Category Archives: Healthcare Information

Diagnostics, Diseases, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Society

Who Is Pee Dee?

The recent Frontline special “My Father, My Brother, and Me” explored the effect that Parkinson’s disease (PD) has on the children of PD patients, a topic also explored in a recently published book by Parkinson’s in the Park founder Kay Mixson Jenkins.

Ms. Jenkins was diagnosed with PD at the age of thirty-four and has been an advocate for research and patient support since. Her book, Who Is Pee Dee? Explaining Parkinson’s Disease to a Child, addresses the impact the disease has on the relatives of those with PD—especially their children.

Talking with a child about a disease that manifests itself through physical symptoms can be difficult because of the mental toll it also takes on a family. It’s a conversation that more and more people are having with their kids. More than six million people worldwide have been diagnosed with PD, and one in ten patients diagnosed are under the age of fifty.

In Who Is Pee Dee?, Ms. Jenkins uses a stuffed Panda bear named Pee Dee and a boy named Colt to answer many of the most common questions that kids have about the chronic illness:

• What is Parkinson’s disease?
• Why is Mommy or Daddy upset?
• What can I do to help?
• Why is Mommy moving slowly?

“As I’ve gotten older,” says Ms. Jenkins, “the disease has progressed. There will come a day when I’ll have to use a cane or a wheelchair, but I am determined to make my grandchildren proud of their ‘Muffin.’ I’m not going down without a fight.”

Ms. Jenkins says that it is crucial for people living with Parkinson’s to have resources to help them adjust to their new lives. Who is Pee Dee? includes pages of resources for adults, including websites, support groups and more.

Kay Mixson Jenkins is the Georgia state co-coordinator for the Parkinson’s Action Network, leads the Effingham County Parkinson’s support group and was selected as a Parkinson’s patient advocate for UCB, Inc.

For more information, contact the author directly via kmj@parkinsonsinthepark.org.

(Who Is Pee Dee? Explaining Parkinson’s Disease to a Child by Kay Mixson Jenkins; illustrated by Richard Morgan; ISBN: 978-0-9819129-0-5; $12.95; 33 pages; 8” x 8”; hardcover; UCB, Inc.)

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Child health, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Psychologist, Society

There Are Pearls In The Pain of Every Experience

Former Child Bride/Teenage Wife/Mother Realizes the American Dream: You Can Make It if You Try. Dr. Trevicia Williams’ stirring bounce back book, There Are Pearls In The Pain of Every Experience: Spiritual Truths about Life’s Experiences (ISBN: 0-9743519-0-3), cuts to the chase about her life as an African American teenager in an arranged marriage to a man of European descent in the United States. It’s about currents of faith, hard decisions and perseverance and ways to bounce back from near life shattering experiences.

Trends in the United States show Mississippi as the state with the highest rate of teenage pregnancies. However, Houston (Texas), the fourth most populous city in the U.S. is probably the last place one would expect to find a 13 year old African American girl facing discussions about an arranged marriage, and, at 14 years of age in an arranged marriage to a man of German descent 12 years her senior. That’s exactly where Dr. Trevicia Williams’ arranged marriage happened, and, at the age of 15 she became pregnant and gave birth to her daughter just before her sixteenth birthday.

How she survived an incredible start is in There Are Pearls In the Pain of Every Experience: Spiritual Truths about Life’s Experiences. It’s about being caught between childhood and forced adulthood, and having to make some very difficult choices: Taking high roads out of some very low places. Dr. Williams takes readers on a subtle journey between having to create a support system, being a child herself while being a responsible parent to her child. It’s about faith and adversity and Dr. Williams’ use of inner strengths. “I’m amazed when I hear the life stories of young women auditioning for shows like True Beauty and American Idol. Success requires an awareness of inner strengths and greatness, and, it is during the moment of decision that the course of life is determined, or, at the very least, the next experience” says Dr. Trevicia Williams.

About the Author
Dr. Trevicia Williams is a psychologist, trainer and speaker with over a decade of academic studies in human behavior. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Downtown, Master’s degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and Doctorate degree from Walden University. Dr. Williams’ passion for helping women optimize their potentials takes her into community based organizations speaking to girls and women about overcoming adversities. It also inspires her to travel across the U.S. with motivational, inspirational and educational conferences. Dr. Williams is a woman of titanium faith: Although Lakewood Church of Houston, Texas, Pastor Joel Osteen, is the church that she still calls her “home church,” she also enjoys worship at Northland Church, where Dr. Joel Hunter is the Senior Pastor, community in Orlando/Longwood, Florida.

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Alternative medicine, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Products, Medicine, Online, Society

The launch of the health site OmegaLifeLine.com boosts about all the health benefits of omega fatty acids and essential oils.

With consumer trepidation, it is great to see a site so dedicated to exploring the real health benefits of essential fatty acids. History tells us that during a weakening economy many people will suffer from poor eating habits as their buying patterns change.

Families will choose more budget conscious meals which may mean that they will save money in the short run, however if we take a step back and look at the long term picture it could equate to a more significant loss in the future.

As individuals health worsens (the culprit being a poor diet), society can expect to see a greater strain on an already taxed medical system. These individuals put themselves and their families at risk of more serious ailments. Diseases which could drastically reduce or end a families income.

Education is power and Omega Life Line is poised to educate men, women and teens about the necessity of consuming ‘healthy fats’. The modern diet is extremely unbalanced in the ratio of omega 3’s to omega 6’s. And that is a very dangerous and avoidable position for any person to be in.

Creator of the site Samantha Criddle explains, “everyday people are looking for miracle solutions to cure all their problems and sometimes it’s simpler than what they expected. The health benefits of omega oils are tough to ignore”.

What many people don’ t realize is that the body cannot manufacture the essential fatty acids that it requires to maintain proper body health and function. And that’s where people get into trouble. In understanding where to source healthy, nutrient rich omega oils, people can empower themselves and realize a healthier lifestyle.

For more information on omega oils we invite you to visit www.omegalifeline.com.

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Alternative medicine, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Obesity, Online, Society, Weight loss

LighterLife, the weight loss and weight management programme, has introduced a brand new forum to its website called ‘Talking LighterLife’, to encourage clients to share and discuss their experiences of the LighterLife programme

Talking LighterLife will offer LighterLife clients a facility to express their views and talk about their LighterLife experiences and talk to others about how LighterLife has changed their lives. LighterLife clients will have the opportunity to post comments and gain extra support from others on the programme between their weekly group meetings.

The LighterLife forum allows clients the opportunity to speak to others on the programme and indentify with them and share similar experiences, whether they are commenting on celebs in the news, new diet products or how they have got on at their weekly group meeting. For some clients it provides an instant response or support when they are having a weak moment and for others, it is useful for updating and monitoring their progress on a daily or weekly basis as they progress through the weight loss programme. Many people on diets find it especially useful to talk with others and this is the opportunity for which Talking LighterLife is designed.

As well as allowing clients to talk about LighterLife, the weight loss forum will also offer potential clients the chance to learn more about the programme from people who have actually succeeded on it. Visitors will be able to see real questions posted by, and answered by, LighterLife clients. By offering this service, visitors will be able to read honest unbiased information to give them the tools to decide whether they are ready to join the programme. Users can also find a Counsellor, sign up and start the LighterLife journey themselves. There is also an opportunity for existing or potential clients to askLighterLife a question directly if they don’t want to post their question publicly.

Sara Jamison, the Sales and Marketing Director at LighterLife, commented: “The introduction of Talking LighterLife is a fantastic addition to the LighterLife website. There are a number of LighterLife blogs online and we thought that the new forum would be the perfect place for both clients and potential clients to log on and either talk about their experiences or find out more about the programme in one central place.”

About LighterLife:
LighterLife is a weight loss and weight-management programme for people who are one stone or more overweight and with a BMI (body mass index) of 25 or above. LighterLife has helped over 100,000 people lose weight fast since 1996.

The unique LighterLife approach offers programmes specific to the obese and the overweight in the form of nutritionally complete soups, shakes and bars combined with specialised counselling using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and transactional analysis (TA) techniques. Clients benefit not only from safe, fast weight loss but they also learn the behavioural changes needed to sustain it.

Founded in 1996, the LighterLife Programme was developed by three of its directors – Jackie Cox, Bar Hewlett and Rebecca Hunter.

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Allergies, Child health, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Pediatrics

The National Center for Health Statistics reported recently that the number of children diagnosed with food allergies has spiked eighteen percent in the last ten years

Dr. Armen Ketchedjian, author of the book Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery, explains that the best way for parents to keep track of their child’s changing health needs is to keep up with regular appointments with the pediatrician and to log any sudden changes in temperament or physical condition following a meal.

“Pediatricians use these regular visits as a way of establishing a baseline for your child’s state of health,” says Dr. Ketch, as he is called by his patients. “It’s important that parents show up to these appointments and notify the pediatrician of any unusual activity.”

Dr. Ketch added that laboratory tests can verify most allergies but that pediatricians are also a good resource because they are trained to notice any differences in physical health that should raise a red flag. Symptoms associated with an allergic reaction include:

-hives
-wheezing and other lower respiratory problems
-vomiting
-nausea
-stomach cramps

In his book, Dr. Ketch advises that most allergic reactions will express themselves in anywhere from the first minute following a meal to a few hours afterward. He recommends that parents set an appointment with their child’s pediatrician following these incidents, especially if the reaction was severe enough to warrant a hospital visit.

Will It Hurt? helps educate parents about pediatric surgery. It is an easy-to-read resource that will give you, your child and your family the help and reassurance you need to make the surgical experience as stress-free as possible.

Listed in The Guide to America’s Top Anesthesiologists by the Consumer Research Council of America, Dr. Ketch trained at Cornell Medical Center, with a fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a pain management elective at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has also worked to help develop new techniques in ambulatory anesthesia, taught medical students and residents, and cared for more than 10,000 patients.

Dr. Ketch is also the author of the children’s book Golden Apples (winner of the 2008 Reviewer’s Choice Award), a beautifully illustrated book that aims to help educate children about the dangers of drug abuse.

For more information, contact the author directly at support@dr.ketch.com.

WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC and author Dr. Armen G. Ketchedjian chose Arbor Books, Inc. (www.ArborBooks.com) to design and promote Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery. Arbor Books is an internationally renowned, full-service book design, ghostwriting and marketing firm.

(Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery by Dr. Ketch; ISBN: 0-9815373-0-8; $14.95; 172 pages; 5½” x 8 ½”; soft cover book with illustrations; WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC)

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Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Obesity, Online, Society, Weight loss

LighterLife is offering people the opportunity to become their own boss by training to become a LighterLife Weight Management Counsellor

LighterLife, the weight management and weight loss programme, is expanding its network of weight management counsellors and, as a result, the company is offering people the chance to train as a weight management counsellor.

Throughout the UK, LighterLife is looking to recruit motivated, self starters to run their own business. Trainee Weight Loss Counsellors will receive the support of LighterLife’s nationally recognised brand to help show some of the estimated 14 million obese people in the UK how to lose weight and live more active lives.

Zoe Taylor, Franchise Development Manager at LighterLife, commented: “Starting your own business is a great way of reorganising your life and embarking on a career in an area that you are passionate about. Becoming a LighterLife Counsellor could be a great way someone to start their own business and the support of LighterLife’s nationally recognised brand can make those first steps that much easier. LighterLife offers a fast track business launch along with extensive central office and field based business support to help grow the business.

“LighterLife Counsellors have the potential for high earnings and, as they operate as self employed businesses, can take advantage of flexible working hours and the opportunity to decide the working hours that fit their lives.”

Debbie Blackburn recently qualified as a LighterLife Counsellor after being made redundant from her job as an Account Manager. Debbie comments: “When I was told I was being made redundant I was very upset. After seeking legal advice I demanded a fair redundancy package and decided to go self-employed. Having successfully lost four stone on the LighterLife Programme I decided to use my experience of the programme to retrain and become a Counsellor. It just goes to show that redundancy is not the end and can sometimes be the beginning.”

About LighterLife:
LighterLife is a weight-loss and weight-management programme for people who are one stone or more overweight and with a BMI (body mass index) of 25 or above. LighterLife has helped over 100,000 people lose weight fast since 1996.

The unique LighterLife approach offers programmes specific to the obese and the overweight in the form of nutritionally complete soups, shakes and bars combined with specialised counselling using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and transactional analysis (TA) techniques. Clients benefit not only from safe, fast weight loss but they also learn the behavioural changes needed to sustain it.

Founded in 1996, the LighterLife Programme was developed by three of its directors – Jackie Cox, Bar Hewlett and Rebecca Hunter.

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Doctors, Eye Care, Health Reform, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Professionals, Medicine, Society

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. 60 million Americans are at RISK for developing Glaucoma

Dr. Lynnette Williams-Young, S.A.V.E Program Coordinator, in conjunction with National Glaucoma Awareness with support from Park Avenue Laser Vision, Dr. Emil Chynn and Roman Iospa, CEO of BiCOM Inc., home of Glaucoma Eye Test, are providing free Glaucoma screening events for the whole community.

Prevent Blindness America Survey found that:

  • Blindness ranked third (after cancer and heart disease) as people’s major fear.
  • It is estimated that over 4 million Americans have glaucoma but only half of those know they have it.
  • Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African-Americans than Caucasians.
  • Everyone is at risk for glaucoma from babies to senior citizens. Yes, older people are at a higher risk for glaucoma but babies can be born with glaucoma (approximately 1 out of every 10,000 babies born in the United States).

National Glaucoma Awareness Month presents an opportunity to educate and screen those most at risk for developing the “sneak thief of sight”. Dr.Williams-Young is the coordinator for the S.A.V.E program.

The “Sight for A Vision Exchange” is a program inspired by Sis. Mae McGill and Bishop James Gaylord and developed by Dr. Chynn and Dr. Williams-Young to raise $50,000 to benefit the Capital Stewardship Campaign of Kelly Temple Church.

Through the partnership between Park Avenue Laser Vision Center and Kelly Temple, we will be able to provide quality affordable laser vision correction for church members. Also, we will be able to provide education about laser vision correction and educate about maintaining a lifetime of good ocular health. Ultimately, this will reduce the fear of laser vision correction in the African American community.

Glaucoma screenings will be performed with BiCOM’s non-invasive, through the eyelid Tonometer Diaton (www.GlaucomaEyeTest.com) – the newest, safest way to screen for high intraocular pressure (IOP), which can be an indication of Glaucoma.

Join us for a free eye pressure screenings at Park Avenue Laser Vision 102 East 25th Street (& Park Avenue South). Call Park Avenue Laser Vision with any questions and directions at 212-741-8628.

About “Sight For A Vision Exchange” (S.A.V.E) – The objective of S.A.V.E is to provide affordable laser vision correction for church members, provide education about laser vision correction and reduce fear of laser vision correction in the African-American community.

About Park Avenue Laser Vision – New York’s Only No-Flap, All-Laser Vision Correction. http://www.ParkAvenueLaser.com

About BiCOM Inc. – BiCOM Inc. home of Tonometer Diaton a.k.a “Glaucoma Eye Test” allows to safely screen for intraocular pressure through the eyelid. BiCOM Inc. is a continued supporter of Glaucoma screening / educational programs nationally and internationally. More: http://www.TonometerDiaton.com

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Healthcare Information, Obesity, Society, Weight loss

Weight loss specialist and controversial author slams the diet industry for creating an “addiction” to buy into their products

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The author of Rebel Diet, the controversial diet book which was recently released has today said that the diet industry must be capped in some way.

Emma James said “there is so much hype and mystery created by the diet industry in order to keep people buying into their products. Even Paul McKenna has jumped on the band wagon with no idea about diet and weight management. There must be some kind of regulation put on misleading and marketing pitches to hook people into the diet vortex”.

Speak out about the situation she also stated that entire ploy was to ensure people never got all the information to allow them to learn what works for their own body and therefore free themselves from the dependence on diet meals and systems. She said “even people with comfort eating problems and real disorders are getting dragged into this “creating a need” philosophy of selling instead of outlining how to solve the problems themselves”.

The author flies to Las Vegas next week to speak at the Building Bridges seminar on the 8th February at the Tuscany Suites Conference Centre and to speak out about the role of the therapist in the diet industry and about her book which claims to give “missing link” to the reader and free themselves from the Diet Hell.

She also plans to launch webinars for people wishing to opt out of the diet chains later in the year and provide practical information for the user to take over their own weight management and address eating related problems.

 

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Fitness, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Services, Society

PruHealth reports millions of Brits are intend to walk more to improve their health but three quarters have no idea how much they actually need to do

According to the latest research by PruHealth, Britons will be tightening their shoe laces as well as their purse strings in 2009 as 20.5 million* intend to take up walking to get healthy and shed unwanted pounds.

PruHealth, the health insurance provider that rewards people for engaging in healthy behaviour, found that nearly two thirds of Brits (61%) planned to begin a new diet, health or fitness regime in the New Year. Of those, almost three quarters (70%) said they plan to walk regularly as part of their healthy start to 2009. However, the majority of those who want to exercise by walking (15.3 million – 75%) are far off the mark when it comes to knowing exactly how much they will need to do each day to benefit.

Currently the average Brit walks for 43 minutes a day (approximately 2.9 miles**), but acknowledges they need to do more and believes stepping this up to 57 minutes (or 3.8 miles) will provide the physical benefit they need. In reality health advice recommends everyone should in fact be taking 10,000 steps a day***, equating to nearer 5 miles or 75 minutes of walking. Encouragingly, 17% of Brits say they already walk around 10,000 steps a day, but a quarter (26%) feel they would need to dramatically change their lifestyle in order to achieve this.

PruHealth’s chief executive officer, Shaun Matisonn commented: “Walking is a great form of exercise so it’s very encouraging to see so many people wanting to incorporate it into their daily lives.

“There does, however, seem to be a misconception as to how much walking one should ideally be doing each day and the answer that it’s 10,000 steps is sure to come as a big surprise to many. It would be hard for anyone to hit this target immediately, but small changes such as getting off the bus a stop early, shopping locally without taking the car, or taking the dog for a longer walk, are all ‘steps’ in the right direction.”

PruHealth knows that it has never been more important for people to lead healthy lifestyles and PruHealth’s Vitality Programme encourages people to do so. Vitality Index covers five areas – education, exercise, nutrition, screening and smoking cessation – and members could earn points by participating in healthy activities related to each area. By earning points, members can move up to different status levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum) and earn lifestyle rewards, as well as potentially lowering the cost of their PMI premiums in the process.

 

* Research conducted by Opinium Research LLP 23rd – 30th December 2008,polling 2,233 British adults. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria (based on there being 48 million adults in the UK). 61 per cent of 48 million British adults intend to start a new diet, health or fitness regime = 29,280,000 adults. 70 per cent of these adults say regular walking will be part of this regime = 20,496,000 adults.
** The average respondent said they walked for 43 minutes per day. At an average of 4 miles per hour this equals 2.9 miles.
*** According to British Heart Foundation

About PruHealth
PruHealth was launched in October 2004 as a joint venture between Prudential and Discovery Holdings from South Africa. Since launch, PruHealth has grown quickly. It now provides medical insurance for more than 190,000 lives and in a sample of its individual customers, one third said they had changed their behaviour for the better because of its Vitality reward scheme which encourages policyholders to look after their health.

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Alternative medicine, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Solutions, Obesity, Society, Weight loss

There’s a new diet game in town and it’s not a diet

There’s a new diet game in town and it’s not a diet. It’s called Diet Tuffy, an online system to help a woman succeed on any diet she chooses. Developed by a psychologist, Dr. Kenneth Schwarz, Diet Tuffy is based on the psychological principles of problem finding, breakthrough thinking, specific planning, and goal achievement.

Dieting remains at the forefront of most women’s minds. At any given time, 45% of women in the U.S. are on a diet, but here’s the raw fact: 62% of women ages 20 to74 are still overweight. The problem is, most women can’t stick to a diet. Through a series of fun-filled and confidence-building steps, Diet Tuffy helps a woman succeed where she has failed before. She can now successfully square off against lack of willpower, emotional eating, negative thinking, temptations, stress, and all the other dieting foes.

Dr. Schwarz who, with his wife Julie North Schwarz, founded MariasLastDiet.com, announced the release of Diet Tuffy today. Dr. Schwarz says, “Women who get stopped by the same old problems when they diet are going to like the totally fresh approach that Diet Tuffy gives them.”

To learn more, go to www.diettuffy.com.

More info can also be found over here: http://www.mariaslastdiet.com

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Business of Medicine, Health 2.0, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Healthcare Solutions, Medicine, Online, Society

Health World Web is announcing addition of videos to the Health Communities from icyou.com, new medical providers’ ads campaign and new gadgets for doctors, clinical trials and support group searches

Health World Web, the premier Health 2.0 social networking site, has launched three new improvements for the site HealthWorldWeb.com.

Starting this week, users of Health World Web will be pleasantly surprised as video content from icyou (www.icyou.com), the source of health-related videos online, will be included in the communities. The icyou videos will complement the already formidable body of user-generated content on Health World Web ranging from user experiences, reviews, recommendations, blog posts and community forum sharing. “I’ve been always obsessed with providing more relevant information to our users. Addition of videos is just another big step in that direction. Videos are attractive because they are personal, compact and informative. As soon as you join the community of interest, not only you can participate and learn from blogs and forums, you can instantly gain knowledge from the best medical resources on that topic in the most convenient way ”, says Daniel Kogan, Founder and CEO of Health World Web.

“icyou is committed to bringing health information to as many people as possible,” said Nina Sossamon-Pogue, Vice President of Media for Benefitfocus, icyou’s parent company. “That’s why we’re proud to partner with Health World Web, which has found a great way to help build communities around the health issues that impact our lives.”

Aside from beefing up the content, Health World Web continues its mission to bring technology, social networking and patient interaction together by tapping into the widget technology making the search for medical professionals, doctors and specialists easier and more convenient.

The Doctor Search gadget will provide users with a tool to search for more than 1.3 million medical providers across the United States, including MDs, dentists, chiropractor, PTs and others. Along with Medical Providers Search Gadget HealthWorldWeb releases Clinical Trials Search, Support Groups Search gadgets. Now, anyone can embed a simple script into any Web site or personal iGoogle page to complete a convenient doctor, clinical trial or support group search powered by Health World Web. Our gadgets are available on this page (http://www.healthworldweb.com/pc/gadgets).

Lastly, doctors and medical professionals can also look forward to a better Health 2.0 with Health World Web. The problem with advertising on the Web has always been relevance. Imagine pitching obstetrics services to men or weight loss programs to anorexics. With Health World Web’s doctors advertising campaign, a paid advertisement is only displayed on the most relevant places on the site: whether it is on a community area, user area, forums, blogs or pages within each of those areas.

With the success of its Personalized Recommendation Engine (PRE) in providing a faster and more efficient way to deliver relevant content and information to patients, HWW decided to tailor its PRE technology so that doctors and other medical professionals could effectively advertise on the site. The PRE system utilizes patient data and activities on the site and then matches that information with doctors’ services, thereby bringing his or her specialty onto the patient’s screen.

What’s even better is that all advertisements are treated – and priced – equally. In observance of the service Health World Web gives to its users’ community, only relevant advertisements are served. Hence, our advertisers do not have to worry about having a flashy advertisement, nor do they have to bid for space or exposure. Only relevant ads shown to interested people—at a very low fixed cost!

About Health World Web
The site, HealthWorldWeb.com was launched in 2006 and has since grown significantly. In combining social networking and intelligent search, HealthWorldWeb.com makes it easier to create user-generated content on various health-related concerns. HealthWorldWeb.com makes it possible to find online social and emotional support, recommendations, advice and tips. The site also features information about physicians, dentists, chiropractors and other healthcare professionals aimed at helping consumers make ducated and informed decisions, backed by recommendations from a related on-site community.

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Child health, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Professionals, Obesity, Pediatrics, Society, Surgeons, Surgery, Weight loss

As More And More Adults Turn To Various Forms Of Surgery To Deal With Their Obesity, The Question Arises Whether Or Not The Same Medical Procedures Are Suitable For Overweight Children

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over nine million children in the United States are now considered overweight or obese. But as more and more adults turn to various forms of surgery to deal with their obesity, the question arises whether or not the same medical procedures are suitable for children.

Weight-loss surgery can be an effective option for some severely obese adults who have been unable to lose weight using conventional weight-loss methods. However, as with any type of surgery, there are risks and potential long-term complications.

Perhaps more importantly, the long-term effects of weight-loss surgery on a child’s future growth and development are largely unknown.

Some parents are convinced that weight-loss surgery may be the only solution for their child’s obesity. However, there is no guarantee that your child will get down to a normal healthy weight or keep off the weight in the long run.

Dr. Armen Ketchedjian, author of the book Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery, cautions against this radical approach when it comes to pediatric dieting and weight loss. 

“I don’t believe that this kind of surgery is necessary or practical for children,” says Dr. Ketch, as he is known to his patients. “I think that proper diet and behavioral modification are much more appropriate in this case. Teaching your child to follow a healthy lifestyle makes a lot more sense.”

Here are some tips Dr. Ketch recommends for parents who want to help their children lose weight and become healthier:
• Make sure the child is physically active every day
• Have the child plan and cook healthy meals with the parents
• Avoid trips to fast-food restaurants
• Stock the pantry with healthy snacks
• Avoid buying and keeping junk food in the house 

Dr. Ketch’s book, Will It Hurt?, is intended to educate parents about pediatric surgery. It is an easy-to-read resource that will give parents, their children and their families the help and reassurance they need to make any surgical experience as stress-free as possible.

Listed in The Guide to America’s Top Anesthesiologists by the Consumer Research Council of America, Dr. Ketch trained at Cornell Medical Center with a fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a pain management elective at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has worked to help develop new techniques in ambulatory anesthesia, taught medical students and residents and cared for more than 10,000 patients.

Dr. Ketch is also the author of the children’s book Golden Apples (winner of the 2008 Reviewer’s Choice Award), a beautifully illustrated book that aims to help educate children about the dangers of drug abuse. 

For more information, contact the author directly at support@dr.ketch.com.

WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC and author Dr. Armen G. Ketchedjian chose Arbor Books, Inc. (www.ArborBooks.com) to design and promote Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery. Arbor Books is an internationally renowned, full-service book design, ghostwriting and marketing firm.

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Alternative medicine, Fitness, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Medicine, Public Health, Society

Pruhealth Vitality Index reveals clear gap between Britons’ perceptions of what it means to be healthy and having a real understanding of the impact of lifestyle

The new PruHealth Vitality Index has revealed a clear gap between Britons’ perceptions of what it means to be healthy and having a real understanding of the impact of lifestyle, diet and fitness levels on current and future health. The Index – which will be repeated on a biannual basis to track the nation’s health trends – provides a comprehensive analysis of general health and wellbeing in Britain.

The report reveals that 69%* of people in Britain claim they are in a good state of health. However, when lifestyle and fitness choices are scrutinised the reality paints quite a different picture as a significant proportion of those who feel they are in a good state of health do not follow a healthy lifestyle:

– only 58% feel they actually follow a healthy lifestyle
– 47% describe their fitness levels as ‘good’
– 24% eat their recommended five a day of fruit and veg
– two thirds think they are overweight
– 21% of Britons smoke
– only a fifth of Britons don’t feel under any stress
– only 14% go for regular screenings or check ups with their GP

Dr David Grainger, Senior Fellow, Cambridge University, said: “This report makes clear that people listen to and understand the public health message. Lifestyles are improving and disease rates are falling. But there is plenty more to do.”

He continued, “If half of current smokers managed to stop smoking tomorrow, we estimate that nearly a million years of lost life would be saved from heart disease alone. Regular health checkups are particularly useful, and it is disappointing to see that only 14% of respondents had regular health checks, despite the emphasis of the public health message on prevention rather than cure.”

Dr Grainger believes, “The Vitality Index is a valuable new indicator of attitudes and behaviours that promote a healthy lifestyle. The Index balances the importance of a number of different areas to provide an interesting snapshot of lifestyles across the UK, and has the potential to predict future trends in public health. This focus on balance, rather than over-emphasis of the importance of one particular element of a healthy lifestyle, conveys exactly the right message at a time when we are in danger of being overwhelmed with guidance on staying fit and healthy.”

The majority (81%) of Britons say they know what they should be doing in order to follow a healthy lifestyle, but many simply aren’t putting this into action, with lack of motivation, cost and lack of time clear barriers to living a healthy lifestyle. More than half (53%) of respondents feel free access to exercise and swimming classes would help tackle national obesity, and 49% claim cheaper fruit and vegetables would have an effect.

*The research was carried out on behalf of PruHealth by Ipsos MORI. A nationally representative sample of 3,034 GB adults were questioned online in July 2008. Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population.

About PruHealth:
PruHealth was launched in October 2004 as a joint venture between Prudential and Discovery Holdings from South Africa. Since launch, PruHealth has grown quickly. It now covers approximately 190,000 lives and in a sample of its individual customers, one third said they had changed their behaviour for the better because of its Vitality reward scheme which encourages policyholders to look after their health.

Via EPR Network
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Cosmetics, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Medicine, Online

Six Men’s Health Products Found Ineffective

The growth on the numbers of men’s health products is alarming. Most of these products are advertised to help men in providing solutions to most dysfunctions faced by millions all over the world. However, numerous products do not deliver what they are supposed to as advertised.

The Men’s Choice, the leading provider of independent reviews on men’s health products, conducted another series of reviews on six different products. From the study, products did not receive much favor from users and were proven ineffective in addressing the need of men.

Some of these products contain natural ingredients believed to help men increase their sexual desire and resolve erectile problems. However, despite the formulation, most of these enhancing products fail to resolve men’s sexual problems including erectile and other dysfunctions. Users of these supplements and medications are providing negative feedbacks about the product for failure to provide the needed enhancement.

The following are the reviews provided by the company:

Enzyte – Enzyte contains all-natural ingredients that researches show could help boost sexual desire and solve other dysfunctions on men. Active ingredients include Korean red ginseng root, Ginkgo biloba, pine bark extract, L-arginine, and horny goat weed extract. These ingredients are commonly found in most male enhancing products sold in the market today.

Korean red ginseng roots are known to enhance sexual endurance and stamina. Enzyte does not contain Yohimbe which is present in other enhancing supplements. Yohimbe is a major component in other supplements that helps resolve male impotency.

Extend – Extend is a male supplement advertised to increase the size of the penis and extend sexual life. Distributed under Nice Price USA, Extend is believed to offer the same effect with Magna RX. The distributor has several lines of male enhancing products including gels and pumps.

The product contains Pygeum Africanum and Pumpkinseed, Epimedium and Oat Straw, Oriental Ginseng, and Cayenne. Similar to other products from other manufacturers, Extend is formulated to include ginseng to help extend sexual life and endurance.

Extenze – Extenze if formulated to enhance blood flow to the penis and provide stronger and long lasting erection on men. It contains Yohimbe that is widely used in most enhancing products to cure impotency and erectile dysfunctions. Other ingredients included in the product are Tribulus Terrestris, Oat Straw, L-Arginine, Saw Palmetto, Catuaba, Aphrodisiacs Muira Puama, Maca. All combined to give men a boost in their sexual functions.

Ezerex – Ezerex is an expensive diet supplement formulated to solve pre-ejaculation problems encountered by most men. It contains ingredients that are proven to enhance sexual desire and provide stronger, firmer, and long lasting erection on men. Ingredients added to the product include Ginger Root, Korean Ginseng, Yohimbe, Cordyceps, Bombyx Mori, Horny Goatweed, Schizandra Berry, Vitamin B3, and Rehamannia Root.

Horny Goatweed (Epimedium) is present in most male enhancing products and is believe to help solve impotency and offer increase in sexual desire.

Maxoderm – Maxoderm is unlike other male enhancements taken orally. Maxoderm is a cream solution applied directly to the penis to provide the desired result. It is recommended to be applied by the sex partner while masturbating for a better result. The product contains Methyl Salicylate, L-Argenine, White Nettle Extract, Catauba Extract, Maca Extract, and Peruvian root.

Several users of this product complained issues with regard to itchiness experienced by their partners during intercourse.

Paravol – Maxoderm is a supplement that helps the body’s production of testosterone and seminal fluid thereby increasing sexual drive and stamina. The increase of testosterone level helps prolong sexual life and counters the effects of natural andropausal period on man. It contains ingredients including: Horney Goat Weed, Avena Sativa, Muira Puama Herb, Stinging Nettle, Tribulus Terrestris, Maca, Long Jack, and Sarsaparilla.

Paravol, though formulated with organic substances is still proven to be ineffective for use by most men who have tried the product. Others continue to claim that they do not feel any result after maintaining the enhancement.

About the Company:
The Men’s Choice is a non-profit organization established to provide unbiased reviews and finding on the increasing numbers of men’s sexual health products that are dominating the market. The company has provided numerous reviews about these products including several harmful effects these products can impart on patients. The company is reachable through their website at http://www.themenschoice.com.

Via EPR Network
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