Health

Fast Track Your Way to Becoming a Medical Assistant

| KarlJobst

So you want to become a medical assistant? Whether you’re fresh out of high school, looking for a career change, or wanting to gain valuable experience in the healthcare field, you can learn to be a medical assistant. The best part is you don’t need years of schooling to get started. With the right training program, you can land an entry-level position within months.

As a medical assistant, you’ll work alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals providing administrative and clinical support. One day you might be scheduling appointments, the next day drawing blood or assisting with minor procedures. The work is varied and fast-paced, and medical assistants are in high demand. Healthcare organizations value their versatility, efficiency, and patient care.

If you’re eager to jumpstart your career, becoming a medical assistant is a smart move. You get to help people, work in a growing field, and gain useful experience—all without spending years in school. Whether you see it as a lifelong career or a stepping stone, medical assisting offers an exciting path to getting your foot in the healthcare door. Why wait? Let’s look at how you can become a medical assistant in as little as 4 to 12 months.

The Growing Demand for Medical Assistants

The healthcare industry is experiencing massive growth, and medical assistants are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for medical assistants is projected to grow a whopping 23% from 2019 to 2029. That’s over 100,000 new jobs!  

With an aging population and increased access to healthcare, physicians and nurses need support. As a medical assistant, you’ll take on important responsibilities like administering medications, drawing blood, recording patient histories, scheduling appointments, and more. This allows doctors and nurses to focus on critical patient care. 

How to Learn to Be a Medical Assistant Quickly

To become a medical assistant, you have several options. Many pursue on-the-job training, learning through experience. However, most employers prefer candidates with a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree. Vocational schools and community colleges offer medical assisting programs that usually take 9 months to 2 years to complete. Coursework covers anatomy, medical terminology, record keeping, and clinical procedures.  

Once you’ve completed your training, you’ll need to become certified (though not always required). Passing an exam from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or National Healthcareer Association (NHA) will demonstrate your competence to employers. Certification, along with a degree or certificate, is your ticket to this fast-growing, rewarding career.

The demand for medical assistants shows no signs of slowing. If you’re interested in healthcare, now is an ideal time to start your training and join this essential field. With the right education and skills, you’ll have job security and career opportunities for years to come.

Top Medical Assistant Training Programs and Courses

If you want to fast track your way to becoming a medical assistant, here are some tips to get you started:

Learn through online courses

These days, you have access to tons of online courses to teach you everything you need to know to become a medical assistant. Courses through websites like Udemy, Coursera, and Udacity offer training on medical terminology, electronic health records, phlebotomy, and more. The courses often include video lectures, readings, and hands-on projects.  Some are self-paced while others have set start and end dates. The best part is many are very affordable or even free.

Find a hands-on externship

While online learning is great for theory, nothing beats real-world experience. Look for externship or internship opportunities at local hospitals, clinics, or private practices. Even if it’s only for a few weeks, you’ll gain valuable on-the-job training and experience. You’ll also start building your professional network and may even land a job offer.

Earn necessary certifications

Certain medical assistant certifications can help boost your resume and open up more career opportunities. Two of the most well-known are the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential from American Medical Technologists. Study the certification requirements and topics to make sure you’re ready to pass the exam.

Keep learning and improving your skills

Technology and healthcare practices are constantly changing, so medical assistants need to stay up-to-date with advances in equipment, records systems, and treatment options. Take additional courses or pursue continuing education to strengthen your knowledge and skills. Staying professionally engaged will make you a better medical assistant and open up doors for career growth.

With determination and hard work, you can fast track your way to becoming a medical assistant in a matter of months. Keep at it and before you know it, you’ll be assisting doctors and nurses in providing quality care to patients.

How Does Beer Affect Your Teeth?

Melvin Brewing
| KarlJobst

Most Americans and people all over the world enjoy a good handcrafted beer whenever they can get one. Drinking beer is a great and fun way to relax after a stressful day at work. Many people socialize while they drink their beer. According to recent statistics the average American drinks about 26.5 gallons of beer each year. Whether you enjoy a beer with your meals, friends, or alone most of us are always looking for the next great beer to try. We all just need to be cautious and understand how beer can affect our teeth.

How Does Beer Affect Your Teeth?

Beer tends to have a negative impact on your teeth, just like all alcoholic beverages. The carbonation that you find in beer turns to carbonic acid when it is inside of your mouth. This acid and all acids can eat away at your teeth enamel if consumed too much or too reguarlly.

When the enamel on your teeth wears down over time it can cause a variety of teeth problems including tooth sensitivity and cavities in your teeth. When your teeth become sensitive you may have a difficult time eating and drinking cold or hot beverages. You may also have sensitivity when eating certain types of foods. When you have cavities it is crucial that you get them treated and properly cared for by professionals before they cause more damage to your teeth and gums.

If you consume too much dark colored beer you may start to notice tooth discoloration. When you drink too much dark colored beer and do not properly care for your teeth the color of your teeth and turn a few shades darker. If you drink beers made with dark fruits, like cherries and blackberries, this problem could get worse quickly.

Some beer is also very high in sugar. When you drink any beverage with elevated levels of sugar you must be careful to understand how these drinks affect your teeth and your health. The sugar that sits in your mouth can contribute to causing plaque that sits on your teeth. This plaque can easily be removed with proper care, however, if it is not removed it can cause gum disease. This serious disease can cause infections and periodontitis.

Choosing The Right Beer

Beer is not considered to be a healthy drink but there are some beers that may be more beneficial for your body than others. High-quality beers, like the beers produced by Melvin Brewing, contain only the highest quality ingredients. Finding beers, like the Melvin IPA and the Melvin Double IPA, that contain lower amounts of sugar have less of a negative impact on your teeth and your overall health. Melvin Brewing features a large variety of beers that vary in color, taste, carbs, and sugar levels. If you want to still enjoy a great beer but take care of your teeth at the same time you should try drinking a beer by Melvin Brewing.

If you are looking for the best beers for your health you should read the ingredients and do some research. Finding beers with low sugar can cause less damage to your teeth. Choosing the right beer for your health and for your taste buds is a difficult task but one that you can achieve. You can also try drinking water in between beers to stay hydrated and wash away some of the sugars.

Taking Care Of Your Teeth

If you are an avid beer drinker it is unlikely that you will change your drinking habits just because it may have a negative impact on your teeth. Rather than giving up something that you love and enjoy you just need to know how to care for your teeth properly.

To ensure that your teeth are as healthy as possible you should always make sure to brush your teeth twice a day. After drinking you should always try to brush and floss your teeth to remove any of the sugar that is sitting on your teeth. Removing the sugar before it turns to plaque or tartar can help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other serious conditions.

It is also crucial that you visit the dentist on a regular basis. We should all strive to visit the dentist at least once a year. The dentist can perform a deep cleaning of your teeth and also give your teeth a visual exam. They will be able to notice any problems before they turn into serious conditions. Early prevention and intervention are key in tooth health and overall well being

What Is Considered Medical Malpractice?

| KarlJobst

Getting any kind of medical procedure is very stressful. Doctors are trusted professionals that heal and repair damaged lives. There are times when things go wrong and lawyers have to get involved. Medical malpractice is when a doctor is negligent in performing some sort of medical procedure or other job functions like prescribing treatment. What qualifies as medical malpractice? Can someone just sue if they don’t like the doctor or their treatment? It can get a little complicated which is why malpractice suits can take a long time. Below are some things to consider if medical malpractice is present or not.

Did an injury result?

This one is a little self-explanatory. Suppose that a person was getting surgery and the surgeon made a mistake that caused their patient harm. This would be a factor in medical malpractice. While it may be simple to understand sometimes fault is what gets complicated.

The obvious thing that most doctors will say is that the injury was an accident and not because the doctor was negligent. This could be true and most times it is. Accidents do happen during surgery and it’s no one’s fault.

Now, let’s say the surgeon failed to follow a guideline or practice that is for the safety of the patient. Then this would be a different matter. Failing to follow safety guidelines could be seen as medical malpractice. It would defiantly be taken into consideration.

Was there a doctor-patient relationship present

A doctor-patient relationship is important for malpractice to be considered. All this means is that you went to a doctor and there an agreement that they would treat you. This establishes that the doctor is obligated to follow a certain set of guidelines when treating a patient.

A situation that wouldn’t be considered a relationship if someone overheard or read a doctor’s opinion on a treatment option. If a person followed it, then they would most likely be at their own fault. There would be no proof that a doctor was under their care so suing for medical malpractice.

Establishing a relationship and injury may seem simple but that doesn’t mean a person should represent themselves. They need a good lawyer and need to know how to look one up. It’s easy to look up lawyers like Douglas Healy for example. This way you can make sure that you’re getting a good lawyer.

Violation of standards

This was brought up earlier with the injury example and standards of care cover a lot more than just surgical practices. All this means is that the care provided is typical of what would come from a reasonably trained and competent doctor. This can cover a lot of issues.

Some of these issues can be the prescription of drugs to a patient. It most likely wouldn’t be a violation of standards if a doctor prescribed a treatment that didn’t work as well as the doctor thought. If it was a mistake that any competent doctor could make, then it might not be medical malpractice. Now if the drugs prescribed are way out of the norm and it resulted in an injury then this would be a good case for malepractice.

This standard also covers surgery but can get a little complicated. If a patient is injured while removing something like a tumor, then would this be malepractice? It would be hard to say. Every surgery comes with some risk of injury or death. Injury or death during surgery isn’t an automatic case for malepractice. It has to be so outside the norm that no competent doctor would do it. This is what gets tricky.

Competence

This is an important factor as competence can be difficult to prove. Now it would obvious if a doctor is grossly negligent and they’re doing something like surgery with dirty tools, no gloves, and cutting things that don’t have to be cut. How would you measure competence if this wasn’t the case? Would a competent doctor never make mistakes? Lawyers often consider the competence of a doctor compared to others in their field to get a baseline.

Would you have a case?

Medical malpractice can be a tricky thing to prove in court. Searching for a good lawyer, like with the site used to look up Douglas Healy, is a good start. Doctors sometimes make honest mistakes but when they don’t, they need to be held accountable

3 Ways Financial Firms Can Help The Health Industry

Rex-Burgdorfer
| KarlJobst
Rex-Burgdorfer

Though financial firms and healthcare companies operate in two different industries, they can have much more in common than many professionals may believe. The primary reason for this is that organizations in both niches need to operate as businesses, which typically means that the majority will have to focus on income streams.

However, this is something that many firms within the healthcare industry might not excel at. As a result, many medical organizations may find that they’re not performing at an optimal level in this regard. However, as Rex Burgdorfer advisor notes, there are a variety of ways in which financial companies can help healthcare businesses.

While some of these may see obvious, there are a few notable ways that many medical professionals may not have thought of. Each of these can prove to be vital in an organization’s success, especially long-term. As such, it can often be recommended that they take advantage of the services that a financial organization offers.

Debt Financing

This is perhaps the most obvious area where financial firms can help healthcare organizations, as they’ll be able to provide a variety of asset financing services. By doing so, they can help the majority of medical companies to expand the healthcare services that they offer their patients.

In turn, this can have a variety of benefits, with the majority of these coming long-term. Without initial capital, however, this might not always be a viable option.

Manage Resources

The majority of healthcare providers will be able to manage their resources in a viable way, although this often may not be as optimized as they may want. This is especially true when it comes to the financial cost of these resources. However, financial firms are experts in this regard, which is predominantly where they can help.

While this may not be needed when revenue streams are high-quality, this often may not last. As such, many organizations may need assistance in managing their resources during these times. There are a variety of aspects that will need to be looked after in this regard, such as cash flow, expenditure, donations, and much more.

This can often be quite overwhelming for many medical professionals, especially when looking after patients. However, this is where financial organizations excel at.

Manage Financial Health

Every organization needs to ensure that their revenue streams are as well-oiled as possible, although this isn’t something that the majority of healthcare firms excel at. As such, many may find that they’ll need assistance in this regard, which is where many financial organizations can be beneficial.

When doing so, they’ll be able to help medical organizations optimize their income and expenses over time. When doing so, they’ll be able to highlight where medical organizations need to make cuts, if any, and where they can improve financially.

By doing so, they can help healthcare providers stay financially viable and ensure that they can continue looking after their patients in a high-quality manner.

Rex Burgdorfer advisor suggests that medical organizations can benefit significantly from the services that a financial organization offers. Each of these could prove to be a contributing factor in how successful a healthcare provider is long-term.

The majority of these, as highlighted above, can be operational in nature, although many others will naturally focus on the financing of various expansions. As such, the healthcare and financial industries could become increasingly intertwined in the coming years.

Dr. Eldor Brish Shares 5 Home Remedies for a Pinched Nerve

| KarlJobst

Pinched nerves can be an annoying, or even a debilitating condition when it comes to people who want to be productive. It can affect a person’s range of motion as well as the ability to move or to be still while staying comfortable. What are some of the best remedies for pinched nerves? In this article, we will be discovering some things you can do to relieve pinched nerve pain.

What are pinched nerves?

A pinched nerve is a type of damage caused by the compression of a nerve or a set of nerves. Usually, a muscle, bone, or a spinal disc may have caused this compression causing swelling or pain.

According to Dr. Eldor Brish, the following are telltale signs that you may be suffering from a pinched nerve problem:

  • Tingling sensation – patients may feel pins and needles when moving a certain part of the body, most especially along the joints.
  • Numbness – alternatively, having a lack of sensation in a particular body part can also be a sign.
  • Burning – people who have pinched nerves may experience a sharp pain on certain postures when the nerve gets compressed.

Dr. Eldor Brish MD provides some helpful home remedies to help relieve pinched nerves.

5 Home Remedies for Pinched Nerve

 

  • Adjusting your posture or body positioning.

Often, the cause of pinched nerves is the constant posture or abrupt movements that irritated the nerve near bones, disc, or muscle. To avoid aggravating the condition, the person must be able to change the positioning of their body. They can choose to sit or stand in a different angle or adjust their equipment to avoid further nerve compression. For example, a pinched nerve located in the elbow may be caused by having a desk that is too high when typing on a computer. Using a table that is lower relaxes the joints and avoids the pinched nerve.

  • Rest the body part experiencing pain.

Dr. Eldor Brish recommends having a few days of rest rather than continuing to work and further irritating the nerve. You may opt to take a couple of days off to relieve the swelling caused by the compression. This can include changing your activities or reducing the hours of work that may have caused the pinched nerve. According to patients, the pain reduces significantly when they apply rest on the body part that is affected by the pinched nerve.

  • Try stretching exercises.

One thing to remember about the body is that the blood vessels can compress and stretch depending on the movements you perform. If you are experiencing pain from pinched nerves, you can start by having a few minutes a day of stretching on the affected body part. People who have pinched nerves just behind the knee can try calf stretches to straighten out the nerves. Be careful not to overstretch, as this may cause more pain when done incorrectly.

  • Apply heat for pain and ice for inflammation.

Heat can be used to address pain without inflammation. If you suspect a pinched nerve on a particular area without inflammation, you can use a warm compress for 10-15 minutes at a time. Heating the area reduces pain and lessens compression by increasing blood flow. However, if your pinched nerve has inflammation accompanying it, you may choose to use a cold compress. Ice can help constrict the blood vessels and minimize the complications of swelling. You can also apply the compress for 10-15 minutes at a time.

  • Take medications when necessary.

When the pain becomes too much, you can use over the counter medications to help relieve the symptoms of a pinched nerve. Some effective ones include ibuprofen and aspirin. However, before taking any medication, be sure to consult your doctor and read the instructions in the package. Remember that even over the counter medications can cause serious adverse reactions.  Also, make sure that you don’t take medication that would counter the effects or cause side effects when taken with pain-reducing drugs.

Use these home remedies to relieve moderate nerve pain. However, if you notice that you have total numbness, or if you lose your ability to hold or grasp things or loss of bowel and or bladder function, go to a doctor immediately as this may be indicative of a more serious nerve damage. Pay attention to your body as nerves respond well to early treatment.

 

6 Surprising Benefits Of Taking Probiotics

| KarlJobst

Probiotics

Studies have shown that the presence of friendly bacteria in the gut helps keep the body healthy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, probiotics is a term used to describe live bacteria and yeast that collectively benefit the digestive system. The good microorganism as they are called, works by reducing the population of bad bacteria, thus enhancing the health of the gut. Probiotics maintain a healthy balance by replacing bad bacteria with good ones. Probiotics are found in a number of foods, dietary supplements and naturally, in the gut.

The healthy bacteria populations that live naturally in the intestines include the Bifobacterium and Lactobacillus families of microorganism as well as the strain of yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii. The foods that contain probiotics include soy drinks and juices, buttermilk, sauerkraut, pickles and fermented and unfermented milk. The supplements with probiotics are mostly dietary in nature, and come in the form of tablets, capsule, liquid extracts and powders. According to Healthline, here are 6 surprising ways probiotics helps keep the body healthy:

  1. Aid in weight and belly fat loss – probiotics can help fight weight loss. Certain kinds of probiotics have been shown to be effective in preventing the rate at which intestines absorb dietary fat. The unabsorbed, accumulated fat is then excreted as fecal matter. Probiotics also hasten the burning of more calories. However, more studies regarding the effectiveness of probiotics in weight loss are on-going.

    2. Prevents diarrhea and certain types of digestive disorders – probiotics are widely acclaimed in scientific circles for their ability to prevent and ease severe diarrhea. In one study, researchers established that taking probiotics greatly reduced diarrhea associated with the taking antibiotic by up to 42%. Inflammatory bowel disorders like Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis can also be minimized by taking probiotics. The most effective probiotics here include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains.

    3. Enhance mental health – a number of human and animal studies have linked good mood and mental health to having a healthy gut. During the studies, it was established that taking food supplements with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains for a few months helped enhance memory and eased anxiety.

    4. Keeps the heart healthy – the health of the heart has far reaching implications on the entire body. Researchers have shown that probiotics have the ability to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and blood pressure. One of the most effective probiotics in this regard is found in lactic acid. Probiotics also have the capacity to break down cholesterol based bile, thereby preventing the re-absorption of cholesterol from the gut into the bloodstream.

    5. Boost immune system – a strong immune system helps fight diseases inside the body. Probiotics can boost the immune system and prevent the growth of bacteria that may harm the body. Certain strains have also been shown to boost the production of antibodies and immune cells like the T lymphocytes and IgA producing cells. Studies are ongoing to establish the effects of probiotics on the immune system.

    6. Fight allergies and eczema – studies have shown that certain strains of probiotics can fight eczema, especially in children. One such study established that children who took probiotics while in the mother’s womb had 83% less chance of developing eczema within the first 2 years of infancy.

    About Dr. Usha Rajagopal 
    Dr. Usha Rajagopal is a widely regarded plastic surgeon and health and beauty expert based in the Bay Area of San Francisco. The board certified surgeon is the Medical Chief of the San Francisco Plastic Surgery and Laser Center. Outside her practice, Dr. Usha Rajagopal cares a lot about philanthropy. She established a $500 scholarship as a way to give to give back to the community and sensitize students about various health and lifestyle issues.

 

Health Issues You Probably Didn’t Know Your Dentist Could Spot

Karl Jobst
| KarlJobst
Karl Jobst
Dentists usually recommend proper oral hygiene to keep the mouth clean and infection free. It is important to note that majority of systemic diseases often manifest themselves orally. According to emedicine, oral diseases are generally classified as follows: autoimmune and immune-mediated, infectious, metabolic, developmental and reactive or inflammatory diseases. When you visit an oral health clinic, the dentist will perform a physical examination to identify the etiology of the disease affecting you and monitor its progress. If you are experiencing pain, the doctor will ask you to pinpoint the specific areas causing the pain before giving a diagnosis. Performing regular oral hygiene can prevent tooth decay and gum diseases. Even with good oral care, you still need to take a balanced diet and visit the dentist regularly for dental checkups.

Diseases of the oral cavity
There are several diseases and health issues that a dentist can identify just by assessing a patient’s oral health. According to MSN, the conditions include diabetes, heart conditions, eating disorders, anemia and stress and anxiety. The warning signs of heart disease include inflamed gums and missing or loose teeth. This is so because the bacteria’s that accumulate around the mouth area due to periodontitis and other gum diseases may travel to the heart and cause coronary artery disease. Diabetes is a serious health concern around the world. It is estimated that some 100 million people in the US are either suffering from diabetes or have prediabetes. The disease is caused by taking poor diet, rich in sugar and fat along with unhealthy lifestyle choices. Symptoms of diabetes include bleeding gums, severe enamel erosion, and gum disease.

Anemia is a serious health condition that arises when the body is incapable of producing sufficient amounts of Red Blood Cells (RBC). The most notable symptoms of anemia include excessive tiredness, shortness of breath and weakened immune system. The other common symptom is the emergence of pale or light shade pink lining in the mouth. Instead of the usual rugged texture, the tongue may also appear uncharacteristically smooth. Bulimia and other common eating disorders can easily be spotted when the erosion of the inside teeth occurs due to vomiting. When the patient vomits continuously, the acid in the stomach causes the enamel to wear down. In some cases, the teeth may weaken or become sensitive. Lastly, people with stress and anxiety often exhibit various symptoms, including teeth grinding or bruxism and excessive clenching of the jaws.

Health Issues you did not know a dentist could identify
According to Prevention.com, your dentist may point out a few health issues you may be surprised to know, these include; sinus infection, pregnancy, flossing habits, vitamin deficiency and a drinking problem.

Pregnancy: studies have shown that up to 40% of all pregnant women develop gingivitis at some stage. The condition is usually caused by high levels of progesterone, which promotes the growth of gingivitis-causing bacteria.

Drinking issues: alcoholics often develop chipmunk red cheeks and dry mouth due to the presence of a cavity. The cavity often forms when saliva tries to neutralize the damage caused by the acid found in the mouth area. Alcoholics are also easy to spot due to the smell coming out of their breath.

Bad breath: most doctors categorize bad breath as halitosis. For the dentist, fruity breath and bad smell often mean different things. The fruity smell may be a sign of extreme dietary fasting or out of hand diabetes while a bad breath may point to a serious liver or kidney failure.

Sinus infection: most patients suffering from sinus infection usually request that root canal is performed. The confusion arises because the root atop the teeth is located on the same level as the sinuses. A dentist can pinpoint sinus infection more accurately and separate it from teeth conditions. The dentist may also suggest a simple test by having the patient bend over so they can touch their toes. If the action leads to more pain or downward pressure, the patient may be having a sinus issue and not a problem with the teeth. Under these circumstances, a primary care physician or ENT practitioner is best suited to handle the situation.

Vitamin deficiency: oral conditions like bone infections, painful burning sensations on the tongue and easy to bleed gums often point to vitamin deficiency. A dentist can also point out an individual with iron deficiencies through symptom like sores in the corner of the mouth. Taking sufficient quantities of iron can solve most of these issues associated with lack of vitamins.

Oral cancer: the dentist can spot early signs of oral cancer from the appearance of speckled patches and unexplained bleeding around the mouth area. The other signs of oral cancer include swelling and thickening of the gums and lips. If oral cancer is deemed non-reversible, an oral surgeon may order that a biopsy operation.

Dental Etiquette: 5 Do’s and Dont’s

| KarlJobst

You are reminded to uphold good manners everywhere you go, but few people actually understand how to do the same when they visit a dentist. It is essential to ensure you don’t burden your dentist by doing things that don’t subscribe the required dental etiquette and expected of any patient. Although it is within the confines of your dentist to address all the issues you think your dental health is facing, you are indebted to ensure you give him or her the best time by not behaving in a manner that goes against common dental etiquette. Karl Jobst Grove OK is a dental expert and he advises that you should understand these five do’s and don’ts of dental etiquette.

You need a break from your cell phone

Sinking your head in your cell phone all the while as your dentist tries to diagnose you is one of the most annoying things. Sometimes your dentist will want to ask a few questions about your dental history and things you have been taking to understand where to start and if you are too committed to responding to messages and calls this might not augur well with the professional. It is necessary to allocate ample time to your dentist by ensuring your phone does not distract both of you from the issue at hand.

Hold off on lipstick

You might decide to wear your awesome lipstick, but don’t get annoyed when the dentist advises you to get it off. Lipstick can stick on instruments as the dentist works on you, and I don’t believe there is any professional who is interested in getting tools soiled with alien colors. Observe etiquette by not wearing any lipstick on the day you will be checking in for checkups at your dentist’s office.

Be open about your home dental practices

Some people will want to lie to their dentist about their dental practice and this will obviously not go well with the entire treatment process. It makes it harder for the dentist to exactly locate what is ailing you as sometimes your home dental habits point to a source of what you are going through and with this information the dentist can find a solution without having to take you through many sessions of diagnoses. This mostly works against you as you will most likely not get what you need to solve the dental problems you are harboring.

Ask questions

Dentists agree that no question is stupid as long as it relates to the process they are undertaking. It is, therefore, essential that you seek information on anything you seem not to understand. You could even ask for alternatives to different processes and you will be surprised by the wide array of options that are available that the dentist is willing to propose to you. Asking questions also ensures your doctor proceeds faster as they are able to understand what you prefer to be undertaken to address your problem. A question is seeking an opinion and clarification on what might turn out to be one among many options that you could have exploited.

Don’t smoke before the visit

Smoking is discouraged across the medical sphere, not just in dentistry. When you expect to see a dentist, this is one of the things you should not try and do. You need to have your mouth free of any residues of tar that might compromise the diagnoses that are conducted on you. If you could quit smoking altogether, you would reap more benefits as this practice leads to teeth staining and loss, and could even lead to throat cancer.

Dr. Raouf Farag IVF Growth in 2016 Expected

| KarlJobst

dr-raouf-farag

Through the use of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), over 4 million babies have been born to parents who may have not been able to conceive a child through any other means. The development and continued use of IVF has therefore provided couples dealing with infertility or other complicating factors a viable option through which they can give birth to a child that is a biological relative.

While the procedure itself has existed for several decades now, it is only in relatively recent years that IVF has experienced a significant degree of growth. In the United States, for example, more than 1 percent of the babies born are the result of the IVF procedure, with many doctors predicting that IVF’s growth will only continue at a significant rate over the years to come.

In 2016, many doctors specializing in IVF feel that there are a number of factors that will make the growth rate stronger than ever, with leading experts such as Dr. Raouf Farag and others pointing out that patients considering an IVF procedure will be able to benefit from an incredibly high standard of professional care along with significant medical advancements.

Dr. Farag, an obstetrician and gynecologist who is considered a leading expert on issues relating to infertility, cited a wide range of factors that have influenced the recent growth in demand for IVF procedures. The doctor, whose practice is located in Gosford on Australia’s Central Coast, provides comprehensive services and medical care that ensures patients are attended to throughout the entirety of their pregnancy.

An innovator in every sense of the word, Dr. Farag has been a driving force in improving the efficacy of IVF while also ensuring the comfort of patients throughout every stage of the procedure. According to several infertility experts, the recent growth in IVF can be attributed to a number of general factors in addition to some of the more highly specific factors that will be discussed in detail in the sections that follow. The general factors most frequently identified are as follows:

  • An overall increase in population means an increase in the number of couples dealing with infertility
  • Patients are more informed of their options and have greater access to detailed information regarding the IVF procedure
  • Medical advancements and innovations have improved the effectiveness of the procedure and have improved patient comfort at every stage

Of course, these are simply some of the most general factors influencing the growth of IVF, and Dr. Farag and others have a much more nuanced view of the circumstances surrounding the continued growth of IVF. In order to best understand the reason for IVF’s recent surge in growth and the rationale behind future growth projections, an in-depth look at the many issues surrounding infertility along with an appreciation of recent innovations ought to be particularly helpful.

What Are the Causes of Infertility?

Most couples seeking IVF do so as the result of a variety of issues causing infertility or a great deal of difficulty in conceiving, and these issues may affect both men and women. Among men, low sperm count is often the motivating factor that leads couples to seek IVF, though there is a wider range of issues that can cause infertility in women, including blockages or damage to the Fallopian tubes or the lack of Fallopian tubes altogether. In addition to issues relating to the Fallopian tubes, endometriosis is also a common cause of infertility that ultimately leads patients to explore their options through the use of IVF.

There has also been some speculation that there may be an increasing variety of external causes that contribute to the rate of the infertility issues that may make it more difficult for certain couples to conceive. While these external causes have not been definitively confirmed as either directly or indirectly linked, there is some initial indication that there is at least the potential that a causal link will ultimately be established in the near future. The existence of IVF is critical and offers couples a viable option to rectify issues stemming from infertility.

Why Are More Patients Seeking IVF?

ivf_scienceEven though IVF has been an established and common practice throughout the course of the last several decades, it is still the case that a great deal of progress has been made during that timeframe that has contributed to an increasing number of patients seeking IVF. In addition to the medical care advancements that have occurred over the years, IVF has also benefited from the simple fact that more and more patients are able to share their insight and experience with others who may be considering IVF.

It has long been established that IVF is a safe and effective procedure, and it is made even safer when the medical practitioner is involved from the very earliest stages right through the postnatal period. With this kind of comprehensive care and oversight, the safety of the procedure is enhanced to a significant degree and the patient can expect to enjoy a greater likelihood of achieving an entirely positive outcome from IVF.

One of the most often overlooked benefits of IVF is the fact that it often eliminates the need for a patient to undergo a surgical procedure that corrects Fallopian tube damage or blockage. In fact, the IVF procedure is believed to have reduced the need for this kind of surgery by half, which has obvious benefits for the patient and eliminates the possibility of enduring the complications possible during any surgical procedure.

How Have Doctors Like Dr. Farag Contributed to IVF’s Continued Growth?

There are always varied influences that contribute to growth in any industry, and it is certainly the case that a number of outside factors have played a significant role in the continued growth of IVF. One of the factors driving the growth of this procedure occurs within the medical field, as doctors such as Dr. Farag have done tremendous work in promoting IVF’s effectiveness by providing consistently exceptional care to patients under their supervision.

Through the innovations made by Dr. Farag and others, patients have now come to expect comprehensive care services that begin with the initial consultation and medical screenings and last all the way through to postnatal care. While IVF may indeed reduce the likelihood that a patient requires a surgical procedure, there are still instances in which it does become necessary and the majority of patients feel most comfortable working with the same doctor throughout all of the procedures deemed necessary. Dr. Farag, for example, is an infertility doctor whose practice offers the following services relating to IVF:

  • Age-related infertility
  • Embryo transfer
  • Fibroid surgery (a minimally invasive procedure)
  • Laparoscopic surgery (for both endometriosis and tubal disease)
  • Natural Cycle IVF
  • Ovulation induction
  • Polycystic ovaries and laparoscopic drilling of ovaries
  • Premature ovarian failure

With doctors like Dr. Farag offering such varied services, patients seeking IVF can turn to a single doctor to address the underlying issues causing infertility while also overseeing all stages of the pregnancy from the initial IVF procedure to birth and, ultimately, the postnatal stage. The ability of a single doctor or medical practice to provide such a wide range of IVF-related services has resulted in a greater sense of comfort and confidence experienced by patients undergoing IVF, particularly since there is a great deal of familiarity throughout the process and there is ample time for the patient and the caregiver to develop a strong sense of trust.

About the IVF Procedure

The IVF procedure has benefited from a number of important medical advances over the years, and doctors performing IVF have fine-tuned their specific practices to ensure the greatest possible level of success for the patients they treat. Generally speaking, the IVF procedure begins with an initial consultation along with a variety of medical screenings designed to guide the doctor in developing a specific course of treatment for each individual patient.

ivfOnce the treatment cycle begins, the patient is often given medications to promote the maturation of the ovarian follicles that contain the eggs, and the doctor will also order a variety of blood tests to ensure the patient’s hormone levels are optimal for the IVF procedure. Once the ovarian follicles have been deemed by the doctor to be sufficiently mature, the patient will receive an injection that serves as the precursor to the next phase: egg retrieval and fertilization.

The outpatient procedure involving egg retrieval and fertilization is relatively brief, but patients are often advised to simply focus on rest on the day of its completion. The patient’s counterpart also provides a sample at the same time, with both samples being sent to a laboratory for examination and, assuming the samples are deemed satisfactory, the IVF procedure is completed. The egg or eggs are tested to ensure they have been successfully fertilized and are then incubated before being utilized during the embryo transfer process.

Following the transfer (also known as the luteal phase), the patient will be provided with additional medications and will find out whether the IVF procedure was a success through the use of a pregnancy test administered approximately two weeks after the transfer. The doctor and patient will continue monitoring the pregnancy all the way through birth.

IVF Poised for Continued Growth

The high standard of care received by patients undergoing the IVF procedure has been an important contributing factor to the consistent growth this procedure has experienced over the years. With more and more patients seeking IVF and achieving a clearly successful outcome through an entirely comfortable experience, future patients dealing with infertility are much more likely to come into contact with people who can share their personal stories of success while using IVF.

This, along with the presence of doctors who are committed to providing comprehensive IVF services and detail-oriented medical care, ensures that IVF’s widespread use will only continue and is very likely to enjoy a much greater degree of future growth in the years that will follow. While the growth of IVF is predicted to be quite substantial in 2016, there are a number of factors that clearly indicate the procedure will only continue to grow at what appears to be an exponential rate well into 2017 and beyond.

How Patients Can Maintain Dental Health Between Appointments

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Even though patients often have a fair amount of anxiety in advance of a dental appointment, they are more likely to be adversely affected during the time in between appointments rather than the time spent in the dentist’s chair. For patients who are intent on avoiding any dental work beyond the standard cleaning every six months, a bit of preventive maintenance performed on a similarly consistent basis as the properties management offered by 1 Stop Maintenance can be of tremendous value.

Most dental patients are already quite familiar with the standard guidelines suggesting that brushing should be performed twice per day and should be supplemented by flossing as well. The use of an antiseptic mouth rinse to help prevent issues relating to gum disease is another well-known strategy, but there are some other considerations patients should take into account when it comes to avoiding the kind of extensive dental work that is far more serious than a routine check-up.

One of the more overlooked aspects of dental care relates to dietary habits. Certain foods and drinks are more damaging to dental health than others, particularly those that include significant sugar content or that are highly acidic in nature. Foods and drinks such as these can be quite harmful to the enamel of the teeth and may result in the formation of cavities.

While a simple filling can correct a cavity, far too many patients neglect to seek timely care until the problem worsens to the point that a root canal becomes necessary. Patients are better served by following the example of One Stop Maintenance by utilizing every possible strategy while performing preventive maintenance.