Are Today’s Doctors Prescribing Drugs Too Readily?

pharmacy point of saleMobile pharmacy point of sale systems make it easier than ever for consumers to order and pay for prescription drugs. This raises important questions, including, is this always a good thing? With prescriptions easily and readily available, some believe that doctors are doling out medications too liberally — especially when it comes to American children. “More than 10,000 American toddlers 2 or 3 years old are being medicated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder outside established pediatric guidelines,” The New York Times reported on May 16.

 

Do 10,000 Toddlers Really Need To Be On Ritalin?

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, prescription drugs should be the last resort for children ages 4 to 6 with ADHD. “Guidelines do not even address a diagnosis in children below age 4,” The New York Timescontinues. Dr. Lawrence H. Diller tells Today that, although Americans account for just 4% of the global population, they also use 70% of the world’s Ritalin and Adderall. What, if anything, explains these shocking figures?

For children ages 4 to 6, doctors do recommend ADHD medications, if all else fails. Experts add that low-income families typically do not have the means to afford some of the better alternatives, such as special educational programs and parent-behavior training. Healthcare professionals add that children under age 4 may simply be acting like toddlers — and there is no concrete evidence, as of it stands, to suggest that ADHD medications work for young children (or that they are safe!).

Are Convenient Mobile Applications To Blame?

Are doctors prescribing too much Adderall and Ritalin, particularly to toddlers and young children? Doctors largely agree; the answer is yes. Even so, experts add that technology improvements and mobile pharmacy point of sale systems — or POS systems — are not to blame. In fact, this technology may help grant patients with limited mobility and/or transportation, such as aging Americans, to easily order prescriptions and transfer prescriptions to closer locations, if necessary.

Technology improvements always come with ups and downs. Still, doctors do not blame easy-to-access mobile POS software for the spike in toddlers’ Ritalin and Adderall prescriptions. If anything, doctors add, the technology gets important medicines to people who truly need it.

Why Diet Whey Protein is Perfect for People on the Go

In a dog-eat-dog world, our quest for better opportunities and financial freedom has sadly led us to ignore the demands of the vessel that allows us to carry out our dreams: our body. Instead of providing our bodies with the right food, we have begun to consider easy-to-prepare food without realizing that these options are not only riddled with chemicals and preservatives, they are also detrimental to our health. What our body needs are actually very simple: a good, balanced diet, ample rest, and lots of exercise; however, without time on our side, preparing good meals, making sure we have at least 6 hours of rest, and keeping a regular workout schedule, living a healthy lifestyle seems to be another challenge in itself.

diet whey

Fortunately, by gradually incorporating healthy supplements, such as diet whey protein into your diet, you can slowly steer away from unhealthy living and work towards a better body. For people on the go, the benefits of diet whey protein are tremendous: they are easy to prepare, easy to store, and most importantly, contains amino acids which you may need to boost your immune system. It also aides in balancing your body’s natural glutathione levels, contributes to gradual weight loss, and may even slow down the growth of cancer or prevent it altogether. The benefits of diet whey protein are not limited to body building or weight loss; for people who are not exposed to the right amount of nutrients in their daily diet, whey protein can supply your body with much needed minerals.

Diet whey protein contains at least 9 vital amino acids which your body needs to be more fortified. Certain food like meat, dairy, and eggs may contain a healthy amount of vitamins and minerals but you can find more of these nutrients from diet whey protein. These essential amino acids can strengthen your body’s immunity so you are less susceptible to various diseases and ailments. The usual fast food meal of soda and hot dogs cannot provide you with these nutrients making diet whey protein even more important.

Making the switch to a healthy lifestyle is not easy, but you can make subtle changes in your diet slowly. It is recommended that you start of by adding small amounts of diet whey protein to your daily meals and slowly, cut down on oily food and carbohydrates.

Remember, taking care of your body suggests, in a way, that you want to take care of your dreams. Take these baby steps into a healthy lifestyle, today.

Training in Dermal Fillers and Botox

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Injectable cosmetic fillers, also known as dermal fillers, consisting either of a solution of hyaluronic acid or a weak solution of botulinum toxin (Botox) that is used to fill in the area under the skin, plumping it up to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.  Fillers can also be used to plump up thin lips, reduce the appearance of scars and add definition to the jawline, cheeks and other parts of the face.  Depending on the brand, the the solution varies in viscosity and may be either natural or synthetic.

What Constitutes A Good Botox Training Program?

Seems pretty simple, but the variety of brands, the various parts of the face they can be used on and the issues the procedure is intended to address, all of these factors require different techniques and skills, all of which need to be practiced.  Considering all of this, it’s easy to see why it is impossible to cover everything in one day.  A good Botox certification program will teach, and give you the opportunity to practice, the easier and more forgiving skills and techniques first and allow you to gradually work your way up to the trickier areas that are less forgiving of mistakes.  You’ll get a great deal of practice in the training program so that you can feel confident that you will get it exactly right with your clients and patients.

Why Take Botox Training?

Injectable fillers are the second most commonly sought non-surgical procedure for performed for cosmetic reasons in the United States.  Every year, 4 million people get dermal injections for a variety of reason.  Soft tissue enhancement treatments have increased by 7% each year for the past five years.  With immediate and enduring results, 90% of people who have this done are pleased with the outcome.

There are an estimated 60 million people in the United States that comprise the market for aesthetic procedures and the demand for aesthetic treatments, especially non-surgical procedures, is expected to continue to rise until 2025.  These procedures are especially popular because they can last for months without the typical risks and expense of surgery, and with minimal side effects.  It is increasingly popular among medical and aesthetic professionals because the average fee to offer these treatments is around $400 per syringe a cost many people are willing to pay to look younger and feel more confident.  Insurance often does not cover the cost of cosmetic procedures, so offering them to your clients saves you the hassle of dealing with insurance companies.

To register for Botox Training, visit http://dentox.com/botox-training

Drug-Free Ways To Reduce Back Pain

massage chairBack pain can be a debilitating condition that interferes with the quality of life. Imagine not being able to walk, shop, or do simple chores because of excruciating pain in your back. Some people have flare ups that leave them bed-ridden for days, and unable to function.

Prescription Painkillers

In today’s society there are drugs for every type of ailment that you can think of including back pain. When you visit the doctor for back pain, the first thing that is usually offered is a prescription for the pain.

For most of us it is easy to visit the pharmacy, get a prescription filled, and reach for the pill bottle to ease the pain. Make no mistake, it is good that modern medicine provides so many options to ease chronic pain, but the possibility of side effects and addiction are also very real.

Most people that are in pain have one thing on their mind – getting rid of the pain! They don’t usually want to hear about alternatives when it is easier to pop a pill and eliminate the pain. But think for a minute about the side effects of popping those pills long term. Eventually it will affect your body in other ways.

Have you ever seen people who are taking prescription medications and then have to take another medication to help the side effects of the first drug? That can become a vicious and unhealthy cycle.

Addiction

Painkillers not only lessen pain, but they tend to make you relax and almost seem as if you are on a high. That feeling is temporary and wears off in a few hours.

So what do you do after those hours are up? Take more painkillers. People often become dependent on these drugs and take more than the doctor has prescribed.

This is when you enter the danger zone.

How often have you heard of people going into rehab to help with prescription drug addiction. Yes, this is very real!

A drug that is prescribed by a doctor can have the same effect that street drugs such as heroin or cocaine have on a drug addict, when misused. People tend to put prescription drugs into a different category.

Although the drug is prescribed by a licensed medical doctor in the correct dosage, it is the individual who frequently abuses it, and in the end the result is the same as it is for a drug addict. Studies have shown that some people have more addictive natures compared to others.

Reducing Back Pain Without Drugs

Drugs only mask your back pain. As the back pain continues and get worse, the individual will take more pills, covering up the initial problem. You need to be aware of the characteristics of the pain in order to know how to manage it. You will not know that if you are constantly taking painkillers. There are many ways to manage back pain without drugs.

Swimming – Water is an excellent way to manage back pain. Swimming puts less stress on the body and there are many exercises that can be done comfortably in the water. Water aerobics is often recommended for people who have arthritis in the spine or other parts of the body.

Massage Therapy – Many times a doctor will prescribe physical therapy for a patient with back pain. Deep tissue massage is one technique that a therapist will often use. When there is chronic back pain it is usually because the tissue in the muscles, ligaments and tendons is rigid.

This can cause inflammation and limited movement. In deep tissue massages, the pressure is applied deeply to the painful area. Movements are slow and deep to help loosen the rigid areas. The therapist will often use massage oil to help with this process.

An easier alternative, which may even work out cheaper in the long run too, may be through the use of a massage chair like the HomeElegance 9745BLK-1. These can be easily hired or purchased, though be sure to always look for massage chair reviews before parting with your money as they are not cheap pieces of equipment and differ wildly in their effects.

Move – The first inclination for people with back pain is to sit. They feel as though movement will make the pain worse. The truth is, the more active you are, the better it is for your pain. No, you should not overdo it and put strain on your muscles, but regular exercise can help increase and strengthen your muscles.

Walking and stretching are highly recommended. Yoga is another option that helps balance and strengthen the body through focused postures called asanas, and stretching the muscles. Even if you have to sit, you can stretch those muscles.

Meditate – It is difficult to focus on anything when your body is in pain. Science has shown that meditation can help reduce severity of pain. It takes the focus from the pain and puts it on breathing or mindfulness. Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., a researcher at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, conducted a study that showed decreased pain after just over an hour of meditation.

Try Something Different

Medicine has its place when it comes to back pain. NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen can help with inflammation as well as pain, and there is nothing wrong with taking them when it is absolutely necessary. But prolonged use of these medications can lead to blood clots, stomach ulcers, strokes, heart attacks, kidney and liver damage according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

So, before you pick up that bottle of pills or take that prescription for back pain, try an alternative. You will never know unless you try.

Women’s Heath Questions are Numerous.

You can look through reference materials to find out about health questions, but it is important to remember that there are some problems that are specific to women. You can find a lot of information, but things get tricky when it comes to women’s health questions. You can ask about things that might concern anyone, but there are other things you must consider when you run across things that might be specific to women only. If you don’t believe me, keep reading.

I have had experience with male and female doctors. I have had women’s health questions that seem to be answered differently by each different doctor. You may think that female doctors have a better grasp on women’s health questions, but you may find out that you are not right about this. The one doctor that gave me the most definitive answers and useful information was a man. The woman doctor I went to gave me very vague answers and didn’t seem to have the time to listen to my concerns.

My women’s health questions had to do with trying to have a baby. I had a feeling there was more going on with me than just bad timing. I knew that there was a possibility that I might have PCOS. My female doctor would not take me seriously, and she said that it was all in my head. Each of my women’s health questions was met with disapproval and an overall feeling that she was not listening to a word I said and was not willing to admit that she didn’t know everything.

I decided to take my women’s health questions to someone else. This time I found a male doctor. Though I had always preferred a women when it came to reproductive health, I decided that perhaps I had been short sighted on that issue. When I talked to this new doctor about my women’s health questions he listened to everything I had to say, and he also ordered tests based on my suspicions. Not only did he confirm that I have PCOS, he worked with me to go through information and treatments. Needless to say, he has been my doctor ever since. Though I have yet to succeed with a full term pregnancy, I at least know what is wrong with my system, and I can work to correct the problem. Not all things are as complicated as PCOS, but just remember to judge a doctor by what they can do for you, and not on their sex.

Evacuation Equipment: The Ski Sheet

ski padA popular design of evacuation equipment used in hospitals, hospices and any other location where individuals are likely bedbound is the ski sheet. Sadly unrelated to alpine pursuits, the ski sheet is a practical solution to the need to evacuate individuals swiftly and safely without the ability to remove them from their beds. The ski sheet is a large plastic sheet which is placed under the mattress of the bed. The bed is then made normally on top of it, and the ski sheet is unnoticed during normal use.

In an emergency, the ski sheet can be pulled out and fastened across the mattress and patient by two restraining straps, making the mattress, pillows, bedding and patient into one fully contained bundle. This can then be lifted off the bed and dragged to safety without needing to move the patient into another evacuation chair or needing them to be mobile. The padding of the mattress and pillows makes dragging this through a hospital or other building perfectly safe and comfortable for the patient.

However the ski sheet cannot easily be used where the doorways and passageways are too narrow for a standard mattress to be pulled through them. For this reason the ski pad was developed. Very similar to the ski sheet, the ski pad is a narrow mattress with the ski sheet built into it. It packs up into a small bag, and in an emergency can be quickly unrolled and the patient transferred from their bed onto the ski pad. They are then wrapped in a blanket and given pillows, and bundled up in the ski pad in the same fashion as for a ski sheet. This narrower and more manoeuvrable bundle is then evacuated out to safety.

The ski sheet and ski pad do have some drawbacks, especially in the area of bariatric patients. The ski pad has a maximum recommended weight of 120kgs, and while it is tested to a much higher weight it is obviously not ideal for very overweight patients. For these patients a reinforced ski sled is available, which is a heavier weight version of the ski pad and suitable for patients up to 180kgs in weight. Like the ski pad it is stored in a small pack and unfolded for emergency use, and once the patient is secured they can be transported in much the same fashion as a ski pad.

Ski sheets and ski pads are the first line evacuation tools for any institution with bed bound individuals, and are essential equipment in hospitals, nursing homes where in an emergency they are simple enough to be used untrained, allowing all staff to help with evacuation of the most vulnerable and least mobile individuals to safety. The ski pad and ski sheet even allow for patients to be safely dragged down flights of stairs, allowing all floors of a building to be utilised without compromising patient safety.