Tips On How To Eat Out When You Are Diabetic

Photo credit: Maria Orlova

COVID-19 was especially hard on people who have diabetes. First, there was the fear of catching the virus. Reports state that 1 in 10 people with COVID and diabetes died within 7-days of being hospitalized. Then there were the limitations that the quarantines put on them. They were necessary, but they interfered with their ability to maintain proper medical care, exercise, and sometimes to keep a good supply of healthy foods on hand to eat. As summer 2021 approaches, many cities are talking about re-opening restaurants, concert venues, and other social settings with limitations. People are ready to start socializing a bit. But it will not be “business as usual.” There will be changes for everyone. What adjustments will the diabetic have to make to return to the open social world?

Prepare now

Maybe you are new to dining out with diabetes. If not, it probably has been a while. There are some things you need to do. Don’t be caught off guard and find yourself at a restaurant with almost no selections for you. Don’t go out without a clear picture of your diabetic situation at that moment. That can be the difference between a special dinner and a trip to the Emergency Room. Here are some ways to prepare:

●    Update your blood-monitoring system
If you have not upgraded in a while, it may be time. Your blood glucose monitor is the only way to know what is going on inside your body at any given moment. Ascensia is an industry leader in diabetic tools and education. They have invested more than 70-years into groundbreaking discoveries to make the lives of diabetics more comfortable. This was even before they invented the Contour Meters line.   

●    Include the Bayer Glucofacts Deluxe Software Download in your preparations.
This download gives you and your doctor an accurate overview of how your blood sugar runs on a daily basis. If eating at a certain time or a certain place drives your numbers into the danger zone, you need to make adjustments.

●    Browse the restaurant’s menus online before you go
This lets you know what they have to offer and keeps you from having to hold everyone up while you figure out if there is anything on the menu that is a good choice for you.

●    Be careful for the few days before to maintain a level blood sugar reading.
If you are planning on going to dinner on Saturday night, be sure you are diligent all week and keep everything stable. This gives you a good foundation and will allow you to remain steady for a while.
 

Photo credit: Alexandr Podvalny

Tips for how to eat at a restaurant when you’re a diabetic

 
It can be a bit difficult ordering food in a restaurant that is diabetic-friendly. It is hard to know if sauces, dressings, and flavorings have sugar in them. But there are some ways to help you enjoy a good meal with little effort. Below you will find some tips to help you accomplish that.

• Try to eat at your normal mealtime. If you can’t, do not go in over-hungry. Eat a snack before you go. This will help you avoid chips and salsa, bread, and other appetizers before your meal.
• Watch your carbs. Foods heavy in carbohydrates almost always shoot up the blood sugar. Watch your portion sizes too.
• Don’t be fooled by the baked potato. While they are better for you than fries, adding butter, sour cream, and cheese makes this a dangerous food for the diabetic. Order your dressing on the side. Consider adding a few slices of your meat and some veggies to the potato and skip the creams.  
• Grilled is always a better choice for you: Grilled chicken, Grilled fish, Grilled steak
• Also, watch for steamed, poached, braised, and broiled. These are healthy terms. Stay away from crispy, crunchy, fried, or creamy choices.
• Always order salad dressings, butter, and sauces “on the side” so you can control how much you eat. Your best choice for salad dressing is always vinaigrette.
• Ask for it. Ask if you can trade your fries and bread for a spinach salad. If you are having tacos, ask them to trade the cheese for fresh salsa. Maybe you want them to go light on the meat and throw in some Fajita veggies.
• Water it up. Order water with your meal, maybe with a little lemon. The water will fill you up, making you eat less. It is good for washing out all the salt and chemicals from your meal. There are no calories in water, and you can have all you want.
• Order your sandwich “Open-faced”. This makes it easier to eat half of it and take the other half home. You get half the bread, cheese, dressings, and meat. Substitute chips or fries for sliced fruit, pickles, salad, or yogurt.

With a little planning and some careful choices, you can enjoy dining out again. By using the right diabetic equipment, you will have a clear view of what you can and cannot eat. Like anything else in a diabetic’s life, eating out is a discipline and should not be abused. But as a treat, it is a wonderful thing.  

This is a guest blog entry

3 Types of Accidents that Require Physical Therapy

According to Web MD, many people can benefit from physical therapy; for example, those who suffer from the most common sports injury, an ankle sprain. At healthcare facilities like Kingston physical therapy, many different types of injuries related to accidents are treated every day.

Going to a physical therapist after suffering from an injury can help restore flexibility while reducing pain. It may also help avoid surgery or the need for prescription medications that can come with all sorts of side effects. When injured on the job, physical therapy is typically covered by workers' compensation, and if you're in a car accident, the responsible person's car insurance, or your own car insurance in no-fault states, is likely to cover it.

While there are a wide range of accidents that require physical therapy, these are three of the most common.

Motor Vehicle Accident

Millions of motor vehicle accidents occur in the U.S. every year, with drivers and passengers sustaining injuries that can range from minor to severe, such as cuts, fractures, whiplash, and other neck injuries, as well as brain trauma. For most of those injuries, physical therapy is essential to increase the odds of optimal recovery, reduce pain, and prevent permanent disability. While the pain that often accompanies car accident injuries can last for quite some time, through physical therapy, you may be able to avoid becoming dependent on painkillers that bring a whole new set of other unwanted problems.

While car accidents most often happen during an individual's personal time, when on the job, driving to deliver a product, for example, any injuries may also be covered through worker's comp, provided it didn't happen during a diversion to take care of a personal errand. When it comes to workers' compensation coverage, when it does apply, it doesn't matter who is at fault.

Falls

If you slip and fall on an icy sidewalk or experience any other situation that occurs after dropping from a certain height, often due to inclement weather or an oily surface, physical therapy may be required due to head, back, neck, and other severe injuries. In this case, a physical therapist will often analyze the situation in conjunction with your doctor's recommendations to prescribe a program that will help you recover as quickly as possible. These injuries frequently occur at home when walking to and from your car, for example, but slippery floors in a workplace resulting in falls are common too.

A Sports Injury

A sports injury can occur among professional and casual athletes who occasionally participate in friendly competitions, run, or participate in other activities. While some only require rest and ice, others need medical attention, particularly a hamstring injury, ACL tear, or groin pull, among others. More than half of sports injuries occur in the knees, often during sports like baseball, basketball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. Shin splints, an injury that causes shooting pain down the front of your leg, are commonly seen in runners. No matter what the injury, the sooner the injured gets care through a physical therapist, the better to ensure the fastest possible recovery.

This is a guest blog entry.

Can CBD really help with anxiety?

CBD has been under the media spotlight over the past year or so. Plenty of high-profile celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, Whoopi Goldberg and Morgan Freeman, to name just three, have been jumping on the CBD bandwagon and promoting the cannabinoid’s various health benefits. These range from pain relief to skincare, but one of the most compelling uses for CBD is to counter the effects of stress and anxiety.  
 
How does it work?
 
First and foremost, we need to understand that research into CBD a nd its therapeutic properties is still in its relative infancy. Having said that, there have been a number of studies, and more is being learned every week.  
 
CBD is one of more than 100 cannabinoids, and when they enter the bloodstream, they bind to receptors in the brain. In the case of THC, which is the active cannabinoid in recreational marijuana, this results in the “high” that leads to those famous sensations of euphoria or uncontrollable laughter. In the case of CBD, you don’t get high, but that doesn’t mean there is no pharmacological effect at all.  
 
In fact, research suggests CBD can inhibit receptors associated with seizures and that it can also combat anxiety disorder, a condition that affects around one in five adults in the US. Studies suggest that CBD interacts with particular receptors that regulate the body’s fight-or-flight response and other anxiety-related behaviors.  
 
But what does that mean on a practical level? Clinical trials showed positive effects when CBD was administered for effective treatment for numerous types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks and social anxiety disorder. In the most recent trial, conducted only last year, 397 participants received medical CBD for a range of different conditions including pain, neurological symptoms, and mental health conditions. All reported improvements in quality of life after just three weeks of the treatment.  
 
How to take CBD for anxiety
 
People think of CBD as a little bottle of oil, but it actually comes in a whole variety of forms. One of the most popular ways of taking CBD is to use CBD vape juice in a vaporizer. This has an advantage over other forms like capsules, edibles or drink infusions, as it reaches those receptors faster without having to first traverse the digestive system. The only downside to vaping CBD is that as well as arriving faster it also leaves sooner.  
 
In other words, having a CBD vape to hand is great idea if you are prone to sudden anxiety or panic attacks, as it provides fast relief. However, if you are living with more chronic symptoms and need to maintain a certain level of CBD in your system at all times, taking it in either edible or capsule form might prove to be the better strategy.  
 
It’s important to remember that there are still plenty of unknowns when it comes to CBD and its therapeutic benefits, so be prepared for a little trial and error to see what works best for you.  

This is a guest blog entry.

How do I know if my personal injury case is worthwhile?

If you have been injured in an accident, you are undoubtedly dealing with a lot of pain, missed time from work, and extra added expenses such as cleaning services and childcare that you would not need if you were in good physical health.

If you did what you were supposed to do you have filed an insurance claim on this issue. The insurance company should have either accepted or denied your claim. If they have accepted your claim, they probably offered you an amount that you considered too low. Now you must either take the insurance company's paultry offer or hire an attorney to help you get a fair amount. Before you meet with a lawyer, there are a few things you should take into consideration.

New York is a No-Fault State

There are two different kinds of Insurance rules in the United States; fault and no-fault. In a fault state, the person who is responsible for the accident is also responsible for its related bills. In a no-fault state, a person's own insurance company will pay their bills no matter who caused the accident. New York is a no-fault state.

If your insurance company does not want to pay the cost of your medical bills up to the amount for which you were covered, you may have a provable case in court.

If your injuries exceeded the amount of money for which you were covered, and the accident is not your fault, you may be able to sue the negligent driver.

Circumstances Under Which You Can Sue in a No-fault State

New York has been a no-fault state ever since 1974. In the early 1970s, a proliferation of personal injury and malpractice suits resulting in very large settlements prompted the government to think of a way for personal injury insurance claims to be handled more effectively. The government of New York wanted to cut down on the strain that personal injury cases created for the court system.

According to attorney Jesse Minc, there are certain exceptions to the no-fault rule. If your accident resulted in facial disfigurement, permanent physical limitations, or a disability that lasted for 90 days or longer, you might be able to sue.

Did you collect your evidence?

Whenever you have an accident, you should get the names and numbers of any witnesses and the contact information of the other driver. You should also ask for a copy of the police report.

You should obtain a copy of every doctor’s bill that you have. You will also need a copy of the medical report from each doctor’s appointment or treatment that you had. Receipts for things like prescription drugs and cleaning services that you require are also helpful.

Talk to a Lawyer

 
A personal injury attorney will be the best person to ask if you have a case. Consultations with attorneys are generally free. A personal injury attorney will normally work on a contingency basis, so they will only get money if you do.

Having an accident is very painful, and if you have Insurance, you should get the money that you need to pay your bills. Knowing what to expect and having the assistance of an attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.


Authoritative sources:

https://pixabay.com/photos/young-woman-workspace-working-girl-791849/

https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/property_insurers/nofault/reg83_brief_history#:~:text=The%20Comprehensive%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Insurance,result%20of%20an%20auto%20accident.

This is a guest blog entry.

Do I need to be on Social Security to get Medicare coverage?

You have just turned 65, and you realize that you are a senior citizen now. You still have your job, and you have no plans of retiring for the foreseeable future. You wonder if you can still get some of the benefits to which you are entitled to having made it so far in life. Fortunately, you can get Medicare even if you do not get Social Security. 

How to Apply for Medicare

When a person who is on Social Security turns 65, they will automatically be enrolled in Medicare. If you are not on Social Security, you will have to apply for the government health care program yourself. The process is fairly simple. You can either call the Social Security office or visit the agency’s website. 

It is essential to be mindful of your enrollment dates if you wish to be on Medicare. If you are not a recipient of Social Security, your enrollment period begins three months before you turn 65 and in 3 months after your 65th birthday. For instance, if your birthday is on April 4th, you can enroll as early as February 1st or as late as July 31st. If you enroll outside of your initial enrollment period, you will have to pay a permanent surcharge.

The Different Parts of Social Security 

Medicare has four basic parts. Part A covers hospitalization, and it is usually free. Part B is similar to a traditional health care plan. It covers doctor's visits, physical therapy, chemotherapy, and other outpatient services. Part C is a combination of A and B; it is provided by a private insurance company and it is paid for by Medicare. Part D covers prescription drugs.

If you are not a Social Security recipient, you will pay Medicare directly. Although most people qualify for free part A, there are some circumstances where you may have to pay the surcharge if you are a late enrollee.

Part B comes at a cost of $148.00 a month, but the cost goes up if you do not have Social Security and your income exceeds $88,000 a year.

Part C (also known as MedicareAdvantage) is offered by various Medicare-approved private insurance companies. You will have to shop around for this plan, but it may be worth it. It will often include vision and prescription medication coverage.

Although you do not have to have Social Security to get Medicare, you do have to be a U.S. citizen or you must have had a permanent resident status for at least five years. If your 65th birthday comes before you have been a citizen for five years, you may be stuck with a surcharge.

You have been told all of your life that your senior years are your golden years. If you have the proper medical insurance and you take good care of yourself, you can have the wisdom that age gives you and the strong body that good health insurance affords. Click to learn more. 

Authoritative Sources:

https://pixabay.com/photos/business-businessman-chair-computer-1839191/

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-security-benefits.asp

Three corrective methods you can use to treat myopia

Three corrective methods you can use to treat myopia

Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is one of the most common causes of vision problems worldwide. If you have difficulty seeing things at a distance, for instance, struggling to focus on driving and the TV, your optician will be able to properly test your eyes to assess whether you are short-sighted. A diagnosis of myopia no longer condemns you to ridicule and ugly prescription glasses; rather, there are a number of cute and stylish corrective methods you can choose from to suit you regardless of your taste, lifestyle, and face shape. Read on to find out more about the three corrective methods you can use to treat myopia.

1. Prescription glasses

Perhaps the simplest and most obvious way of correcting myopia is to wear prescription glasses. Don’t be put off by outdated prejudices about ugly glasses; modern styles are designed to enhance and compliment your natural beauty rather than hide it. Research eyewear trends for a fashionable look; oversized 70s style frames are popular at the minute. Most opticians allow you to try on frames to properly decide which one suits you and will help you see better and will give you a huge confidence boost at the same time. Prescription lenses are not just available for glasses either. Make sure you check out prescription sunglasses so that you are ready to deal with the bright Summer sunlight without having to compromise on the quality of your vision.

2. Contact lenses

Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses if you lead an active lifestyle – glasses can quickly get in the way if you are taking part in a high-energy workout, riding your bike, or swimming on a regular basis. In addition to this, you might simply prefer a glasses-free look. Contact lenses are a great option in both these cases as they enable you to go glasses-free while also improving your eyesight.

There are several different types of contact lenses you can choose from to suit your lifestyle. One day contact lenses are single wear disposable lenses that are a good option if you don’t wear your contact lenses every day or find it difficult to keep monthly wear contact lenses clean. For those that lead a very active lifestyle or work long hours, there is even a continuous wear contact lens available, which does not need to be removed before going to sleep.

3. Laser eye and lens surgery 

You might desire to be less dependent on glasses and contact lenses, in which case laser eye surgery might be a good option for you. It involves using lasers to reshape the cornea of your eye to enable you to focus better and therefore improve your vision. You could also opt for lens surgery, which involves your eye's myopic lens being replaced with an artificial lens, a similar process to cataracts surgery. Though both types of surgery have high success rates, bear in mind that there can be complications that require further procedures to correct. 

This is a guest blog entry.

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.

________________________________________
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.