But it is worth every penny! The vest is extremely flexible and the weights form-fit to your body. It is short, so you can bend and move freely at the waist. It is great for crunches. The weights are in the front and back. It laces on the sides that are very easy to adjust so that the vest fits really snug. The laces also make it very easy for both my husband and I to use this vest without the frustration of difficult resizing. You can move your arms freely without rubbing against the vest. What is so nice is how the weights are very small making the vest thin and flexible instead of the bulky soap-bar sized weights in other vests. The vest is also hand washable. I bought the vest using their sizing chart and the vest fits perfectly. I can even resize it as my core tightens up always keeping the weight close to my body to prevent injury.

In addition to the treadmill and elliptical, this would be great in step classes, on a stairmaster or other similar cardio classes.

The only downside for me is the weight against my breast. I don’t like that smushed-in feeling. If I wear a very good support sports bra it isn’t quite as noticeable.

I want more than 10 pounds of weight so I’m going to buy the Booster Box of additional weights and boost the weight up to 15 or 20 pounds. I think the 10 pound weighted vest would be fine for preventing osteoporosis and for most women. Men would probably like a little heavier weight. Once you get the vest on, the weight is so well distributed it feels light.

I highly recommend this vest! You won’t be disappointed.

If I kept my lifestyle (activity level) the same, my weight loss would be 1578 calories out – 1200 calories in = 378 calories a day. Since we have to burn 3500 calories to lose a pound it would take me almost 10 days to burn 3500 calories. To be exact it would take 3500 divided by 378 = 9.26 days. If I wanted to lose 10 pounds it would take me 9.26 days x 10 pounds = 92.6 days divided by 30 days (1 month) or just over 3 months.

But let’s assume I’m going to a class reunion in 2 months and I want to lose 10 pounds before then. 10 pounds = 3500 calories x 10 = 35000 calories I have to lose in 60 days (2 x 30 days). That’s 35000 calories divided by 60 days = 583 calories per day I have to burn. Since I can’t eat any less than the 1200 daily calories I’m eating, I to have to exercise to burn the difference between the 583 calories I need to burn daily and the 378 calories I can cut out with my diet. 583 – 378 = 205 calories I have to burn off with exercise. Now let’s see how much weight we would lose each week if we burn 583 calories each day. 7 days x 583 calories divided by 3500 calories (1 pound) = 1.17 pounds a week we would lose. Most nutritionists recommend a pound a week weight loss. Mainly because losing weight slowly helps you build healthy eating habits and you’re more likely to keep the weight off. If you’re otherwise healthy, you should be able to safely and healthfully lose about 1% of your body weight per week. More than 1% per week and you can damage your body, reduce your resistance to sickness like colds and flu and cut down on the amount of energy you have to get through the day. Our goal of 1.17 pounds per week is below the healthy weight loss of 1.5 pounds for someone weighing 150 pounds.

Now let’s assume our class reunion is in 30 days. Since we only have half the time, we would have to lose twice as much each week or 2.34 pounds. That is not a healthy rate for someone weighing 150. For me, it would also mean a 1200 calorie diet and 410 exercise calories per day. If we look at examples of calories burned while walking you can see how long you would have to exercise to burn 410 calories. And that’s doing it EVERY DAY!

First, one body pound is equal to 3500 calories. So to lose one pound I have to eat 3500 fewer calories or to enough exercise to burn off 3500 calories or some combination of diet and exercise. Since it doesn’t make sense to try and lose weight on a daily basis, we will calculate on a weekly basis.

A good rule is to weigh yourself every day when you are trying to maintain your weight, and weigh only once a week when you are trying to lose weight. I weight every Monday after I pee and before I eat breakfast. Monday weigh-ins keep me from pigging out on the weekend since I know I have to weigh first thing Monday.

Most nutritionist agree a health weight loss goal is 1 pound a week. That means you need to lose calories each day or 3500 calories divided by 7 days = 500 calories. So you can subtract 500 calories from the number of calories needed to maintain your weight. In my case, I need 1578 to maintain. By subtracting 500 I can only eat 1078 calories each day in order to lose 1 pound a week. But I also know my resting metabolic weight is 1127. So if I only eat 1078, I won’t lose weight because my body will think it is in trouble and will store the calories I eat as fat. Therefore, I can only cut my food calories to 1200. By subtracting 1078 from 1200 = 122 means I have to do enough exercise to burn 122 calories. So my daily weight loss equation looks like this:

Calories Out: 1127 (resting metabolic rate) – 451 Lifestyle – 122 exercise = 1700
Calories In: 1200 (food)

Calories Out – Calories In = 1700 – 1200 = -500

So I have lost 500 calories or 1/7th of a pound. By keeping up this formula I will lose 1 pound a week, that is 7 x 500 calories = 3500 calories which = 1 pound.

If I want to lose more than 1 pound a week it is clear that I can’t eat any less food, so I will have to exercise more.

How Much Exercise Do I Need to Lose Weight?

Figuring how much you have to exercise to lose weight is easy once you know how many calories you need to burn each day to lose the amount of weight you want to lose. In the example above, I need to do enough exercise to burn 122 calories every day in addition to keeping my calorie intake at 1200 calories in order to lose 1 pound a week. So I need to find an exercise that I like to do and will keep doing that will burn 122 calories.

One way to know when you have burned 122 calories is use a piece of exercise equipment that will tell you how many calories you have burned based on how long you use it and how hard you are exercising. For example, many treadmills will show you how many calories you have burned as you walk or run. It takes approximately 100 calories to move 150 pounds 1 mile. So most machines are based on a person weighing 150 pounds. To find your actual calories burned your would have to adjust the machines calorie count according to your weight. Suppose the machine shows you have burned 200 calories. That means, if you weighed 150 pounds you have burned 200 calories. But you actually weigh 175 pounds. To adjust for your actual weight you divide 200 cal/150 pounds then multiple by your weight of 175 pounds and find that you have burned 233 calories. If you weigh less than 150 it’s the same drill, you divide 200/150 x your weight to find how many calories you burned.

The next post will show you how to set a weight loss goal.

Metabolism Testing

To find my resting metabolic rate all I had to do was sit in a chair and breathe normally through my mouth while wearing a mask. The expelled air is a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide which when analyzed tells your resting metabolic rate. The resting metabolic rate is how many calories you body needs to support your vital organs. So if all you did is sit and breathe all day, the number of calories your body burned in a day would be your resting metabolic rate (RMR). Once you know your resting metabolic rate you can add the number of calories you burn everyday based on your lifestyle. A “very light” lifestyle means you site all day, “light” lifestyle is equivalent to standing all day. Moderate lifestyle would be standing with some physical labor. A heavy lifestyle means heavy physical labor.

Why Do You Need to Know Your Metabolic Rate

Weight management (maintaining a healthy weight) is a very simple formula — Calories in must equal Calories out. Calories out is measured as your metabolic rate which is how many calories you burn in a day or for a given activity. Your daily calorie burn rate is equal to the calories you burn at rest (such as while you are sleeping or sitting) + calories you burn doing your daily activities (this includes what your do around the house as well as at work or school) + any calories you burn with exercise (this would be exercise that is not part of your normal day). Add these up and you can find out how many calories you burn that day. Once you know calories out then you can maintain your weight by counting the calories in — that is, the calories in the food you eat that day. Knowing your BMI is also important.

Knowing your resting metabolic weight is important, too. Remember, your resting metabolic rate is how much energy (calories) your body needs to support your vital organs. If you eat fewer calories than your body needs to support your vital organs your body may sense that it is in trouble and respond by getting rid of lean muscle instead of burning fat. In other words, your body will try to get rid of weight so it won’t have to work so hard. By going on a diet that is few calories than your resting metabolic rate can cause you not to lose weight because your body will store the food thinking it is in trouble.

The Results of My Metabolism Testing

After the resting test, I got on a treadmill to find out my exercise metabolic rate. By knowing these metabolic rates, I can figure out how many calories I can eat each day and lose weight. I also found out at what level of exercise my body quits burning fat efficiently.

My resting metabolic rate is 1127 calories. My lifestyle calories based on a light lifestyle is 451 calories. So the number of calories I can eat each day and maintain my weight at my current lifestyle is 1578. So the next trick is to figure out how I can use my metabolic rates to lose weight, how to lose fat instead of muscle and how to burn fat more efficiently.

When I joined the fitness club I was paired with a personal trainer to help me reach my goals. He did a physical assessment which told me my body fat percentage (measured by using calipers at the waist, thigh and tricep), weight, flexibility and “real age” of my body. My real age was very depressing because I look 15-20 years younger than I am, but my body is 6 years older than my actual age; the majority of the 6 years is based on my weight. So if I lose weight I can lose years—much cheaper than plastic surgery!

I also joined myfitnesspal.com, a free online calorie counter, diet and exercise journal so I could track my calories in and calories out. According to a nutritionist I went to a few years ago, I should never let my daily calories fall below 1200 or my body would store fat, thinking I was starving. So I set my goal at 1200 calories per day for food. I didn’t set a goal for exercise, just determined to make an effort to exercise and go to the club at least 5 days a week. My husband and I started going to the club and exercising on the machines. We also joined fitness classes that meet M-W-F each week and we play squash for an hour (burns 850 calories per hour) every time we go. I’ve also been on the treadmill a couple of times on my own. All that for 1 pound of weight loss and a 1% increase in body fat. Depressing.

So this week I whined to my trainer that I was ready to toss it all. It was just too hard for me to lose weight because I’m only 5’1″. I could stay home and eat ice cream and do this good! So he suggested that maybe I’m working too hard when I exercise. Maybe instead of burning fat—which is what I want to do— I’m burning muscle. I’ve been using my heart rate monitor and I’m rarely in the fat burning zone shown on the machines, I’m always way above. So he said those zones are only estimates and that everyone is different. He suggested that I get tested to find out my true maximum heart rate, the level of exercise at which I’m actually burning fat, and my actual resting metabolism (how many calories I burn at rest). By taking the test I won’t be guessing any more on how much I can eat and how hard I can exercise to lose fat. So I agreed to have the test done. I don’t want to keep spinning my wheels.

Tomorrow I have the metabolism and cardio test. I have to fast 12 hours before. I’m really looking forward to seeing how close the tables on the machines are to my actual max heart rate using the 220-your age formula. Check back tomorrow and I’ll tell you all about the test and how I did.

In order to track my progress I weighed myself when I got home from the initial assessment to see if my home scales matched the weight and body fat percentage he calculated—which they did. (My scale measures both weight and body fat.) I was surprised, I always assumed the calibrations were voodoo!

What we were looking for was a club:

• that had group classes
• with a pool or lap pool
• that offered personal training
• that was clean and the equipment wasn’t worn out or old
• that was open 24/7 so guests weren’t all forced into the same block of time
• that wasn’t too expensive
• that we could get out of contract if it didn’t work out
• that was close enough that we would go
• that had an energetic atmosphere (we’re mood catchers and we need energy from others to keep us going)

We checked out LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness, Gold’s Gym and Lifetime Fitness.

LA Fitness had the pool, classes and trainers—but was old and dirty looking. Anytime Fitness had the equipment and trainers, but no classes, pool or energy. Planet fitness was basically a weight lifters gym, and totally dead. Gold’s Gym was OK, but just didn’t pull us in. Lifetime Fitness seemed to have everything we were looking for. So we got a one week free trial membership and a free personal trainer session to help us make our decision.

The facility is HUGE. It looks like an exercise mall more than a gym. There are 4 squash courts, 4 basketball courts, hundreds of treadmills, bikes, elipticals, and stair climbers, an olympic size pool indoors and out, a 6 lane lap pool, showers, spa, yoga, pilates, and on and on. We took total advantage of the trial membership and went 5 of the 7 days the week of Christmas. The trainer took us through our paces and I discovered I was really out of shape for endurance. We played squash every visit (we used to play racquetball, but they have squash because it burns more calories). We used some of the hundreds of weight machines and checked out the classes. We shot baskets on the basketball court. There were always lots of people there and we felt the energy level would be a real plus and keep us going—so we joined on Dec. 27. I decided we would come back on Jan 1 with renewed interest and efforts at getting/staying in shape and enjoying our new lifestyle.

HA! We we’re the only ones that made that decision. When we came back on Jan 1, we couldn’t find a parking spot. The place was packed wall to wall with people and trainers. And worst of all were the kids! Kids everywhere!!!! I felt like I had joined a nursery. Kids running in the halls. Two of the basketball courts dedicated to kids play. Squash courts taken by kids. By kids I mean 6-10 year olds. The kids under 6 were in a special area, but you had to watch out for them until they got to that area. Kids in the pool— the water looked like a choppy wake. How much pee in that pool?

On Friday the first week in January, we learned that once is a month is parents’ night out and parents are dropping kids off like flies. There were hundreds of them. Taking up all the courts and the pools. The second week starts the kids programs and courts and pools are shut down for kids classes. One night we saw a half of a basketball court dedicated to one fat kid and his trainer! How can one kid get a whole half a basketball court when guys are literally standing in line 10 deep for pick-up games?

I’ve also discovered that just about everything there cost extra. If you can’t do it alone, it cost extra. Classes are extra, lessons are extra. Pilates is not included. Cafeteria cost an arm and a leg. Personal trainers are $100/hour. Everything in the club is geared toward selling something once you get in the door. Heart rate monitors, fitness evaluations out the wazoo, lessons, training, even group exercise classes. But babysitting is free. Also, a lot of what you can do alone is off limits if there is a class. Certain areas of the gym are blocked off for classes which greatly cuts down on the available machines.

The website is terrible and hard to figure out how to use. There are so few classes each day it’s hard to find one at a time you can attend, unless you want to go at 9 pm when the kids are at home asleep.

We are going to give it a couple of months and see if the crowd falls off. If not, we’ll be looking again and know a lot better what not to get into.

The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine along with accessory organs like the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, etc. The digestive tract of a normal adult human being is about 30 feet long.

Mouth

Though the esophagus is the first part of the digestive tract, the process of digestion begins with the mouth where our teeth (premolars and molars) chew (masticate) the food and the food is mixed with enzymes in the saliva secreted by the salivary glands located below the tongue, near the lower jaw. The food is then a soft mass that is easily swallowed and later digested. The tongue and mouth push the soft food, now called a bolus, to the back of the mouth where it is swallowed. The epiglottis, a flap-like covering over the trachea (the windpipe), closes automatically when the bolus enters the esophagus to make sure that the food bolus doesn’t get into the windpipe (trachea) causing choking.

Esophagus

The bolus passes through a long muscular tube called the esophagus. The esophagus is about 10 inches long and connects the throat and the stomach. The process by which the food or bolus is pushed through the esophagus and into the stomach is known as peristalsis, that is, wavelike contractions in the muscle. At the junction of the esophagus and the stomach there is a ring like muscle known as the cardiac sphincter. This allows the food to pass into the stomach but does not permit the food to go back into the esophagus.

Stomach

The connection between the esophagus and the small intestine is a sac-like pear-shaped muscular bag called the stomach. The stomach is approximately 12 inches long and 6 inches broad at the broadest point. However, due to its elastic nature, its size and shape can change depending on the food content. The stomach is made up of five layers. The innermost layer is the mucosa (which produces the acids and digestive juices). The next layer is the submucosa covered by muscularis (which moves and helps in the mixing of the food). Then comes the two layers of covering called subserosa and serosa (the outermost layer).

The food from the esophagus passes into the stomach where it is mixed and churned with the gastric juices (enzymes and acids secreted by the mucosa) and converted into a semifluid state (called chyme) which then passes into the small intestine. However, substances like water and alcohol are absorbed directly from the stomach. A ring-like musculature called the pyloric sphincter separates the stomach from the small intestine.

Small Intestine

The small intestine is divided into three parts, namely, the duodenum, jejunum and ileum.

Duodenum

It is a 10-inch long C-shaped tube found around the head of the pancreas which forms the first part of the small intestine. The food, now converted to chyme, enters from the stomach into the duodenum where it is mixed together with the bile and other digestive juices produced by the accessory digestive organs and drained into the duodenum. Absorption of food also begins here with the absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. In particular, before the food passes into the next part of the small intestine, that is the jejunum, iron and calcium contained in the food is absorbed here. The remaining of the food is passed into the jejunum.

Jejunum

This second part or the midsection of the small intestine is a coiled tube which is thicker and vascular than the ileum. It lies in the umbilical region of the abdomen. There are small fingerlike projections in the jejunal wall called villi. These villi are covered with smaller projections called microvilli. These increase the surface area and thus aids in the greater absorption of nutrients in this part of the small intestine. Thus majority of absorption of food is done in this portion of the digestive tract. The glucose and amino acids produced in the food is passed from here into the blood stream while the fat is passed into the lymph capillaries. The remainder of food passes into the ileum.

Ileum

The last portion of the small intestine occupies mainly the pelvic region. It looks very similar to the jejunum. Also there is no specific demarcation between the jejunum and the ileum. However, the nature of the intestine gradually changes. It is thinner and less vascular as compared to the jejunum. The final absorption of nutrients from the food takes place here. The terminal ileum is an important part as this is the portion where vitamin B12 is absorbed into the blood capillaries. The unabsorbed and undigested food then passes from the ileum into the cecum, which is the beginning of the large intestine. This residue food is full of bacteria.

Large Intestine

The large intestine forms the last portion of the digestive tract, which is about 5 feet long. The large intestine can be further divided into cecum, colon and rectum. The food passes from the small intestine into the cecum which then passes into the colon (further divided into ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon and sigmoid colon) where the fluids and salts are absorbed. After absorption, the remaining feces (undigested matter) pass into the rectum, where it is stored until it is passed out through the anus as bowel movement. The anus has voluntary and involuntary sphincter muscles which help to differentiate between gas and solid contents. A vestigial organ, the appendix, is found attached to the large intestine at the cecum. Though this organ is potentially of no use, yet it can cause pains and complications once it gets inflamed, a disorder called appendicitis.

Accessory Digestive Organs

Though not directly part of the digestive tract, the accessory digestive organs play a major role in the digestion process. The accessory digestive organs include the salivary glands, pancreas, liver and gallbladder.

Salivary Glands

There are three pairs of salivary glands, namely, parotid glands (the largest of the salivary glands is located one in each cheek between the ear and the lower jaw), submandibular glands (also called submaxillary glands located on the floor of the mouth) and sublingual glands (located in front of the submandibular glands under the tongue). All three pairs of glands secrete saliva, which is a mixture of mucus and serous fluids that contains enzymes which is necessary to moisten and lubricate the food during mastication and ingestion. It also aids in the breaking down of the starch content of the food.

Pancreas

Located behind and under the stomach, the pancreas acts both as an endocrine gland and an exocrine gland. From the exocrine part it secretes pancreatic juices containing enzymes which pass through the pancreatic duct into the small intestine (the duodenum). These enzymes aid in the further breakdown of the food, mainly the carbohydrate, protein and lipid part of the food. From the endocrine part it secretes insulin and glucagon.

Liver

The liver is the largest organ of the human body located below the diaphragm in the upper epigastric region of the abdomen. It has many functions including production of chemicals necessary for digestion, synthesis of protein and detoxification. The major function of the liver is to produce bile (yellowish-green fluid) which aids in the digestion and absorption of fats. It also stores substances like glucose, iron and vitamins A, B12, D etc.

Gallbladder

The gallbladder is a small organ located just below the liver. Its main function is to store the bile produced by the liver and release it into the duodenum when food containing fat needs to be broken down and absorbed. The bile contained in the gallbladder becomes more concentrated and thus is more effective in burning down the fat.

The teeth and tongue also aid in the digestion process and thus are very much a part of the digestive system.

Digestive System Problems and Diseases

Digestive system disorders can range from common digestive diseases to inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, ulcers or even cancers of the stomach, colon and/or rectum.

Diarrhea

The condition of watery stools at frequent intervals is called diarrhea. It is a very common problem and most often it resolves on its own. It may be caused by bacteria or virus, which is treated by antibiotics, or can be an intestinal/functional disorder, which needs specific treatment by a physician. Dehydration is a major side effect of this problem and thus the fluid lost should be replaced with constant intake of saline water.

Diverticular Disease

In some people, especially the elderly, the colon begins to have sac like protrusions called diverticula (singular diverticulum). This condition is known as diverticular disease. It is generally caused due to constipation where there is increased pressure to pass stool that is too hard. The pressure causes weak parts of the colon to bulge and thus cause diverticula. This condition occurs in almost 15% of people; however, this rarely causes any symptoms or complications. In cases where the diverticula get infected, a condition called diverticulitis; it needs thorough treatment by a physician or healthcare provider. The abdominal pains caused by diverticulitis may become very severe and may require hospitalization. Rare cases may require surgery to rectify the situation.

Heartburn

Heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition where the gastric juices and/or food and fluid from the stomach flow back into the esophagus. This can be caused either by overeating or eating certain foods like citrus or fatty and spicy foods, or even can be a result of some serious underlying medical conditions like hiatal hernia. Hiatal hernia is a condition where the stomach pushes up into the chest via some opening in the diaphragm. In most cases, heartburn is relieved by over-the-counter antacid and/or diet and lifestyle modifications as recommended by the physician. However, heartburn may mimic more serious underlying conditions like heart diseases. In such cases, the chest pains are accompanied by sweating, light-headedness and/or nausea and over-the-counter antacids do not seem to help. In such a condition, immediate medical care should be sought.

Gas in the Digestive Tract

Gas goes into the digestive tract either by swallowing or by the breakdown of certain food particularly in the colon area due to the presence of certain bacteria there. This collection of gas can cause bloating, pain and discomfort in the abdomen. Gas is often released either by belching or flatulence. Some situations may require medications to release the gas and/or diet modification to reduce the formation of gas. Aerophagia or air swallowing can be reduced by removing the causes, namely, rapid eating and drinking, chewing gums, smoking and wearing loose dentures.

Hepatitis

The inflammation of the liver mainly due to viral infections is known as hepatitis. There are six types of hepatitis, namely, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, hepatitis E and hepatitis G. Hepatitis A is caused by fecal-oral contact that is by ingestion of fecal infected food or water. Hepatitis B is spread from an infected person by exposure to body fluid like saliva, blood, semen or vaginal secretions. It can also be transmitted to a baby born of an infected mother. Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted by contact with infected blood but can also be transmitted via sexual contact or to a baby born of an infected mother. Infections caused due to hepatitis B or hepatitis C are more severe and has a higher mortality rate as compared to hepatitis A. Effective vaccinations are available for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Hepatitis D occurs to patients already affected with hepatitis B, either simultaneously or later. Similar to hepatitis A, hepatitis E is also caused by fecal-oral contact. However, it is less common than hepatitis A and is only found in poorly developed countries. The latest form of hepatitis is hepatitis G. Though very little is known about this form, it is believed to spread through the blood especially found in IV drug users. It generally shows no clinical symptoms.

Inflammatory bowel diseases

Ulcerative colitis

In this type of inflammatory bowel disease, the inner lining of the colon and the rectum gets inflamed. This is a chronic disease with an unknown cause. It generally does not affect the small intestine, though at times the ileum (the part of the small intestine that joins with the large intestine) may get affected. The symptoms caused in this condition, like diarrhea and cramping are relieved with medication that soothe the inflammation. However, the patient might need hospitalization in order to treat malnutrition and/or loss of blood, fluid and salts. In very few cases, a patient might need to undergo surgery, especially where there is risk of excessive bleeding, perforated colon or risk of cancer.

Crohn’s Disease

This type of inflammatory bowel disease, of unknown cause, affects the deeper layers of the bowel, mainly the terminal ileum, but may extend to the other parts of the digestive tract. Though there are no sure cures for Crohn’s disease, medications are given to lessen the inflammation and supplements are suggested to correct nutritional deficiencies. Surgeries like removal of a section of the bowel, ileostomy, colostomy etc. are done in certain cases which might help though it cannot be completely cured by surgery. There is a possibility that it might affect the area next to the removed section of the bowel.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This is a functional disorder of the intestine, mainly the colon. When closely monitored the disease cannot be seen but causes symptoms like pains, bloating, changes in the bowel habits etc. The exact cause of this disorder is unknown but is believed to be caused due to emotional stress and/or improper diet. Physicians generally treat this disorder with diet modifications and medications like antidepressants, laxatives, tranquilizers etc. They may also include a fiber supplement. However, in using these medications the patient may tend to become dependent on laxatives or tranquilizers and it can have a major effect on their lifestyle.

Lactose intolerance

Lactase is an enzyme produced in the small intestine which helps in the breakdown of lactose (found in milk products) into a form that can be easily absorbed by the blood. When there is lack of lactase, the body is unable to digest lactose. This condition is called lactose intolerance. This is generally caused due to injuries to the small intestine. There is no treatment to improve the body’s ability to produce lactase but physicians may suggest additional lactase enzymes. The patient’s lactose intolerance is controlled with diet modifications.

Peptic Ulcers

An open sore or lesion on the skin or mucous membrane is called an ulcer. A peptic ulcer is an ulcer found in the lining of the stomach and duodenum. In particular, the ulcer of the stomach is known as gastric ulcer while that of the duodenum is called duodenal ulcer. Stress and diet were earlier thought to be the cause of this disease, while later it was found that hydrochloric acid and pepsin (the stomach acids) were contributing to this disease. However, recent researches have shown that the primary cause is an infection with a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori. These ulcers can lead to serious complications like bleeding, perforation or even narrowing and obstruction. These can be treated by lifestyle changes and medications as prescribed by the physician. For patients who do not respond to medications or develop complications, surgeries like vagotomy, antrectomy or pyloroplasty are performed depending on the site of the ulcer.

Cancers

Like any other parts of the body, the digestive tract can also be infected with cancer. The common ones are the stomach cancer and colorectal cancer. What causes these cancers in unknown but it is believed that the cells in the stomach or colon and rectum become cancerous due to the risk factors like diet, tobacco, alcohol, H. pylori in case of stomach cancer and age, diet, polyps, ulcerative colitis, personal/family history in case of colorectal cancer. Treatment includes surgery to remove the cancerous tissues (like gastrectomy or segmental resection of the colon), radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

The major reasons patients opt for medical tourism are better and/or faster medical services and cost savings. Also, they are added advantages of enjoying a holiday vacation. Medical services that most travelers are interested in are surgeries such as knee replacement, hip replacement, cardiac (heart) surgery, cosmetic surgery, and dental surgery. Other healthcare services like psychiatry and alternative treatments not available in the U.S. are also sought after. Burial services are also made available to medical tourists if needed.

Globally, more than 50 countries have made medical tourism their national industry. Some of the countries known for medical tourism are Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, and India. It is important to know there is a wide range of services provided as well as a wide range in the quality and accreditation requirements.

Healthcare services provided

The health care services including surgeries available for medical tourists range from a simple checkup to a major heart surgery. Surgery for the heart, eye, dental, orthopedic, spine, gynecology, fertility, urology, and cancer are all available. You can also get affordable cosmetic surgery that is not normally covered by health care insurance in the U.S. Services for weight loss or stem cell therapy are also available. Some even offer alternative treatments, ayurvedic treatment, oriental medicines, spas, etc. Major organ transplants (kidney etc.) can also be availed in medical tourism.

Cost cutting

In the US, UK or Europe, treatment can be delayed due to long waiting lists and they prefer to travel to other countries like Singapore, Thailand, India to get faster treatment along with quality service and a low cost. These countries offer treatment with cutting-edge technology at a fraction of the cost you would have to pay in your own country. For example, a patient pays approximately $57,000 for an angioplasty in the U.S. whereas in India or Thailand the cost would be $9,000 – $10,000. Similarly, a knee replacement cost about $50,000 in the US compared to $9,000 – $14,000 in other countries. Cosmetic surgeries, like a face lift or breast implants, cost $10,000 – $15,000 in the U.S. whereas it cost $5,000 – $8,000 in Asian countries like Thailand or India. (Prices vary from hospital to hospital). There are more and more patients in good physical condition traveling to save money through medical tourism.

Finding a Doctor

Most countries that provide medical tourism have well qualified health care providers and doctors. Many of them are trained internationally. Some providers who offer medical tourism also partner with leading institutions in the U.S. or UK, keeping the standard of treatment high with state of the art facilities. They also provide high quality hospitality to their health care guests. It is important to do your research thoroughly of the the doctor and hospital you are considering before selecting the desired country/hospital/service provider for medical tourism.

Medical Tourism in India

Among the many Asian countries, India offers medical tourism, and in fact, India is often preferred over the other Asian countries. Patients from both the U.S. and UK travel to India for various types of health care treatment and surgery. One of the major reasons for choosing India is the cost factor. India provides some of the most affordable treatment options for surgery like heart surgery, knee or hip replacement or various orthopedic treatments and surgery.

Language is usually not a barrier, and medical tourists do not face problems with communication in India as most people speak English.

The medical facilities in India are quite good and suited for medical tourists. Some of the facilities are comparable to those in the U.S. Most corporate hospitals are well equipped with sophisticated instruments and laboratories which deliver a quick and accurate diagnosis and treatment.

The doctors in India are highly qualified; many of them have work experience and training in western countries. Indian doctors are well known globally for their research and medical skills. They nderstand well the requirements of international patients and treat them appropriately.

Compared to facilities in Canada or UK, where you may have to wait for months to get surgery, in India tourists don’t need to wait and get their treatment right away. In addition to the cost and care advantages touring the beautiful country of India would make a wonderful vacation for anyone. Medical tourism companies offer great tour packages, affordable hotel and food, arrange car rentals and tour guides.

Medical tourism is a growing industry as more and more people become comfortable with the care from other countries. India is among the leading medical tourism providers. So if you’re looking for a vacation and have a need for affordable health care or surgery, India is the perfect destination for both.

How to Take Your Temperature

Adults should take their temperature under the tongue. Taking a temperature under the armpit is not very accurate.

Mercury Thermometer

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
• Wash the thermometer in cold water.
• Make sure the top of the mercury is down near the bulb.
• To reset the thermometer, hold the thermometer firmly at the end opposite the mercury bulb and shake it with a downward flick of your wrist. This brings the mercury level down below the normal temperature level.
• Put the bulb end of the thermometer under your tongue and close your mouth. Keep your mouth closed while you take your temp.
• Wait 1 minute then take the thermometer out of your mouth. Hold the thermometer near light to read it; turn it slowly until you see the silver column of mercury. The number at the top of the mercury is your temperature. There is usually a mark on the thermometer showing a normal temperature at 98.6°F (37°C).
• Rinse the thermometer in cold water and clean it with alcohol before putting it away. Be sure to put it out of the reach of children because the mercury can be harmful if the thermometer is broken. What to Do if a Mercury Thermometer Breaks

Digital Thermometers

Digital thermometers can also be used but they can be expensive to buy. They are easy to read, as they have a large digital display for numbers. Before using, make sure the thermometer is clean and turned on. Remove the thermometer once it beeps. Clean it before you put it away.

How to Treat a Fever

• Increase the amount of liquids you’re drinking, especially water. Your body may try to cool itself by sweating and you should replace this loss of fluid.
• Take your temperature every two hours. Each time you take your temperature, write your temperature and the time.
• Take your temperature before the end of two hours if your other symptoms change. For example, if you start throwing up or your temperature is going up each time you take it.
• For fevers that are uncomfortable, sponge the body with lukewarm, not cold. water. Take acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen to get fever down. Do not give aspirin or products that contain aspiring to children or teens under the age of 20.
• Watch for signs of dehydration. Dehydration can happen if the fever causes you to sweat or you have other symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea. Signs of dehydration include: thirst, dry skin, dry mouth, chills, feeling tired or weak, and dark-colored urine.

When to Call Your Doctor

A fever is a symptom of a health problem and would be present along with other symptoms that mean you should call your doctor.

Fever in Newborns

Fever in newborns can be serious and should not be ignored.

Anatomic terms describe the directions within the body as well as the body’s reference planes, cavities and regions.

There are many times in medicine that a doctor has to record in a medical record or tell another doctor the exact body part or location of disorders or damage to the body or an organ. To do that, the are standard terms for describing human anatomy including the body and it’s organs. The terms used to describe positions reference the person in the standard anatomical position. The standard anatomical position for humans is standing upright as in the image above. By using this as a standard for descriptions, we avoid confusion even when the person is in some other position. For example, suppose the doctor was describing someone lying down? The doctor’s description would be as if the person were standing up in the standard position.

Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body.

The standard anatomical position for humans has its feet together (or slightly separated), and the arms are rotated outward so that the palms are forward, and the thumbs are pointed away from the body (forearms supine). As well, the arms are usually moved slightly out from the body, so that the hands do not touch the sides. The positions of the limbs (and the arms in particular) have important implications for directional terms in those appendages. The penis in men is also erect in the anatomical position, hence the dorsal surface of the penis is actually anterior in the flaccid state. The head is upright and facing forward so that certain parts of the eyes and ears are in the same horizontal plane.

For "normal" human bodies, the right and left sides are mirror images if divided right down the center as shown by the sagittal plane in the image. The dotted line represents an axis or dividing line.

Directional Terms

In general, directional terms are grouped in pairs of opposites.

• Superior and inferior. Superior means above, inferior means below. The elbow is superior to the hand. The foot is inferior to the knee.
• Anterior and posterior. Anterior means toward the front of the body, posterior means toward the back.
• Medial and Lateral. Medial means toward the midline of the body, lateral means away from the midline. Ipsilateral means on the same side—the left arm is ipsilateral to the left leg.
• Proximal and distal. Proximal means closest to the point of origin or trunk of the body, distal means farthest. Often used when describing arms and legs.
• Superficial and deep. Superficial means toward the body surface, deep means farthest from the body surface.

Other directional terms:

• Intermediate – means between—your heart is intermediate to your lungs.
• Caudal – at or near the tail or posterior end of the body.
• Visceral – may be used instead of deep.

There are also terms that are used for describing specific body parts. Palmar is used to describe the palm side of the hand, Dorsal describes the back side of the hand. Plantar describes the bottom of the foot.

Anatomical Reference Planes

The body reference planes are used to locate structures in the body. These terms are most often used to describe medica imaging such as CAT scans, PET scans and MRIs where the scans take pictures of the body in slices. Brain scans are often of sagittal plane slices from ear to ear. Abdominal CAT scans are often transverse plane slices.

Main Reference Planes

• Median sagittal plane – this plane divides the body into left and right sides.
• Frontal (or coronal) plane – divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior)
• Transverse plane – this plane is parallel to the ground and divides the body into up (cranial or head) and down (tail or caudal)
• Oblique plane is not shown and is a slanted plane that lies between the horizontal and vertical planes.

Body Cavities

Body cavities are the areas in the body that contain our internal organs. The dorsal and ventral cavities are the two main cavities. The dorsal cavity is on the posterior (back side) of the body and contains the cranial cavity and vertebral cavity. In human anatomy, dorsal, caudal and posterior mean the same thing. The ventral cavity is on the front (anterior) of the body and is divided into the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

Dorsal Cavity

The dorsal cavity is further divided into subcavities:

• cranial cavity (also called the calvaria) which surrounds the brain
• vertebral cavity (also called the spinal cavity) which includes the vertebrae and spinal cord.

Ventral Cavity

The ventral cavity is on the front of the trunk and is divided into subcavities:

• thoracic cavity which is surrounded by the ribs and chest muscles is superior (above) the diaphragm and abdominopelvic cavity. It is further divided into the pleural cavities (left and right) which contain the lungs, bronchi, and the mediastinum which contains the heart, pericardial membranes, large vessels of the heart, trachea (windpipe), upper esophagus, thymus gland, lymph nodes, and other blood vessels and nerves.
• abdominopelvic cavity is divided into the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity is between the diaphragm and the pelvis. It is lined with a membrane and contains the stomach, lower part of the esophagus, small and large intestines (except sigmoid and rectum), spleen, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, adrenal glands, kidneys and ureters. The pelvic cavity contains the bladder, some reproductive organs and the rectum.

Other Cavities

• oral cavity – the space in the mouth inside the teeth and gums and is filled with the tongue when it is relaxed.
• nasal cavity – in the nose
• orbital cavities (left and right) – hold the eyes
• middle ear cavities (left and right) – hold the small bones of the middle ear
• synovial cavities – are inside the joint capsules that surround freely moving joints (such as the hip, knee, elbow, and shoulder)

Body Quadrants

Quadrants are another way our bodies are divided into regions for diagnostic and descriptive purposes.

Body Regions

Body regions are used to describe areas of the body that have a special function or are supplied by specific blood vessels or nerves. The terms most widely used terms are those that describe the 9 abdominal regions shown in the image to the right. The regions are named below and the corresponding regions are labeled.

Abdominal Regions

• right (1) and left (3) hypochondriac regions – on either side of the epigastric region. Contains the diaphragm, some of the kidneys, right side of the liver, the spleen and part of the pancreas.
• epigastric region (2) – superior (above) the umbilical region and contains most of the pancreas, part of the stomach, liver, inferior vena cava, abdominal aorta and duodenum
• right (4) and left (6) lumbar (lateral) regions – on either side of the umbilical region. They contain portions of the large and small intestines and kidneys.
• umbilical region (5) – area around the umbilicus (belly button). Includes sections of the large and small intestines, inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta
• right (7) and left (9) iliac (inguinal) regions – are on either side of the hypogastric region and include portions of the large and small intestines.
• hypogastric (pubic) (8) region – inferior (below) the umbilical region. Contains parts of the sigmoid colon, the urinary bladder and ureters, the uterus and ovaries (women), and portions of the small intestines.

Abdominal Quadrants

Quadrants are another way our bodies are divided into regions for diagnostic and descriptive purposes. The quadrants are defined by drawing an imaginary line vertically and horizontally though the umbilicus (belly button). This following is a list of the organs located in each of the four quadrants.

• Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) – right lobe of liver, gallbladder, part of the transverse colon, part of pylorus, hepatic flexure, right kidney, and duodenum.
• Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) – cecum, ascending colon, small intestine, appendix, bladder if distended, right ureter, right spermatic duct (men), right ovary and right tube and uterus if enlarged (women).
• Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) – Left lobe of liver, stomach, small intestine, transverse colon, splenic flexure, pancreas, left kidney and spleen.
• Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) – small intestine, left ureter, sigmoid flexure, descending colon, bladder if distended, left spermatic duct (men) left ovary and left tube and uterus if enlarged (women).