Laser vein removal refers to the latter condition.

Spider veins have, as the name suggests, the appearance of a spider crawling or a web like structure of red or purplish patterns visible beneath the skin.

Varicose veins are raised structures that appear blue to look at. They are caused by enlarged or swollen blood vessels that occur due to the weakening of the valves or walls of the veins.

It is true that varicose veins and spider veins are unsightly to look at, which is why many consider procedures such as laser vein removal.

However, it is not just the fact of unseemliness; there are other reasons and conditions associated with this as well.

Varicose veins could actually be a reflection of serious problems such as thromboses, which is the incidence of the formation of blood clots, phlebitis, or inflammation of the vein, and venous stasis ulcers, which is ulceration caused by improper drainage of enlarged veins.

Statistics show that one in five women could have varicose veins to differing degrees; however all may not be the candidates for laser vein removal.

It is necessary that one should be in good physical and mental health and be a non smoker to opt for this procedure. If one has the tendency to form keloid scars, one ought not to opt for the procedure.

Also if one has a very severe case of varicose veins, laser therapy may not suffice and other surgical procedures may have to be preferred.

There are several advantages associated with laser vein removal as against other surgical procedures. For one it is minimally invasive, does not require any injections or incisions and for another it does not require a person to be put under general anesthesia.

Also the time taken for the procedure could be as little as 20 minutes or even less if the requirement of the size and affected area is such.

Also there is very little if any recover time required. Those that undergo laser vein removal can resume normal activities pretty much right away.

When performed correctly there is very little chance of complications from the procedure. There may be some amount of bruising in some cases, however this subsides soon.

When laser spider vein removal is done, light is passed through the skin which targets the vein area and not the surrounding tissue. This causes the targeted vein to shrink and consequently disappear. Depending upon requirements, several sessions of laser vein removal may be required.

Laser varicose vein removal is different than spider vein removal because it targets veins that are deeper within the surface of the skin.

A small incision is made for insertion of a tube, through which lasers are conveyed to the area of the varicose veins. The procedure aims to shrink the walls of the vein so that blood does not flow through it and improves the appearance of the area.

Right now it is the economic crisis that is causing people to suffer sleeplessness and it is less sleep that seems to be the root cause for problems including those relating to health issues, poor social lives and infrequent sex.

While for 24% of people polled not getting enough sleep resulted in their missing work days and social engagements, as many as 26% of people in relationships reported that they were often too tired for sex.

The general recommendations of the National Sleep Foundation to get a good night’s sleep are:

• Keep to a schedule. It does not have to be early to bed and early to rise, but it does help to have a regular sleep pattern.
• Keep the TV out of the bedroom. This will result in lying in bed and watching TV and then some more TV, which time should be better utilized sleeping.
• Regular exercise. Quite simply a good exercise routine gets you nice and tired and offers the option of restful sleep.

Between 5 and 20% of the population is likely to have the flu each year and while the flu will likely make you very sick for several days for a vast majority, there is not hospitalization required due to any complications that may occur and death resulting from flu is even rarer.

This is true of the common cold as well; however there are complications that could stem from either the flu or the common cold that could ultimately be dangerous.

Those who are immune compromised, people over the age of 50 and children aged 6 and younger are the ones most likely to have these common ailments develop into more serious complications, such as:

• Pneumonia is the most common complication that can stem from a cold or the flu. This is usually characterized by a productive or moist chough, fatigue, chest pain, fever, chills, headache, nausea, feelings of confusion and a bluish discoloration of the skin about the mouth and lips.
• A persistent cough that lasts for a long duration, i.e. more than two weeks could be indicative of bronchitis so if this symptom on your flu or cold infection lasts very long, it would become necessary to investigate this and obtain appropriate treatment.
• Some cold and flu infections can spread to the ear and result in an ear infection, which though more common among children may also be seen in adults. This could mean a fairly painful ear condition that requires treatment.
• A sinus infection is another complication that could arise from flu or cold. This happens when the mucous in the cavities of the sinuses gets infected resulting in quite significant pain and the need for proper treatment.

The thing to watch out with a cold or the flu is that the common symptoms of these conditions are not getting worse or getting exacerbated in any way. If there is any significant change in the condition or the symptoms then there is reason for concern and investigations must be carried out to determine what is causing the symptoms to worsen.

One of the much touted benefits of green tea is that it can help you lose excess weight because it gives boost to your metabolism.

The fact is that green tea is not going to miraculously help you lose weight unless you do create a caloric deficit (use or expend more calories than you consume) and the claim is that green tea can actually help you create that caloric deficit.

According to one study, Spearole Tea, a blend of green tea, spearmint, grape seed and olive leaf, also cuts blood pressure and makes it easier for the body to process sugar. The claim put forward by the study is that three cups of green tea a day can help people lose weight.

The claim does seem rather good to be completely accurate and the benefits of green tea are not without its detractors since it is generally observed that these studies are usually funded by tea companies or their sister concerns.

However, there is not much dispute about green tea being benign, even good for health. And if you are prudent in your lifestyle it may actually help you lose that weight, particularly if to take care not to nullify its good properties by adding large quantities of sugar!

The study found that interest in sex and consequently the person’s sex life depended heavily on good health: those in good or very good health were seen as twice as likely to be indulging in sex than those who were in poor health.

It was also seen that more men than women are likely to lose years of sexual activity due to poor health.

Health did not seem to impact women’s sexual life as much it was seen. The researchers were of the view that the findings of the study may persuade men to pursue more healthy life styles.

“Translation of expectations about the duration and quality of sexually active life may, at the individual level, influence important health behaviors to promote or prolong sexual functioning, such as adherence to medical treatment or maintenance of a healthy lifestyle,” the researchers were quoted as having said.

Source: Business Week

This makes genital herpes one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the country.

These statistics are more worrying for women than men and black women in particular.

As many as 48% black women are infected and twice as many women as men are infected. Though there are drugs available for symptomatic relief from genital herpes outbreaks, there is no cure for this disease. What is also worrying is that sufferers often have such innocuous symptoms that they are unaware of having the disease and are then likely to pass it on.

According to one expert, it is not increased risky behavior that was seen to increase rates of infection among black communities and among women; rather this is more likely owed itself to biological factors.

These statistics remind us of the central importance of consistent, correct and regular use of condoms will all sexual partners, which is the only way to reduce spread of the disease if not stop its reach.

Source: Reuters

This is the increase in the tendency of blood to clot, which, depending upon the size and location of the clot in the body can cause several complications, some life threatening.

Factor V Leiden is not a disease but a genetic condition or tendency that is inherited which results in the increased risk of the carrier of the gene to develop thrombosis.

The blood clots formed by this are usually confined to veins; however they do on occasion form in arteries as well.

There may often be no visible or perceptible symptoms from this condition, and it may only be detected when an actual blood clot forms, causing subsequent complications.

Sometimes this manifests itself in a woman being unable to carry a pregnancy to term due to repeated miscarriages. For those with Factor V Leiden, following the guidelines below can be very beneficial:

• It is important to avoid standing still or being in one position for long periods of time. This is so that there is no reduction in blood circulation which may lead to the formation of a clot.
• When traveling, it is particularly important to stay active; similarly those who work at sedentary desk jobs also need to take care that they are not immobile for long stretches of time.
• Weight should be kept in check, since being overweight or obese increases risk of developing blood clots.
• Smoking also increases this risk.
• It is advisable for women to use methods of contraception other than the pill, which is known to increase risk of thrombosis.
• Though this condition may not affect some women and their pregnancies at all; others may be very negatively impacted, so it is important to speak to one’s doctor if one is looking to get pregnant and knows that they have this condition. Special socks, and anti coagulant medication may be required to be prescribed.
• Usually this condition can be kept in check with anti coagulant medication; however it may sometimes be necessary to remove the blood clots by surgery.

So as long as some basic precautions are followed, there is no reason why someone with Factor V Leiden cannot continue to live normal and fruitful lives. For further information about this condition, visit FVLeiden.org.

This results in a lack of sleep for a person, which may cause problems ranging from depression and memory problems, to increased risk of accidents, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Many of them overwork due to second jobs and extra shifts that they take on, resulting in inadequate sleep. Changing jobs is not usually an option in situations like this; rather Dr. Raman Malhotra, an assistant professor of neurology and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Saint Louis University, suggests other ways to combat lack of sleep:

• Make sure that the blinds are properly closed if going to sleep during the day. Reduce light exposure before sleeping so that the brain is not confused.
• Wear sunglasses on the way home from work.
• Before starting work, be in a well lit room to give your brain the signal of being awake or daytime.
• Ask friends and family to be mindful of your sleep schedule.
• Consider seeing a specialist if sleep problems continue.

Having limitations leave most diabetic people feeling out of control regarding their health and to a certain extent their lives. But in the end it’s just a matter of taking the right perspective.

When a door closes, check the fire exits. Diabetes does not necessarily mean the end of your eating career or something. It only means you have to be extra wise on what you take in and extra motivated to follow that wisdom especially on diabetic cooking.

Making diabetic cooking “diabetic”

Keep non diabetic ingredients out of site

Watching horror movies when you have problems sleeping at night because of overactive imagination might not help. This is the same as keeping inside your refrigerators ingredients and food which you know very well are high in sugar or are a part of the don’ts list.

Do not provide yourself an avenue to get tempted. Stock your cupboards and refrigerator with non diabetic ingredients and food like lots of fruits and vegetables. Remember the saying, “out of sight, out of mind”.

Find the right alternatives

High amount of sugar in the blood is the main problem of diabetes of any kind. That is why in diabetic cooking, alternatives to sugar should be the initial thing that diabetics should fill their food cabinets with.

For this, there is what we call sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners. These give off the same sweetness but with much less sugar content as possible. You may also try natural sweeteners like honey and glucose.

Encourage family to go on a diabetic diet with you

Having a diabetic in the family can be agonizing. However, you should look at the brighter side of things. It may be harder for a diabetic to live in a house where he feels alienated in the preparation of his meal and even through the whole mealtime itself just because his food must be different.

Diabetic cooking can do wonders to the diabetic member of the family and also to you who are aware of the dangers of diabetes. Remember that diabetic cooking is not just for diabetics, it is perfect for everyone who values their health.

Seek varieties

This is also one way of motivating yourself to pursue diabetic cooking. Do not stick to 10 kinds of delicious but allowable meals in your lifetime just because you want to be on the safer side.

Seeking greener and newer pastures at that will always add up to the excitement of keeping yourself motivated in keeping up with diabetic cooking.

You have a wide variety of choices provided; you just have to know the right place to look for them. Diabetic cooking calls for creativity and resourcefulness.

Use foods with low glycemic index, experiment and come up with your own original recipes. Ask others for their own techniques and recipes on diabetic cooking too so you never feel like your food choices are limited.

If being overweight clogs arteries, losing that weight can also help to unclog them, this new study has suggested. It has been seen that atherosclerosis can actually be reversed by weight loss, and not just slowed down.

People of middle age with diabetes and heart disease were examined in the study. They were seen to lose more than 12 pounds over a two year period which was seen to reduce the amount of plaque deposits that had been clogging their arteries. The deposit not only stopped accumulating, they actually were seen to reduce.

And there is more good news. It does not matter what diet you use or which method of weight loss you use.  So long as you lose the weight you can reap the benefits of a healthier body and lower risk of obesity related disease. Earlier studies that examined atherosclerosis used powerful drugs whereas this one relied solely on weight loss that resulted from diet control.

Source: CNN