Top Tips for Boosting You and Your Family’s Immunity Levels

Having a balanced immune system is important at any time, but especially so when a global pandemic is causing millions of people to not only get sick but pass away or develop long-term health complications. 

Even with a vaccine in play now for the COVID-19 illness, there will always be other concerns to steer clear of. As such, here are some tips you and your family can follow to boost immunity now and in the future.

Eat Well

One of the simplest ways to increase immunity levels in your household is to eat well. Prepare healthy meals daily that ensure you consume a wide range of vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients. Your plate at each meal should include some protein, complex carbohydrates, good fats, and plenty of vegetables. Fruit is essential, too. 

Avoid skipping too many meals as it can put undue stress on your body, which may in turn negatively impact your immunity. Wash fresh produce carefully and blanch or otherwise cook greens such as spinach and kale. Taking these steps will help you get rid of any foodborne illnesses and chemicals often found on food items that can put your family more at risk of getting sick. 

Create a Restful Sleeping Environment

Another part of staying healthy is making sure you get enough rest. Try to achieve quality sleep nightly, at least seven to eight hours. Note, too, that children need more sleep than adults. Adequate rest assists the immune system in staying strong and operating as effectively as possible. 

To help yourself in the sleep department, create an environment conducive to deep rest. For example, use blinds or curtains to ensure your bedroom is dark enough and use open windows, heating and cooling systems, and the right choice of clothing and bed linen to achieve an optimal temperature when you sleep. Plus, avoid computer, smartphone, and television screens before bed, as the light can stop you from falling asleep. 

Keep Your Home Clean

Bugs abound in the home, so it’s also vital to keep your property as clean as possible. Germs live on surfaces for up to hours or even days at a time, after all. To give them the boot, be regular with your cleaning. In particular, pay attention to touchpoints such as light switches, doorknobs and handles, computer keyboards, phones, countertops, toilet buttons, and the like. 

Use quality cleaning products that you buy from the shops or make your own affordable and more natural solutions that are kinder to the planet. For example, you can create a cleaner with soapy water and your favorite potent essential oil, such as tea tree, eucalyptus, or lemon. Vinegar, baking soda, fresh lemon juice, and coarse salt are other helpful natural cleaning ingredients. 

Show Your Children Helpful Hygiene Habits

To obtain a healthy home environment and protect yourself and your family, teach your children helpful hygiene habits. Lead by example and explain to your kids how to keep germs away. For instance, as you are probably already doing, reiterate the importance of regular handwashing with soap and water for 20 seconds or more. Teach young ones to always wash their hands before touching their face or food, and to sneeze and cough into elbows rather than into the air around them, too. 

Stay Active

You’ve no doubt heard it before, but exercise has a wide range of benefits for our mind and body, one of which is helping to boost immunity. Regular movement in your daily routines can help you to keep colds, flu, and all sorts of other illnesses at bay. 

This doesn’t mean you have to do lots of hard-core strenuous activity all the time, though; gentle to moderate exercise, including walking and yoga, can help your circulation to work more effectively, your oxygen levels to rise, and your immune function to operate better as a result. 

It pays to incorporate more incidental exercise into your week to improve health, too. Examples include taking the stairs rather than a lift, carrying groceries, mowing the lawn, cleaning around the home, and using your car less so you walk further to get jobs done. 

These are some of the top ways to boost immunity in your family. You can also stay healthier by avoiding smoking, reducing stress, drinking alcohol only in moderation, getting enough vitamin D, especially in the winter, staying up to date on vaccines, and keeping hydrated. Every step adds up and makes a big overall difference. 

This is a guest blog entry.

What questions should you ask when choosing a nursing home?

 

Watching a parent or other loved one get older is difficult. For many people, there comes a time when an older relative starts to become unable to effectively care for him or herself, and when this happens, many families look into nursing homes as an option. If you’ve never had to choose a nursing home before, the process may be overwhelming. Prepare yourself by knowing what to look for and what questions to ask to make the right choice for you and your loved one.
 

Staff and Quality of Care
 

One of the most important topics to cover when assessing a nursing home will be the quality of care. What is the staff to resident ratio at the facility? What is the staff turnover? High turnover is a red flag. If staffers are quitting after six months, it likely means the facility is run badly or is understaffed, which can lead to burnout and abuse. You can read about nursing home abuse law here.

Ask about which services the facility offers, especially if your potential resident has particular conditions that may be areas of concern, like breathing problems or a hip replacement. How do staff handle residents with mobility problems? How do they prevent bedsores and infections? How long do nurses or aides spend with residents on a typical day?

Nursing homes are subject to annual inspections on behalf of Medicare and Medicaid. These annual reports are public and should be posted in each facility. You’ll want to see low deficiencies and no problems relating to maltreatment, harm, or danger to residents.
 

Resident Experience
 

To get a sense of how your loved one might fare in a particular nursing home, take the time to have conversations with some of the current residents. Try visiting a lounge or activity room to get a glimpse of what a typical daily experience looks like at that facility, and use the opportunity to chat with some of the residents there. Is the resident happy in this facility? Would she recommend it to a potential newcomer? Does she like the staff and other residents? Does she get enough medical care and attention? Does she get prompt and adequate assistance when she asks for help?

An important consideration in evaluating a nursing home facility is how much individual freedom residents are afforded. Regardless of medical issues and age-related hindrances, it’s important to remember that nursing home residents are still adults who likely want to have the freedom to live their own lives and not be herded around like cattle. Ask staff and residents if residents can wake up, go to bed, or eat meals at a time of their choosing, or if they are expected to follow a strict schedule for the convenience of the staff. The answers to these questions will let you know whether the facility is operated for the benefit of the residents or for the staff.
 

Enrichment Activities

No one wants to be stuck in a nursing home that is akin to a prison, where the days all blend together because every day is the same and you’re just waiting for your time to be up. A good nursing home facility should have an activities schedule that is appealing, diverse, and varied enough to keep things fresh and interesting for the residents. Ask to see some examples of monthly activity calendars. Ask whether residents have the option to spend time outside on a regular basis. Ask about what kinds of transportation are available to residents. Medical appointments are one thing, but can a resident go visit a friend or attend a grandchild’s recital? Opportunities for social activities like these are vital components for a good quality of life.

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Image: https://images.pexels.com/photos/3768131/pexels-photo-3768131.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&dpr=2&h=650&w=940

What To Do If You Have Been Injured During A Medical Procedure

When you go to a medical professional to go through a procedure, you often need to put your faith in them to get the job done properly. Of course, mistakes can happen, and this can be a nightmare for both the patient and the medical professional involved. If you are a patient who has been injured or harmed as a result of a mistake, you might find that you have options. Below, we’ll give you some of our advice on what to do if this is the case.
 

Gather Evidence
 

One of the first things that you should do if you have been injured during a medical procedure or surgery is to collect any evidence that you have. For example, if you have a mark or injury that is visible, you should take a photograph of it. Other evidence that you might want to collect includes any documentation regarding your appointments or procedures and any communication with the medical surgery.
 

Image Source: Pixabay

 

Seek A Second Opinion

If you have been injured, you should make sure to talk with a medical professional to see if there is any way to resolve the problem. You might find that you need treatment or further surgery to rectify the issue. In this case, it might be worth talking to another medical professional to avoid any further contact with the person who made the initial mistake. Don’t leave your injury to get worse!

Contact A Solicitor

In some cases, you might be eligible for compensation as a result of your medical claim. Of course, every case is different, and this might not be an option for you. Either way, it is advised that you contact a solicitor that specializes in medical negligence. This way, you’ll get the advice that you need, and you can proceed if it makes sense to. If you click this link, you can find out more about what this kind of solicitor can do to help.

Act Fast

If you have recently undergone surgery or treatment and you believe that something has gone wrong, it is always better to act fast. This will not only allow you to rectify the issue, but it will also aid your case if you decide to go ahead with making a claim. Try to avoid any kind of public shaming on social media as this can reflect badly on the case. Act fast, keep it private and you will get the resolution you need.

Final Verdict

No one wants to return from a medical procedure to only find out that the issue has got worse but unfortunately, this is something that people experience. If you think that you could have a case for a medical negligence solicitor, it might be worth getting in touch with one to find out more. Don’t let this go as you could get the result that you had originally hoped for.

This is a guest blog entry.

What Qualifies as Personal Injury?

The term personal injury might seem self-explanatory since one would assume it means an injury suffered by a person. That is technically true, but in this case personal injury is a legal term with a specific meaning, which is that the personal injury is one that was caused by the negligent behavior of another party. That means the responsible party did not intend to hurt someone, but their careless behavior ended up doing so nonetheless.

When someone suffers a personal injury, they are entitled to receive compensation for the losses they suffered from the insurance company of the responsible party. Those losses could be the medical expenses caused by the treatment for the injuries, lost wages if the victim is unable to work while they recover, and repair or replacement expenses for any property that was damaged in the accident that caused the personal injury. The legal experts at realjustice.com recommend that personal injury victims retain an attorney to help them. A personal injury lawyer will give the victim the best chance of receiving the compensation they need and will do all of the work while their client recovers.

The Elements of a Personal Injury Case

A lot of different kinds of accidents fall under the personal injury umbrella, but in order for something to qualify as a personal injury, the following elements must be present:

• The party responsible for the personal injury owed the victim a duty of care. A duty of care means that a person is obligated to behave in the way a reasonable person would in a similar situation. An example is that a driver owes a duty of care to other people on the road by paying attention to the road and avoiding careless behavior.
  

• The duty of care was violated, which means that someone was being negligent. In the driver example, the motorist would violate their duty of care by texting while they were driving.
  

• The negligence led to an accident. While a violation of the duty of care is always bad, it only becomes a personal injury case if someone gets hurt. So the negligent driver would have to cause an accident that injures someone else for the case to become a personal injury.
  

• The accident led to losses for the victim. That means the accident would have to cause expenses like medical bills or damaged property.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

As stated previously, a lot of different kinds of cases qualify as personal injuries, including the following:

Car Accidents - Any vehicle accident that was caused by negligent behavior such as texting while driving or ignoring traffic signals qualifies as a personal injury if the victim got hurt.

Premises Liability - This means that a property owner is obligated to provide a safe environment for invited visitors, but fails to do so. A common example is a slip and fall that happens in a store because the owner or manager was negligent in cleaning up a spill.

Medical Malpractice - Even though doctors and other medical professionals try to help people, they can sometimes make mistakes that end up hurting their patients instead.

These are some of the most common kinds of personal injuries, but there are many other types as well. If you were injured in an accident and are unsure whether it qualifies as a personal injury or not, then contact a lawyer. Personal injury attorneys provide free consultations so you have nothing to lose by asking; and if your case does qualify as a personal injury, then the attorney can help you to get the compensation you deserve.

Image from Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/photos/courtroom-benches-seats-law-898931/

This is a guest blog entry.

Personal injury Settlement Breakdown

If you have been injured in an accident, you know that your first priority is supposed to be getting better. However, you can’t help but worry about money. You wonder how you are going to pay the bills from your accident and how you will make up for the hours you have lost from work.

You know you need to file an insurance claim, but you are probably wondering how much money you will get and how much time it will take to get it.

There are certain bills insurance will cover, some that it will not cover, and other expenses that it may cover if you hire the right law firm. In order to understand a breakdown of the money you are due in an accident, you will first need to understand how insurance in Georgia works and how to document the expenses of your accident.

Collecting Evidence

 
When you have a car accident, you should call the police and wait for them to arrive at the scene. You should take pictures and get the names of witnesses if you can. You should be very polite to the officer who takes the accident report. However, most attorneys will advise you not to admit to guilt.

Your insurance policy should pay for are your medical expenses. Hence, you should save every medical bill that you get. Do not forget to include any physical therapy or massage appointments that you may have.  You should also save the receipts for any medication that you have had to take due to your injuries.

You should also be able to collect compensation for the hours you have missed from work. You can get a letter stating those hours from the HR department of your employer.

You are entitled to compensation for damages to your property as well. You should save the repair bills for damages to your vehicle. If your car was totaled in the accident, the insurance company should pay you the value of the car just before the accident happened. A car is considered totaled when it would cost more to repair it than to replace it.

Insurance Laws in Georgia 

There are two basic insurance rules in the United States; fault and no-fault. In a no-fault state, a drivers’ own insurance company will pay for their accident-related bills no matter who caused the crash. In a fault or tort state, the driver that caused the collision will be responsible for the bills.

The Peach State is a fault state; more specifically, it is a contributory negligence state. When you have an accident, the court will determine who is at fault. If both people contribute to the accident, they will determine to what extent each party was at fault. You can get more details here.

 You will only be able to collect money for the portion of the accident that was the other person’s fault. For example, if the other driver was 60% responsible for the accident and you were 40% responsible, you would only be able to collect 60% in compensatory damages.

You may also be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering. There is no set standard for determining compensation, but many insurance companies will base it on the level of pain you have on a scale of 1 to 5. They will then multiply your level of pain times the cost of your medical bills to arrive at a fair amount.

Getting fair compensation after an accident can be as critical to your psychological recovery as it is to your financial and physical recovery. Hiring the right lawyer and collecting all the proof you need will help you get fair compensation.

Authoritative Sources:
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/financial-analysis-accounting-4560047/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/compensatory-damages.asp#:~:text=Compensatory%20damages%20are%20money%20awarded,unlawful%20conduct%20of%20another%20party.
 

This is a guest blog entry.

Why Do Women Opt for Breast Implants?

Breast implants are a big boost to a woman’s self-esteem. Read more about it in this article. 

 

The one thing all women are conscious about is their physique. With social media constantly feeding images of size-0 women as the definition of beauty, many women lose their confidence. Yes, it’s important to be comfortable in our skin, however, if you’re tired of the way you look, then breast implants are one way you can change especially if you live in a cosmopolitan city like Winnipeg.

In this age, plastic surgery has made it possible for us to achieve the desired look we want. If you have decided to do breast augmentation to change the size or shape of your breasts, then there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Thousands of women are doing the same to boost their confidence.

You may be born with a small bust or now have saggy breasts due to pregnancy and old age. A breast augmentation will increase your poise and your clothes will fit much better, making you look like the models you’ve been idolizing. You can also get a breast lift to forget about your droopy, shapeless breasts and get the look you always wanted!

Reasons for Getting Breast Augmentation

If you are determined to get a breast augmentation done, don’t worry as some of the finest surgeons right here in Canada will give you the look you have been yearning for.  A good start would be to go to Manitoba and look at breast implant Winnipeg. All your questions about breast lifts, augmentations, and which one is right for you can be answered once you visit them.

It is not a crime to want larger and fuller breasts. So let’s try and understand why women would consider doing such surgeries. 

A Boost of Self-Esteem

Confidence does not come easily to women, especially because the standards of beauty have been set so high and unrealistic. Getting a breast augmentation done will make a woman feel more beautiful, appealing, and most importantly, reassured. She will be able to look at herself in the mirror again and feel good about what she sees. Many have claimed to feel more womanly after such surgeries.

Being Bullied for Having Small Breasts

It may come as a shock to many but women do get bullied because of the size of their breasts. This is more common in teenagers and young adults. They often describe women with small busts as being ‘flat’.

Imagine being bullied and embarrassed about your appearance your entire life. Breast implants will not only give them bigger and fuller breasts, but they will also make them feel more attractive and protect them from the taunts of society.

One Breast is Disproportionately Larger than the other

Sometimes the irregular hormone levels in the body (mainly estrogen) can cause one breast to grow unevenly. This can also occur due to sudden growth emissions during puberty. This can have a great influence on your self-esteem and how you view yourself.

Having a breast implant done can even out your bust line and improve the way your figure is shaped in clothes, making you feel more comfortable.

Rapid Weight Loss

When you lose weight in a short amount of time, many parts of your body become saggy, including the breasts. This happens mainly in cases where the weight loss process is not supervised by a professional or done in a proper manner with a healthy diet and good workout regime.

A Breast implant or a breast lift can solve this problem as it will make your breasts look proportional to your waistline, giving you a desirable, hourglass figure.

Breast Cancer Related Surgery

Cancer is a very dispiriting disease. It is natural for a woman to feel less feminine after going through a mastectomy. It is also mentally draining as it not only affects the patient but also her family.

Getting a breast implant can help them feel whole again. This may even prevent depression and bring happiness and satisfaction back into their lives.

Pregnancy Can Change the Shape of Your Breasts

As women progress with pregnancy, the size of their breasts changes. Once the baby is born and women start to lose the baby weight, most discover that their breasts become smaller or are droopy.
That’s why many women go for breast implants as it gives them their pre-pregnancy body back. This doesn’t affect or harm the woman or the baby in case she gets pregnant again.

Looking Younger

As we grow older, we all wish we could go back to feeling young, wild, and free. We spend most of our youth trying to achieve the success that we forget about taking care of ourselves and living in the moment. With age, the body changes along with the shape of the breasts. They become worn out and lose and start to look a little odd in our clothes. Breast implants and a breast lift can help solve this issue but giving a fuller look, making your appearance younger, and making you feel more striking.

Take a Step Towards Change Today. Get an Augmentation Done

If you are unhappy about your body and the way you look, you can consider breast augmentation. Getting a breast implant will not only boost your self-esteem but will also give you the confidence and motivation to succeed in life.

Don’t forget, there is no woman more attractive than one that carries herself with confidence. So, if the above reasons resonate with you, get your breast augmentation at a plastic surgery near you. Winnipeg has a list of renowned surgeons that are very capable of catering to your specific needs. Just trust in the procedure! 

(link to picture: Plastic Surgeon Breast Implant - Free photo on Pixabay)

This is a guest blog entry.

Are Potatoes Healthy? Here's A Healthy Recipe To Help Change Your Perspective

Source: 

https://unsplash.com/photos/k87kcKN-Vvs

White potatoes tend to receive a lot of negativity, with even doctors telling some of their patients to avoid them and white foods in general. While potatoes do fall high on the glycemic index, this depends on the potato variety, how they’re prepared, and the food you choose to pair them with. Protein and healthy fats such as olive oil do help with lowering the glycemic index.

Unless you have a health condition demanding that you reduce your potato intake, avoiding them would mean you’re missing out on tons of nutrients such as vitamin C, B6, folate, and potassium. Now that you have a good reason to incorporate potatoes into your diet once in a while, here’s a healthy recipe you could try out.

Healthy Roasted Potatoes(With Garlic)

Source: 
https://unsplash.com/photos/j-LWI4iuVXc

If you’re looking for a delicious way of preparing potatoes without compromising on health, you have come to the right place. These roasted garlic potatoes are crispy, infused with flavor, healthy, and only demand a few simple ingredients to prepare. To make it even more delicious, you can pair these with fish, chicken, or eggs for brunch. On their own, they offer a gluten-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan option for you; enjoy!

The recipe can be prepared with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs in around  5 minutes and left to bake, forming the delicious meal you’ve been waiting to enjoy.

Ingredients(With Notes)

Source: 
https://unsplash.com/photos/epqNIYI6S7E

Potatoes; Yellow-skinned mini potatoes are the best choice for this recipe. However, if you only have larger potatoes, it wouldn’t hurt the recipe.

Olive oil; a key ingredient in making the potatoes nice and crispy. Make sure all the potatoes are evenly coated to make them brown and crispy.

Garlic; Important for making sure the potatoes are adequately flavored. Freshly minced garlic cloves are ideal; however, garlic paste can provide an equally tasty substitute.

Parsley; It is useful for providing a fresh pop of color and flavor post-roasting; you can achieve this by garnishing the potatoes with a fresh sprinkle of parsley before serving to get a mouth-watery taste.

Steps For Preparation

Preheat the oven to over 232 degrees C. Using parchment paper, line a baking sheet.

Dice the potatoes(do not peel), place them in a bowl, and pour in some olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic; then mix and toss till the potatoes are well-coated.

Place the well-coated potatoes onto the baking sheet and spread them out evenly. Roast them in the oven for 20 minutes, then flip for an additional 20 minutes. A brown crispy potato layer should be the final product.

If need be, increase the cooking time; the different ovens might have other roasting times. Once the potatoes are ready, remove them from the oven, and toss with chopped parsley. The meal is ready, serve while still warm.

Extra Recipe Tips

• Ensure the potatoes are well tossed with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper to form a good coating, allowing them to marinate for a brown and crispy finish once the roasting is complete.
• To ensure all the potatoes finish cooking at the same time, cut them into equal pieces. If your potatoes are large, increase the cooking time to achieve similar results.
• Place the parchment paper on the baking sheet to avoid them from sticking onto the pan.
• Distribute the potatoes evenly, ensuring that they only form a single layer on the baking sheet. Do not overcrowd them to ensure they cook evenly.
• Heat the oven at a higher temperature to ensure the potatoes come out brown and crispy outside. If the potatoes are not ready after 40 minutes, put them back in for an additional time.

What Potatoes Should You Use?

For the crispy taste, you can use yellow-skinned potatoes, fingerling potatoes, or russet potatoes. However, sweet potatoes also provide an ideal option but keep in mind that they will not come out as crispy as mentioned before. Mini potatoes are suitable for this recipe, but you can use large potatoes if they’re not available.

How Should You Cut The Potatoes?

If you’re using mini potatoes, slice them into four quarters, and for each piece, try to achieve half-an-inch sized pieces. Ensure the pieces are uniform in size to ensure they cook evenly.

Storing Ingredients

For the potatoes, store in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to four days. For the garlic and parsley, store in the fridge’s vegetable section, and for salt and pepper, buy some condiment packaging for air-tight storage.

Can The Potatoes Be Cooked in Advance?

Yes, you can prepare the potatoes in advance; however, fresh-off the oven is the better option. You can store the chopped potatoes in the fridge after mixing them in a bowl with salt, garlic, and pepper. 

Which Foods Can You Serve Them With?

To ensure the meal is healthy, you can try out serving the potatoes with salmon, cod, chicken, and spinach. You can try out other healthy potato recipes to keep your interest in potatoes.

Conclusion

Potatoes can be healthy food when carefully prepared; however, you must consult your physician on your daily potato intake to ensure you have sufficient knowledge. Try to maintain an active lifestyle, as potatoes can contribute to weight gain; they are instrumental during gym athletes’ bulking period.

Eat healthy, live healthy, and learn to love potatoes again. All the best. 

This is a guest blog entry.

Selfie Awareness: Millennials and Generation Z Love Plastic Surgery

There used to be a stigma associated with plastic surgery. However, that stigma is disappearing faster than landlines in homes.

Baby Boomers and the older end of Generation X used to think that plastic surgery was reserved for the super-rich and the superficial. This was mainly because the only people they saw getting work done were celebrities, and the work often looked pretty obvious. 

But more advanced and accessible techniques have combined with new pressures from social media to lead Millennials and Generation Z to see plastic surgery differently. 

Social Media and Social Pressures 

Think of the world that older generations grew up in. 

They may have had a dozen or so pictures of them taken in a year, with a handful showing up in frames around the house. But today’s generation will take and appear in dozens of pictures every day, and their tagged image will show up on social media whether they like it or not.

An unflattering candid shot can be enough to send a person down a rabbit hole of looking at before and after photos of liposuction procedures. This has been particularly prevalent during the COVID-19 lockdown as millions of people are dealing with weight gain, or the so-called Quarantine 15.

Make Me Look Like Myself(ie)

Previous generations would also probably use a picture of a celebrity as a guide when talking to a plastic surgeon. They had to theorize how Tom Cruise or Nicole Kidman’s nose would look on their face. 

However, today’s plastic surgery patients can show their surgeons exactly how they want to look by showing them a filtered or touched-up selfie. In fact, 55% of Millennial-aged plastic surgery patients used a selfie to explain what they wanted. This is leading to better conversations and better outcomes.
 

Millennials Enter Their 40s 

The older end of the Millennial generation has recently celebrated their 40th birthday. This means they are now:

1.     Financially secure in their career
2.     Have had all the children they plan on having
3.     Seeing the signs of aging showing up in the mirror 

This is why the Millennial generation is easily the fastest-growing demographic in plastic surgery. They currently account for about 25% of the entire plastic surgery market. They also accounted for about 37% of all breast augmentation surgeries in North America in 2019 and 35% of all liposuction procedures.

Right now, a 35-year-old Millennial is statistically more likely to get a plastic surgery procedure than a Baby Boomer, and the gap is only going to widen as Millennials age.

This means that Generation Z will be the first generation to truly grow up in a world where their parents had plastic surgery. Plastic surgery will be de-stigmatized and normalized.

These trends are only being hastened by the COVID-19 lockdown. In fact, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) surveyed 1000 people and 49% of respondents said that they were open to the idea of getting their first-ever plastic surgery. In 2014, a similar study revealed that only about 17% of those surveyed were open to the idea.

This is a guest blog entry.

Hidden Roles of Dentists You Ought to Know About

Dentists have come up with a new way to deal with teeth complications, and that is by the usage of cosmetics, which are the substances that are put on the face or body mainly to make it more attractive. There are different types of dentists: general dentists who provide general dental services and treatment, those who fit the victim with a variety of porcelain and alloy replacement of their teeth. There a cosmetic dentist who can change your smile for the better, and they also provide simple and complex cosmetic options. Some dentists take care of the issues of children only under the age of 14. All these dentists take care of any teeth problem, and they enhance faster and safer alternatives braces.

The Importance of a Smile

In current days, there is a pandemic of coronavirus that does not allow human beings to share, much like smiling together and spending doing any other things together. As the World Health Organization is looking forward to this problem's solution, you as an individual need to know the importance of a smile on your face. You need to look forward to the days when the world will turn normal and remember when you used to smile together with friends. A smile can make someone who is depressed happy, it shows the love between spouses, and it also brings hope to the smile's target. You cannot smile if your teeth are not presentable, that is, they are dirty, or there are teeth problems like cavities and others. It also depends where you are situated so that you receive treatment of your teeth; if you are in Melbourne, consider visiting cosmetic dentistry Melbourne to get treatment of your teeth to present yourself well to your friends.

How to Book a Dental Appointment 

It depends on the feeling that you are having and how soon it needs treatment; if it is an emergency, then consider contacting the dental hospitals around you or the one that you are comfortable or used to be using. This will help escape the pain you will be going through and having done this, you are assured that you will be helped as soon as possible. There are online websites where you can book your dental appointment, considering the place you are staying. Having treated all of your teeth complications, then you are good to go out with friends and smiles in any way because you will be having confidence in yourself.

Process of Cleaning the Teeth and its Importance

Taking care of your teeth involves visiting dental specialists around you for treatment and advice. Brushing and flossing is the most crucial action of cleaning teeth, which helps control bacteria in the mouth that may cause bad breath; they are responsible for making your breath fresh. Frequent cleaning is an essential part of good oral hygiene in your body and also keeps all your gums healthier. All this action will help you avoid the development of major dental problems between your teeth. If you need all the advice on how to take care of your teeth, they consider using cosmetic dentistry Melbourne.

This is a guest blog entry.

Had an Injury at Work? Here are 5 Steps You Must Take

An injury at work is never something to be ignored. Whether you’ve broken a bone or simply sprained your wrist, you need to make sure you are compensated properly, and your injury is seen to. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having hurt yourself at work, then read on for five steps you should take. 

1: Report the Injury
You must report the accident to your manager or supervisor present at the time as soon as possible. You don’t want to wait too long before you do this, as this could affect any claims you end up making. If your injury doesn’t need urgent medical attention, then try to do this before you get it checked out. 

If you have co-workers around, have them help you and check your injury. Listen to them if they tell you to go to a hospital, as sometimes, the people who aren’t injured know best. You don’t want to make it worse by putting off medical help!

2: Seek Medical Attention
Whether urgent or otherwise, you must see a doctor. First of all, this is to prevent any further damage, and secondly, you will need their notes for any compensation down the line. Make sure you write down everything your doctor says and keep a note of any prescriptions you are given. 

3: Speak to Your Manager
Before making any claims, your manager may offer you compensation. If you think this is fair, then you have the option to settle it between the two of you privately. Make sure they allow you paid time off work if you need time to heal, and don’t feel pressured to accept any offers they may give, especially if it doesn’t cover what you have lost.

4: Contact a Solicitor
Not everyone wants to make a claim after a work-related injury, and that is entirely up to you. It doesn’t hurt to talk to someone, however, so if you’re curious about what you could claim, have a look at a no win no fee solicitors guide. This way, you won’t lose out on any money, but you could find you are owed some.

You should consider filing a claim if your injury is significant enough to impact your work, but you don’t feel you have been compensated fairly. If the injury wasn’t your fault and you have lost money because of it, then it is worth at the very least talking to somebody. 

5: Focus on Yourself
A work-related injury can leave you feeling stressed and worn out. Before any other obligations, you should ensure you are healthy. Don’t overdo it, take time off work, and allow yourself to heal. An injury can impact both your mind and your body, so, no matter what the outcome, allow yourself to de-stress at home.

A work-related injury can knock you backwards and impact your daily life, but these steps will ensure that you will get what you are owed and can rest up peacefully. 

This is a guest blog entry.

New Treatments for Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is typically associated with women. However, did you know that men can get it, too? Breast cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the cells of breast tissues and spread locally within the breast. But it can also spread regionally to the surrounding lymph nodes and to other organs, such as the liver, brain, lungs, and bones. 

The first indication that you should see your doctor and get breast cancer screening is when you discover a lump in your breast. However, there are other signs, such as a change in the size or shape of the breast. You may also find swollen, red, or scaly skin, or notice some dimples that resemble orange peel. Changes to the areola and inward-turning nipple may also be signs that you should not ignore.

Your doctor can determine what type of breast cancer you have as a result of the tests given to you. Breast cancer usually starts to grow in the milk-producing glands or in the ducts that carry the milk to the nipple. The growth rate and the way they spread vary.

Several types of breast cancer exist, which are broken into two primary categories: non-invasive (in situ) and invasive, and they are used to describe the most common types of breast cancer. You can know more about breast cancer and other related information by visiting https://belong.life/breast-cancer.

The non-invasive types of cancer are Lobular Carcinoma in situ and Ductal Carcinoma in situ.
On the other hand, there are two invasive types of breast cancer: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.

The newest breast cancer treatments

Right now, new targeted therapies are used for the treatment of breast cancer, which can be used by itself or combined with other therapies. Targeted therapies mean that the treatment directly aims at the cancer cells or the particular processes that promote the growth of cancer cells. Target therapy is increasingly becoming a preferred option because it causes fewer side effects.

• Immunotherapy. Patients are given specific medication to help the immune system recognize and fight the cancer-causing cells.
  

• Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. This type of treatment blocks the repair process of DNA and may cause the death of cancer cells.
  

•  With this treatment, the protein called mTOR is blocked. Blocking the protein can stop the growth of cancer cells. At the same time, it prevents new blood cells from growing. Tumors need new blood cells for their further growth.
  

• Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. This treatment works by blocking the cyclin-dependent kinases, a group of proteins that contribute to cancer cell growth. Doctors believe that combining hormone therapy with cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitors can be effective in advanced breast cancer treatment.
  

• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Using this treatment helps in blocking the body's signals for the tumors to grow and may be used with other anticancer drugs as ancillary therapy.
  

• Monoclonal antibodies. These are artificial immune systems proteins that are made in the lab for cancer and other diseases. The antibodies kill the cancer cells by attaching to a particular protein on cancer cells. These antibodies are given to a patient through an intravenous drip. They can be used alone or used to carry radioactive materials, toxins, or drugs directly to the cancer cells.
  

See your doctor at the first sign of abnormality you notice to ensure that it is not as debilitating as breast cancer.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/SMxzEaidR20

This is a guest blog entry.

Long Term Benefits of Being Healthy

The human body is a wonderful thing, and it is important to keep it in peak condition to give the best chance of living a long and healthy life. Whether through diet controls or even exercise, there are many ways to look after your health and ensure that you are prepared for anything that life can throw at you.
 

Can diet help?

It should not come as any surprise that what you put into your body can substantially affect many facets of your physical health. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet makes it possible to lower the risk of suffering from serious ill health, ranging from heart attacks, strokes, and even diabetes. A healthy diet with a mixture of nuts, fruit, and green tea can stimulate blood flow, strengthening capillaries and arteries. With them being full of Vitamin C, it can also help to improve circulations, helping to stave off some of the key concerns that come with high pressure and heart disease. You can also improve your digestion by eating foods containing high levels of fiber and ginger, as they help regulate your digestive system and prevent your body from bloating as often. Cutting back on salt can help to reduce the strain on your heart as it can lower the risks of high blood pressure, while avoiding high levels of sugar can lower the risks of diabetes and, as such, can decrease your chances of developing glaucoma and visual issues. 

Keeping your eyes healthy

Looking after your eyes is vitally important as it can help to prevent the effects of numerous afflictions, such as short-sightedness, glaucoma, and even cataracts, whereas, for those who already have some form of sight loss, there are many alternatives. Using methods such as Ortho-K, commonly known as corneal reshaping therapy, it is possible to temporarily reshape the corneas using contact lenses worn overnight so that they can refract light and process images properly. Longer-term laser surgery might well be a more viable option to help treat myopia, but for those too nervous or unwilling to undergo the treatment, then there are specially designed lenses to help to at least make life more manageable without the need for glasses. 

Lifestyle

Some health issues might be linked to diet, but some can be directly linked to lifestyle, so exercising regularly can help lower the chances of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Much like eating healthily, it can stimulate blood flow and circulation to the muscles around the body. As an example, aerobic exercise can help strengthen the lungs and significantly improve oxygen flow, which can improve the strength of your heart and the rest of your body. There is a positive psychological side effect from exercise as it releases endorphins into your bloodstream, which can help combat some of the long-term effects of depression and anxiety, along with any medication or therapy that you regularly have. Meditating is also a good way to destress and give yourself a few minutes thinking space when you need it.

This is a guest blog entry.

What Are The Surprising Benefits of Exercise?

Exercise is good for you. It’s good for everyone. No matter what age you might be, no matter what health conditions you suffer from, no matter what you want to gain – or lose – from exercising, it’s always a good thing, and lack of exercise is going to lead to many different health conditions that can be life-limiting or even fatal. Yet there is much more to exercise than ‘just’ getting (or staying) fit and healthy and losing weight. There are, in fact, some rather surprising benefits to having a good exercise routine in your life; read on to find out what they are, and you might be even more motivated to get fit than ever before.

Stimulates The Brain
Keeping the brain healthy and active is just as important as keeping the body healthy and active. When the brain continues to work well, it is much less likely that someone will develop any cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Even if the condition still occurs, having a stimulated brain can certainly delay its onset.

Strangely, exercise is something that can stimulate the brain. Therefore, the more you exercise, the healthier your brain will become as well as your body. Scientists have discovered that exercise actually changes the brain’s structure, enabling it to stay healthier. As you might expect, there is a lot of research going on in this area right now, and although we don’t have an answer as to exactly why this happens, the point is that it does, and therefore exercise is crucial.

Protects Your Eyesight
Our eyesight is a precious thing; imagine life without being able to see, and you’ll understand just why it’s so important to take care of your eyes and visit an optometrist on a regular basis. Of course, as well as seeing an expert for help, there are some things we can do ourselves to keep our eyes healthy, including using screens less, getting as much natural light as possible, and, surprisingly, exercising more.

Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the chances of developing age-related vision issues, including glaucoma. Although exercise won’t be able to prevent long or short-sighted vision from worsening, being able to prevent glaucoma and similar conditions is certainly a benefit to consider.

Good For Your Skin
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, but a lot of the time, apart from some cleansing and moisturizing, we don’t really do a lot for it. By exercising, you can make your skin glow and look extremely healthy. It’s all down to the amount of oxygen flowing around the body. When you exercise, you are stimulating the blood flow, and more is being pumped through the body, which means that more oxygen is getting to all the parts too.

When this happens, your skin will look much healthier and prevent dullness. Another benefit is that more oxygen promotes faster cell healing, so if you have suffered any injuries, exercise – potentially in moderation depending on the injury itself – can ensure you heal more quickly.

This is a guest blog entry.

Heel Pain Causes and Relief: Myths and Misconceptions

As a podiatrist, I’ve treated people for a wide range of foot pain problems for years. For a large percentage of my patients, pain in the heel and arch is caused by heel spurs. There are a variety of treatment options for heel spurs in Brooklyn, with no single best treatment. I approach each patient’s condition individually, creating a treatment plan tailored to their symptoms and how they respond to each option. There is no golden rule in treatment, so I carefully monitor progress and adjust as needed.

Common Causes of Heel Pain  

There are five common causes of heel pain I see in my practice:

1.    Pronation, or flat feet. This is sometimes referred to as having fallen arches.
2.    Significant weight gain or loss.
3.    Prolonged standing, particularly for repeated periods.
4.    Overuse or overexertion of the heel, which can lead to stress injuries.
5.    Wearing shoes with little or no arch support.

Treatment Options for Heel Pain

Treating heel pain depends on what kind of injury or inflammation is involved, what is causing the discomfort, and how advanced the damage or trauma to the foot is. Each patient’s response to specific therapies also comes into play. Standard treatment options may include steroid injections, wearing orthotics, stretching exercise, radiofrequency nerve ablation, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, using class 4 MLS laser, and, eventually, heel spur excision surgery.

About 25% of individuals suffering from heel pain caused by heel spurs don’t respond to conservative, non-invasive treatments. I often see these patients after they’ve seen another podiatrist and have been disappointed in the results. Injections, physical therapy, and orthotics have had disappointing results, and they are frustrated and tired. Many of them have been given misinformation based on myths and misconceptions.

Common Myths and Misconceptions Regarding Heel Spur Treatment

Patients often ask questions based on information that is outdated or inaccurate. I’ve outlined the most common questions here, including my response to them, to help clear up some of the misconceptions people have about heel pain relief:

1. Is it true that I have to be treated for heel spurs conservatively for at least six months before I can have surgery?

Answer: No. Although conservative treatment may be initially recommended, there is no justification for six months of suffering.

2. Is it true that I won’t be able to walk after heel spur surgery?

Answer: No. How quickly you will be able to walk depends mainly on the procedure your surgeon chooses. After calcaneal osteotomy, you will not put weight on your foot for some time. On the other hand, after percutaneous heel spur excision, you will be able to walk almost immediately.

I personally prefer performing percutaneous heel spur excision with plantar fasciotomy so that my patients can recover quickly and get back to their everyday routines. Using fluoroscopy to pinpoint the heel spur ensures the procedure is safe, simple, and effective and allows the individual to walk normally right away.

3. What is the healing time for heel spur surgery?

Answer: Depending on the procedure, anywhere from ten days to six weeks.

4. Can you guarantee that the heel pain will go away?

Answer: No. Any surgeon who guarantees heel pain relief isn’t being honest. Although most of my patients obtain full or dramatic pain relief, a small percentage will continue to feel some pain. This is usually related to a different underlying issue such as local tissue inflammation caused by the surgery, scar tissue, cuboid syndrome (pain on the lateral side of the foot), or chronic pain not related to the heel spur.

Overall, conservative and surgical treatments of chronic pain caused by heel spurs effectively reduce or eliminate discomfort. If you have additional questions or concerns, I will be happy to discuss your heel spur treatment options.  

This is a guest blog entry.

Locum Tenens in Medical Recruitment Is Booming

The locum tenens sector is booming as today's healthcare environment is extremely dynamic and demand is growing for those medical professionals who can fill short-term temporary positions to meet growing patient needs.

The term locum tenens is Latin and means "replacement" and refers to a doctor who has a temporary position in a medical institution or practice. Many doctors have temporary jobs in medical facilities or practices. 

Locum Physicians

A locum doctor is one of the most common types of substitute physicians in the United States. Statistics vary on how many doctors work in each hospital, but in most hospitals, 50 to 80 can work temporarily there as locums. These doctors are called independent doctors because they work as long as they want, whether they have a full-time job or a temporary job in a hospital, practice, or hospital.

Recruiting Locums

There are numerous locum tenens agencies that can put doctors in different positions and offer payments necessary for insurance and medical errors, which can reduce costs. Many doctors get their temporary jobs through these agencies or a physician recruiter. 

Some agencies also help locums find a place to live in an area where they have a temporary job. If the job is in the country where the doctor is trained, no additional training is required and temporary work can allow them to travel throughout the country in many cases. If they are in an area that they like, they may look for a permanent job there eventually, but if there is an appealing job in another country, they may look elsewhere.

GP Practices

Smaller GP practices sometimes employ a senior doctor to fill the hours that the practice can't provide service to its patients. Otherwise, the practice may not open for business. For example, the only regular doctor available is on vacation or attending a medical conference.

If the doctor wants to take leave from the small practice, whether for a few days or weeks, they can get a locum act as a 'stand-in' doctor. Employing a locum doctor and agreeing to work regularly with the replacement doctor means that patients who need medical help at all times do not have to find a doctor elsewhere. 

Patient Care And Billing

While it is beneficial to have GPs who can deal with emergencies when there are no regular doctors available, some patients complain that problems arise. There is little continuity in care, as people rarely see a doctor often, and billing in hospitals can lead to insurance-related problems since locum doctors typically have contracts with insurance companies. 

One way to solve this problem is by providing all the necessary information to medical professionals through the introduction of electronic recording methods. The billing of hospitals by locums can be done separately or using the same system in some cases without causing problems for the patient or the hospital.

The best scenario for superior patient care is that a highly qualified physician is always on site. When a doctor treats a patient, they can rely on patient data and have access to previous medical records. If these programs are available, the hospital and the doctor's office must ensure that only authorized individuals access them.

Planning For A Locum

If a medical professional works as a locum, the work is normally done using the healthcare facility's equipment, laboratory services, etc. Some doctors and veterinarians in small communities take precautions to ensure that everyone has access to the resources needed to ensure that community health care is always available in their absence. The replacement doctor must be able to provide the standard of care that a regular doctor provides, as well as the same level of quality care as the patient's regular doctor.

Contractual Obligations

The exact details of the locum work are usually set out in the contract, where fees and hourly wages are discussed, as well as a clause that allows the doctor to leave the work if they must, for whatever reason. For both the locum doctor and health facility hiring them, it is important to read the contract carefully to ensure that all conditions are fully understood. Considerations include who is responsible for insuring medical errors, what type of hours of work to expect, whether the doctor is paid directly or through an agency, and how long the work will last.

Patients And Locums

Patients may have some reservations about locum doctors, as they normally make special arrangements with their doctor about paying or screening. When patients have a stable relationship with a doctor, they may feel uncomfortable with a replacement. But they should remember that the temporary doctors have the same professional capacity as their regular doctors. 

A Flexible Career Choice For Medical Professionals

The work of a locum medical professional is interesting because it exposes doctors and nurses to all kinds of people, clinical environments, and places of work. It is a good way to gain experience quickly.

This is a guest blog entry.

Here’s All You Need to Know about Adaptogens

It’s a word you hear a lot nowadays – in blog posts, on health websites and in common conversation – but what exactly is an adaptogen? 

While the term may be buzzy right now, it’s actually been in the medical field for over 70 years, and the herbal medicines to which it refers have been used by people for millennia. If you’re feeling out of the loop, don’t fret. This article will offer basic information about this hot new class of medicine.  
 

What Exactly Is an Adaptogen?
 

In 1947, a scientist and toxicologist named N. V. Lazarev sensed a renewed interest in traditional medicinal practices, and decided to try and classify one such group that he saw as helping reduce stress and promote homeostasis. He coined the term adaptogen, which scientists and traditional medicine practitioners still use to this day.
 

The definition of adaptogen hasn’t changed much over the years. It still refers to non-toxic plants that are used to help the body resist a variety of stressors, including chemical, physical and biological stress. 

They have enjoyed a recent surge in popularity with people looking for natural ways to center themselves.
 

What Are Some Examples of Well-Known Adaptogens?
 

Some adaptogens you’ve probably already heard of, like ginseng. Others, which have been popular in places like East Asia for centuries, are only now making their way into the western mainstream. If you’re interested in the calming, centering effects of natural adaptogens, here are a few to look out for.
 

Chaga
 

Chaga is a large coal-like fungi that grows on birch trees. It has been used by several cultures – North American Indigenous cultures, Russians and East Asians, to name a few – to help with several ailments. You can order chaga powder online – it comes in pre-portioned packets that you can add to hot water, coffee or smoothies.
 

Siberian Ginseng
 

Siberian ginseng, also known as Eleuthero root, is a rich source of polysaccharides – long chain polymeric carbohydrates that support your body’s natural immune defenses. It can also help you relieve stress. Sometimes powdered and paired with chaga (see above), the two make a potent adaptogen.  
 

Reishi
 

Another type of fungi, Reishi has been revered in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It is known specifically as a calming adaptogen. Like chaga and Siberian ginseng, Reishi is popularly enjoyed in beverage form, mixed into liquid.
 

Ashwagandha
 

Ashwaganda is a member of the nightshade family and has been a staple of Indian medicine for over 3,000 years. It has a pungent, barn-like aroma, and has been studied for its potential anti-cancer, cortisol reduction and anti-stress properties.
 

Have There Been Studies?
 

There have been numerous studies on the efficacy and nutritional value of various adaptogens. One influential overview cites several benefits, like immune system regulation, nervous system improvement and anti-fatigue effects. As scientific interest in adaptogens continues to gain momentum, expect to see more studies, more headlines and more dialogue surrounding these calming plants.
 

Hopefully this article has helped demystify adaptogens. Ultimately, it’s a scientific word for a very straightforward concept: plants, used for ages in traditional medicine, that can reduce stress and benefit the body in several ways.

This is a guest blog entry

What Help Is Available to Children in Hospice?

The scariest thing for most parents is to imagine their child in hospice.  There are so many unknowns, with answers that you find online seeming vague or noncommittal.  Parents want to ensure that their children are well taken care of and given the support they need.  Luckily, hospice can grant a lot of these wishes.

Here are the top things children’s hospice can offer and how to ask for them.

Community For The Children
Having to be in hospice can make most patients feel lonely or uncomfortable.  The best way to ease this is to build a sense of community.  Most hospice care facilities offer communal spaces and areas where young patients can enjoy other children's company and get to feel a sense of normalcy.  This sensation can be hard to come by for children with severe illnesses and disabilities, so any ounce of normalcy can mean the world.  Those caring for the children help build up this feeling of togetherness and let the kids relax.

Around-The-Clock Care
Although many families try to take on the care for fatally ill children on their own, they often find themselves at a loss for what to do and when.  We can go into this with the best intentions, but unfortunately, those intentions can't mean everything turns out according to plan.  Instead of putting the stress of remembering medication, timing appointments, figuring out sleep schedules and diet while also having a life of their own, family members can let professionals swoop in.  This plan doesn't mean that the family doesn't get to participate in the care; it's encouraged that they do. It just means that hospice professionals can make that gesture easier.

Peace of Mind for Parents
Parents of sick children want to do the best for their kids.  Any slight mistake or misstep can set a child back or leave them in pain- taking that pressure off of the parents’ minds is the best way to ensure they get to enjoy these precious days with their child.  It can be scary and traumatic to go through, but these hospice centers often also offer support for family members to learn how to cope and grow through this.  There's rarely a happy ending to these stories, so everyone involved in the family must get to heal.

Great Days
Children in hospice don't want to sit around and cry and be scared; they want to live how children usually do.  Most would rather spend their short and precious time getting to have fun and live.  Hospice allows them to have fun, interact with professionals and kids alike, and have more happy days than you would expect. Of course, no one lies to these kids or promises them anything that can't be kept, but they must be treated with the kindness and dignity that everyone deserves.  Kids need more than just medicine and schedules; they need to know they're loved and cherished and that the impact they make on the world is good.

This is a guest blog entry.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US. Unfortunately, not all people realize that their situation is suitable for a claim due to a lack of information. For you to file a claim due for medical malpractice, you need to understand it first.

Medical malpractice refers to when a health care provider or professional fails to provide the appropriate treatment, or gives substandard treatment and fails to take the appropriate action, causing the patient injury, harm, or even death.

Medical malpractice generally involves a medical error. Such an error could range from health management to medication dosage, treatment, and even aftercare. 

There are medical malpractice laws that enable patients who fall victim to malpractice to recover compensation. Through these laws, a claimant may get compensation for any harm resulting from substandard treatment. Here is a more in-depth explanation of the concept of medical malpractice.

Basics of a Medical Malpractice Claim

Medical malpractice is quite delicate; dissatisfaction with your treatment’s outcome does not mean you can file a medical malpractice claim. There are specific aspects that must be satisfied in order for your experience to count as malpractice. 

First, you need to cross-check your experience with a medical malpractice law firm for a successful claim. Consulting with a qualified lawyer saves you from either giving up on a potentially fruitful claim or following up with a frustrating and expensive lawsuit with no chance of a successful outcome.
Here are a few basics of a medical malpractice claim:

An Existing Doctor-Patient Relationship

Before you sue a doctor for medical malpractice, you are required to prove that you had a physician-patient relationship. This is mainly an issue when dealing with a consulting physician. A consulting doctor does not always treat you directly but this does not free them of responsibility. Such cases and scenarios are easily maneuvered through by a medical malpractice law firm.

Proof of Negligence by the Medical Practitioner

Negligence means that compared to what a competent practitioner in the same situation would do in the same position, the practitioner acted in a manner to degrade the profession. That said, a doctor is not required to be perfect. The expectation is that they perform their duties with reasonable skill and care.
Therefore, a qualified attorney is required to show how the doctor in question deviated from the required medical standard of care.

The Medical Practitioner’s Negligence Was the Cause of Injury

Patients are sick before they seek a doctor. So, did the doctor’s negligence cause the harm, or was it the illness? For example, if a lung cancer patient passed away, was it cancer or malpractice that caused it? You have to prove that it was “more likely than not” that malpractice was the cause in such scenarios.

Even the confusing cases are a lot easier to prove when in the hands of an attorney. They provide clarity including getting a secondary medical expert to provide insight on your case.

The Medical Malpractice Specifically Led to Damages

So, the doctor or practitioner in question failed to perform within the expected standards. Did the failure cause any harm to the patient? Damage isn’t always physical as most people assume. Here are some other types of injury that could arise from medical malpractice:

• Mental anguish
• Loss of work
• Loss of earning capacity
• Additional medical bills
  

What’s Next After Medical Malpractice

If you feel you or your loved one has fallen victim to medical malpractice, the first step is to file a lawsuit in a court of law. It’s best to get a lawyer to do this for you. Before the commencement of the trial, you will share information with the defendant. Such information includes dispositions, interrogations, and documents.

Not all malpractice claims make it to court, you could end up settling out of court. Attorneys are often responsible for such settlements. There are high chances that your defendant will have a lawyer or even a legal team of their own. This could get very intimidating if you approach them as an individual; hire an attorney to tackle this for you.

If you decide to go to trial, you will have to prove without a doubt the defendant’s malpractice. Finally, the jury or judge will pass a verdict. If you win, the judge decides the damages given in reparation. The defendant may file an appeal to reduce their obligations. The two probable outcomes are damages for you or the defendant winning.

This is a guest blog entry.

When Medical Conditions Should Be Part of a Criminal Defense

Imagine being charged for a crime you had no control over. Defense against such a criminal charge may be one of the hardest courtroom battles you have to face. It not only requires vast knowledge in the criminal defense field, but also high levels of court experience for you to stand a chance and avoid an unfair ruling or penalty.

There are often common errors in regards to whether or not medical conditions should be part of a criminal defense. Without the help of a criminal defense lawyer, you may find it very difficult to navigate the jargon and complexities of criminal defense. However, here are some of the instances in which medical conditions may be used as defense in court.

What Medical Conditions Can You Use as Criminal Defense?

1. Insanity Defense

If you committed a crime as a result of a persistent, cyclic, or an episodic psychiatric disease at the particular time of the criminal act, you can employ the insanity defense,  hence arguing that you were not responsible for your actions, rather, your state of mind caused you to behave as you did.

2. Mental Illness

This refers to a condition or disease, other than senility, epilepsy, mental deficiency, or alcoholism, which significantly impairs a person’s perception of reality, thoughts, judgment or emotional process. In simpler words, mental illnesses can grossly impair the victim’s behavior.

Examples of some of these medically recognized mental disorders are bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, and major depressive disorder.

If you are clinically proven to be suffering from any of the above, it can influence the conviction and save you from unfair rulings.

3. Learning Disability

This is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the ability to read, write, or do math, which are foundations to one’s ability to learn. Such a disability can be used in criminal defense.

4. Autistic Spectrum Disorders

This is a developmental disability which causes great social, communication, and behavioral challenges. These challenges often affect the decision-making process and its effects range from mild to severe.

What Cannot Be Ranked as a Disorder?

Not all disabilities of the brain are regarded as mental disorders. For them to be considered as such, and be used in a criminal defense, these disabilities have to give rise to a disability or disorder of the mind as well.

1. Incompetence      

            
Mental incompetence is the inability of a defendant to carry out major decisions regarding their own affairs. This could be due to a number of mental or physical inhibitions. The defendant in this case is unable to understand the nature of their trial and he/she is often institutionalized until they regain sanity and are able to stand trial.

Keep in mind that incompetence is very distinct from mental illness. It is possible that some defendants may be competent to stand trial despite suffering serious mental illness.

2. Mental Retardation (currently known as Intellectual Disability)

This is a permanent condition in which intelligence levels are severely impaired. It is often accompanied by a great deal of limitations in adaptive functioning. This is quite different from mental illnesses. Unlike the common myth, the majority of those with mental illness have no intellectual deficits. On the contrary, some are highly intelligent. It is possible, however, for a person with mental retardation to also have a mental illness.

What Impact Do Medical Conditions Have on Verdicts?

The court is often considerate on cases in which the perpetrator was under the influence of the disorders that ail them. It is therefore important to know how to deal with criminal charges if you suffer from the mentioned disorders.

All that must be a lot to process, especially when dealing with the stress that comes with facing criminal charges. Worry not however, you can seek counsel from a criminal defense attorney in Dallas and get all the legal representation you need to avoid unfair conviction.

This is a guest blog entry.

How to Protect Your Skin from Hard Water if You Can’t Afford a Water Softening System

Everyone knows that that hard water can be tough on your pipes and your washing appliances like your dish washer. The hard calcium, magnesium, and other mineral and metal deposits can build up and cause serious clogs. If the hard water is this bad for your home, you can only imagine the ill effects it has on your skin. According to Skinkraft.com, water that contains a high amount of undissolved minerals isn’t a serious risk to your overall health, but it will leave a greasy residue not only on your dishes and clothing after the washing cycle, it will also have a negative effect on your skin condition too. Because hard water is filled with minerals as opposed to pure water, it will leave a buildup of soap which can clog pores and inhibit our natural ability to release the oils we produce. This can inevitably lead to bad acne and/or eczema. What’s more, hard water will leave you with persistent dry skin as it inhibits the natural moisturizing of the skin. You will eventually begin to look older than your age while the dry skin leads to wrinkles and fine lines.   

So how do you go about getting rid of hard water? The one truly effective approach is to install one of the many water softener systems on the market today. These systems are connected to your plumbing system and usually use salt to soften your water, ridding your H20 of all those unwanted minerals that are doing damage to your pipes and your otherwise healthy skin. But these are trying economic times and what if you just don’t have the cash budgeted for a new water softener system? If that’s the case, you should be aware of the ill effects hard water can have on your skin and then you can make a plan to do something about them. 

Long Term Effects of Hard Water

Says Skinkraft.com, since hard water is filled with iron, calcium, magnesium, and other “free radicals,” they are known to break down the skin’s natural collagen which is what keeps it firm. This can lead to premature aging while fine lines emerge and the loose skin begins to sag. Exposure to hard water for prolonged periods of time can result in extreme cases of eczema and other aggravating skin conditions.    

Short-Term Effects of Hard Water

Short-term effects of hard water on the skin will result in itchy, dry flakes that are a constant cause of irritation. Your hair will also dry out and appear dull looking. This can lead to an annoying itchy scalp condition.  

How Can You Protect Your Skin from the Ill Effects of Hard Water?

The simplest, most cost-effective solution for fighting the ill effects of hard water to is use an over-the-counter water softener solution which can make the soap easier to rise. This will eliminate at least some of the soap residue that can build-up on your skin. You can also invest in soap-free cleansers that are said to be gentle on the skin, and you can make certain to keep your showers very short, avoiding extreme cold and hot temperatures. Skinkraft.com stresses the importance of using warm water on the skin, but at the same time, avoiding frequent face washing. When you are done, you should gently dab your face with a clean dry towel rather than an aggressive “rub down.” As a final dry skin preventative, you should use a moisturizing body lotion on the skin so that it can trap your natural oils and moisture thereby preventing further drying of the skin. Anyone with overly sensitive skin should look into moisturizers and body washes/soaps, that are said to be free of fragrances.  

An Easy Test for Gauging Your Water Hardness with Soap

Fill a drinking glass with 350ml of water, then add 10-12 drops of liquid handwashing soap. Rinse the mixture with a spoon vigorously. If very few soapy bubbles result, it means you have hard water. You can repeat the test to check for hard water severity by slowly adding more and more soap to the water and continue stirring. If very few bubbles continue to show up and the water also looks cloudy, you just might have a case of severely hard water.  

Even if hard water is said not to have any prolonged ill effects on your overall health, it can still be a constant source of irritation to the skin, and this can’t be good for your overall well-being. There are a number of ways to combat hard water using over-the-counter methods that come with little cost, but the only real solution is the installation of a water softening system. If you can’t afford to pay full price for one right now, perhaps you can find a reputable company that will allow you to pay for your service over time.  

This is a guest blog entry.