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Sciatica – Preparing for Your Appointment

Your appointment with your doctor may be brief and since you may have a lot of questions and things you want to ask him about your sciatica, preparing then for your appointment is the best thing to do to make the most out of your appointment. To help you out, listed below are some tips to better prepare for your appointment and what you can expect from your physician.

How to Prepare

You should be cognizant of any pre-appointment restrictions. When you have just made your appointment, the next thing to do is to know what you need to do in advance. This can be preparing for loose clothing in case you need to undergo an imaging exam or start making diet restrictions for yourself.

Use a journal to list down all known symptoms you are experiencing. That can be anything that may not seem related to the problem that prompted you to make the appointment in the first place.

Also list down in the journal all the medications you are taking including any steroids, supplements or vitamins you regularly use.

Bring along a friend or family member to your appointment. Having someone to accompany you to your appointment can assist you in remembering all the information the doctor says regarding your condition and what you need to do and not do.

List down in your journal all questions to ask your doctor. Remember that your time with your doctor may only last 15 minutes so compiling a questions list will optimize your appointment time. For your sciatica problems, some good questions to ask your doctor can include:

  • What most probably is the reason for my condition or symptoms?
  • Besides the most probable cause, what are the other possible reasons for my condition or symptoms?
  • What types of tests do I need required to undergo?
  • Do I have a chronic or temporary condition?
  • What course of treatment is the best for me?
  • What alternative treatments besides the primary approach can you recommend?
  • I have other health issues. What can I do to best manage my back problem along with my other conditions?
  • What are the restrictions do I need to follow?
  • Do I need to consult with a specialist? How much will that cost? Will my insurance plan include consulting with a specialist?
  • Do you have informational brochures and any other printed materials that I can read at home? Are there any websites you can recommend that I can visit regarding my condition?

If you have other questions for your doctor outside this list of questions, be sure to ask them all if possible.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will have questions of his own to ask you as well. Some of the questions may be like these:

  • What symptoms have you experienced? Do you feel any weakness, pain, tingling or numbness?
  • What part of your body do you specifically feel those symptoms?
  • How long have you felt these symptoms?
  • Have they been occasional or continuous?
  • What makes your symptoms get worse?
  • Is there anything that makes it better?
  • Do you have a hobby or job that entails you to perform repetitive movements?

Anemia – Risk Factors

Anemia due to iron deficiency often is the result of poor nutrition in people. About 2 billion individuals in the world suffer from this type of anemia and in the United States the lack of iron in the body is the number one type of nutritional deficiency in this country. Iron-deficiency anemia often goes hand in hand with poverty and people in the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder have twice the chances of acquiring anemia than people in the upper or middle class.

In the United States and the rest of the world, it is young children who are at the highest chances for developing iron deficiency anemia; women in their premenopausal phase are next. Those with the lowest risk for this type of anemia include postmenopausal females and adult and adolescent males.

Infants/Children

In the US about 20% of children can develop anemia during their childhood and up to adolescence. The percentage is higher for children in third world countries (80%).   Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia found in children. Still, there are other different types of anemia that can affect children; anemia caused by hereditary blood conditions is one of them.

For children two years old and younger around 9% suffer from iron deficiency but only 3% of kids in this age bracket have anemia. All children are prone to getting anemia but the lower the income of the family, the higher the risk of children developing iron deficiency.

In the United States, infants who are 9 to 18 months old are the age group with the highest possibility of developing iron-deficiency anemia. Infant males are 10 times likelier to develop iron deficiency anemia than female infants. Infants who are breast fed can rely on their mother’s milk to supply them with enough iron up to the time they reach 6 months old. Beyond that they need to avail of other food sources for their essential iron requirements.

In small children and infants the likely causes for their iron-deficiency anemia can include factors such as:

  • Breastfeeding stoppage too soon or utilizing milk formula that does not contain iron
  • Prolonged bottle-feeding – Research has determined that toddlers a year old and above should refrain from drinking more than a cup of milk a day. Unlike mother’s milk, cow’s milk contains lower amounts of iron and drinking it too much can make the babies lose their appetite and hinder them from taking in foods rich in iron which they really need.

Usually toddlers would find foods rich in iron unpalatable. Nevertheless, parents should ensure that these babies eat foods laden with iron including:

  • Leafy green vegetables
  • Eggs
  • Fortified cereals
  • Meat
  • Beans

Pre-menopausal Women

The rate of adult and adolescent females suffering from iron deficiency is around 10%. Only 3% of adolescent females are likely to become anemic though. If ever adolescent women experience anemia, it may be because of some of the following factors:

  • Pregnancy – The rate of iron deficiency among pregnant females in the industrialized world is about 20%. Multiple pregnancies heighten the risk of pregnant women having iron deficiency anemia.
  • Abnormal bleeding in the uterus – This may be due to uterine fibroids
  • Massive menstruation lasting 5 days or more

Older Adults

The rate of anemia sufferers among adults 65 years of age and above is about 10%.  Around half of the older people staying in nursing homes are anemic. Older adults develop due to the following factors:

  • Chronic renal disease
  • Chronic inflammatory disease
  • Nutritional deficiencies

Alcoholism

People who regularly drink alcohol can develop anemia in three ways:

  • Hemorrhage
  • Lack of vitamin B
  • Lack of folate

Iron-Poor Diets

Most Americans love to eat meat. Still, there are instances when people can likely develop iron deficiency because of their diet choices. Iron deficiency can develop when:

  • People often eat processed foods that may incredibly be bereft of real meat
  • The person is a vegan – A vegan is a person that exclusively feeds on non meat and non dairy diets. A diet without meat often is lacking in iron vitamin B and iron.  Green vegetables and dried beans do contain iron, but they take more time to be absorbed by the body than meat

Serious or Chronic Illnesses

If a person suffers from a chronic ailment that entails bleeding or inflammation, then that person will be a good candidate in developing anemia. Critical or serious illness of a patient in the ICU (intensive care unit) can likely include some form of anemia.

Too Much Exercise

Regular workout may have a lot of health and fitness benefits but at a minor cost: loss of iron that is equivalent to iron loss due to menstruation. The common cause for sports anemia is poor diet choices. Sports anemia can also come from sustained and intense, exercises such as a marathon run and the underlying factors that cause this problem can include:

  • Poor absorption of iron by the intestines
  • Low intake of iron
  • Impaired  RBCs (red blood cells)
  • Slight hemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract

Pregnancy

Iron deficiency is experienced by around 20% of pregnant females in developed countries. Sadly about half and even more of females in non-industrialized nations lack in iron, and about 30% to 50% are lacking in folic acid. A high death rate and severe anemia go together among pregnant females although light to fair anemia do not really pose any heightened risk.

Pregnancy heightens the risk of anemia by:

  • Enhancing the body’s need for more folic acid increasing the chances for deficiencies as well as increasing likelihood for megaloblastic anemia
  • Enhances the body’s need for iron increasing the chance for iron-deficiency anemia Increasing the intake of iron to at least 30 mg per day due to the placenta’s increasing size and weight
  • Creating large amounts of plasma which can lead to the dilution of red blood cells and eventually causing anemia.

 

Brent Keime is a licensed acupuncturist and the founder of Brent Keime, LAc, MSTOM in San Diego, CA.

 

Migraine Symptoms

Migraine headaches can be very severe and can feel like stabbing pain in the temples and eyes of the sufferer. Knowing the signs and symptoms of these types of headaches is basically the beginning of searching for a treatment to address the pain.

Migraine headaches can sometimes be preceded by signs of an approaching migraine attack. These signs can be used to help the doctor diagnose the migraine and help him formulate a right plan of treatment.

Prodrome is the term used to denote that a migraine attack is on its way. “Migraine with aura” describes a person who experiences an aura prior to a migraine attack. The aura might manifest hours or even a whole day before the actual headache comes.

Some migraine auras can be described like these:

  • Zigzag pattern
  • Shiny stars or spots
  • Blind spots (like what one experiences immediately after looking directly at the sun)

Some auras affect the senses and can trigger conditions like:

  • Speech problems
  • Tingling
  • Numbness

Some non-aura signs that precede a migraine attack are also often experienced by migraine sufferers. They can include:

  • Cravings for sweets
  • Extreme thirst
  • Increased energy
  • Depression
  • Irritability

Migraine Headache Symptoms

Some sufferers may not experience the aforementioned warning signs. To help them know that they have migraine, they need to identify its symptoms that are totally distinct from a typical headache. If you have experienced the following symptoms, chances are you suffer from migraine headache:

  • Dramatic onset of pain
  • Sensitivity to certain smells
  • Sound sensitivities
  • Photophobia or light sensitivity
  • Nausea accompanied or not accompanied by vomiting
  • Intense stabbing pain

One other difference from typical headaches, a migraine headache often is severe from beginning to end. Physical activity and bright lights can amplify the headache. These are some signs and symptoms of a migraine headache.

Identifying the signs and symptoms of migraine is essential in precisely diagnosing this severe condition. You need to pay attention, even writing down the symptoms you experience. You can then report them during your appointment with your physician. Knowing the warning signs can lead to a more faster and effective treatment and/or migraine pain relief.


BodaHealth
1245 West Broadway #302
Vancouver, BC V6H 1G7, Canada
(604) 733-2632
http://bodahealth.ca/

Eczema – Preparing for your Appointment

Normally, it is not difficult coping with your eczema symptoms; however, if you find that your symptoms are worsening and becoming intolerable or if you notice new and unusual symptoms, scheduling an appointment with your doctor or skin care professional may be just the thing you need to address your worsening and unusual problems.  Below are some good tips on how to best prepare for your appointment.

The physician will converse with you regarding your medical and family history, allergies you may have and the medicines you are taking for your eczema and other conditions.  You need to answer the doctor’s questions as honestly as possible so he may come up with an accurate diagnosis and hence a right plan of treatment. To achieve this, you need to get as much information as you can about your medical history and keep a journal that contains all the important aspects of your health history in order not to forget them. Jot down your eczema symptoms and signs as well as their duration and the time and date they occurred. You also need to list down all the known and suspected factors that trigger or exacerbate your symptoms. These can be things like hot and long showers, sweating, cigarette smoke, detergents or soaps.

Your doctor or skin care professional may also ask you about any modifications you recently made to your lifestyle. He may also query you about some of the new products you’ve been using that he suspects to be triggers for your eczema. You need to include all types of drugs and skin products that you use including steroids, vitamins and herbal supplements. Stress is a big factor in causing eczema and you may need to tell your doctor if you have lately been under a great amount of stress.

You may undergo certain skin exams recommended by your doctor so he can diagnose the type of eczema you’re experiencing.  Corresponding treatments are given to certain types of eczema. Some symptoms may require the use of topical medications to alleviate symptoms such as irritation and redness. Oral medicines may be prescribed by the doctor if your symptoms are severe. You can write down all questions you have for your doctor so you may not forget to ask them during your appointment. Do not be ashamed asking questions that you think need to be asked to your doctor.

Some relevant questions you can ask your doctor regarding your eczema can include:

  • What do you think are the causes of my eczema symptoms?
  • Do I need to undergo tests to ascertain the diagnosis?
  • What do you think is the best treatment plan for my condition?
  • Is my skin condition temporary or long-term?
  • Is it right to just wait for my condition to resolve on its own?
  • What other treatment plans are available besides the ones you’re suggesting?
  • What skin care regimens can you recommend to uplift my condition?

The doctor, in turn, will ask you a number of questions related to your conditions. The questions can come like these:

  • When did you first notice your symptoms?
  • How frequent do these symptoms occur?
  • Are your symptoms occurring occasionally or continuous?
  • What things seem to better your symptoms?
  • What things seem to worsen your symptoms?
  • Do you have allergies or asthma? Do any of your family members and close relatives have allergies or asthma?
  • What skin products do you use?

 

Vital Gate Acupuncture
107 W 82nd St
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-4244
http://www.vitalgate.com/

Definition of Eczema

Eczema is a Greek word that means ‘to boil over’.  It is a skin inflammation that is itchy and characterized as well by other symptoms like:

  • Evidence of secondary infection like crusty deposits or weeping
  • Blisters or lumps in the affected regions
  • Dry skin that thickens in areas of the skin that have been scratched
  • Redness on the affected areas of skin

Eczema is further classified into smaller subgroups according to the factors that mainly cause the eczema in the individual. However, the appearance and symptoms in the skin can also look the same in the different types of eczema. The classification of eczema may not be as accurate as one wants it to be since each person can develop eczema from different causes or factors. Nevertheless, the treatment approaches of the different types of eczema can all be the same.

The basic differences are the individual’s unique responses to the factors causing his eczema.  If, for example, his eczema has got to do with his exposure to a chemical irritant at work, protection or removal of this irritant will become an integral part in the management of his eczema as opposed to another individual who is not affected by this exposure.

Types of Eczema

The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It usually strikes people who also suffer from:

  • Problems in the barrier of the skin that causes moisture to seep out and germs to set into the skin
  • Family history of hay fever, asthma or eczema
  • Hay fever or asthma

Atopic dermatitis often develops early in life. It can set in during infancy or childhood but it can also develop at any stage in life.

Parts of the body affected by this disorder include:

  • Back of the knees
  • Inner elbows
  • Feet
  • Hands
  • Face

Continuous scratching on the affected areas can cause the skin to turn and red and thicken. Persistent scratching can also cause wounds that can develop infection. Products considered irritants for many people that worsen the symptoms of atopic dermatitis include:

  • Household chemicals
  • Coarse clothing
  • Perfumed soap

Dust mites, certain foods and other allergens can also worsen the symptoms.

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis has two forms:

  • Allergic contact dermatitis
  • Irritant contact dermatitis

Both these forms can arise when a substance damages the skin. Frequent hand washing and certain chemicals are some of the factors that can cause contact dermatitis.  Things like poison ivy, cosmetics and nickel are some of the more typical ones that can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Irritant contact dermatitis, on the other hand, is caused by repeated skin contact with an irritating substance.

The hands are the most susceptible parts of the body that can develop contact dermatitis.

Dyshidrotic Dermatitis

This is a form of eczema that targets the hands and feet. Dyshidrotic dermatitis develops from unknown causes and is characterized by extreme itching then skin blisters which can turn into scaly patches a few weeks later. Occasionally the skin of the fingers or hands develops deep cracks from this condition. Dyshidrotic dermatitis can become painful and chronic.

Nummular Dermatitis

Men are more prone to this skin condition than women. Men often develop nummular dermatitis before they reach their mid-50s; women are likely to develop this condition during their teens or early adulthood.

This type of dermatitis is characterized by red marks that look like coins appearing usually on the:

  • Hips
  • Lower back
  • Forearms
  • Back of the hands
  • Legs

Nummular dermatitis stems from unknown causes but risk factors for this skin problem can include exposure to:

  • Metals especially nickel
  • Chemicals like formaldehyde
  • Dry, cold air

Neurodermatitis

This eczema type is characterized by itchy skin spots that develop from continuous scratching.  Neurodermatitis can develop in the person’s:

  • Behind and inside of the ear
  • Ankles
  • Wrists
  • Scalp
  • Genitals
  • Back or sides of the neck

Because of consistent scratching, neurodermatitis can turn into a skin outbreak that is albeit limited in scope; however, the affected skin can become extremely wrinkled and thicken and sometimes infection can develop in the affected areas.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

More popularly known as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis in infants usually develops in the scalp while adults may develop this common type of eczema in the:

  • Center of their chest
  • Groin
  • Parts behind the ears
  • Sides of the nose

Seborrheic dermatitis can make the skin fall off in flakes.  An overgrowth of a certain type of yeast is one suspected factor in causing this skin condition residing in the aforementioned parts of the body.  Overproduction and the immediate shedding of skin on the scalp is also another cause.  People with autoimmune disease may find it hard to treat this harmless condition.

Stasis Dermatitis

Stasis dermatitis can occur when the veins in lower legs of people are not strong enough to transport blood back to the heart. This type of eczema causes crusting and weeping of the skin and can develop quickly. Eventually, stasis dermatitis can lead to the development of brown stains in the skin after a certain period of time.

Acupuncture Health Center
1303 Astor St #101
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 715-1824
http://www.bellinghamacupuncturecenter.com/

Bronchitis Coping and Support

Some healthy ways to cope well with bronchitis can include:

Stopping smoking – If you are a smoker and suffering from bronchitis, you need to immediately cease smoking. Chronic bronchitis often is caused by long-term smoking. When you smoke you not only are doing yourself a favor but also help others near you from developing bronchitis since second hand smoking can also cause this condition.

If you don’t want to trigger any bronchitis flare ups, avoid as much as possible any crying or shouting as these activities can result in problematic coughing spells. Staying quiet and calm can effectively prevent coughing spasms.

When you have bronchitis you should avoid taking cough suppressants as these medicines only exacerbate your bronchitis. Cough expectorants are needed to thin and loosen mucus making it easy to cough them up. If you cannot sleep at bedtime because of your nagging cough, try taking just the right amount of cough suppressant syrup to enable you to sleep. Avoid taking cough suppressants during the day so you may be able to cough up the infected phlegm.

If you work or live in a heavily polluted area or where allergens abound, don a mouth mask to prevent these pollutants from being inhaled by you. Allergens can trigger an allergy that can cause bronchitis-like symptoms and pollutants can irritate your lungs and worsen your bronchitis.

Get a humidifier for your home – A humidifier can moisten the air in your room that can loosen mucus and reduce your coughing. Regularly clean the humidifier so that bacteria do not become an issue.

Consult a respiratory specialist who can recommend a program that can assist in strengthening your lungs as well as help you exercise. You can also avail of a pulmonary rehabilitation program to effectively help you with your bronchitis and other lung problems.

 

Willow Tree Wellness Clinic
1607 NE 16th Avenue
Portland, OR 97232
Ph: 503-281-0030
http://willowtreeclinic.com/

Causes of Tonsillitis

Diagnosing tonsillitis is not always easy to do though in most cases, the inflammation can be completely traced to a bacterial or viral infection. The thing is it isn’t always easy to know what type of bacterial or viral infection is causing the condition. One’s tonsillitis can be due, for example, to the flu, common cold, or even long-term tonsillitis. Some kinds of tonsillitis can be either caused by staph or strep infections and in some instances the inflammation isn’t due to any infection at all. It is instead due to certain irritants or by the presence of tonsil stones.

Bacterial and Viral Infections

If your tonsillitis is brought about by a bacterial or viral infection, then you may manifest symptoms that are distinct from tonsil inflammation caused by tonsil stones. You may, for example show swollen lymph glands or a mild fever.

You can also have symptoms that will overlap with pathogen infections if your tonsillitis is caused by tonsil stones. You might, for example, exhibit a white film on your tongue, have swallowing difficulty or bad breath.  The overlapping of these symptoms may make it hard for the doctor to accurately diagnose your condition.

Whatever the case may be, if you feel your tonsil inflamed due to pathogenic causes, the first thing you need to do is to see your doctor who will perform diagnostic tests to correctly identify what type of tonsillitis you have.

Tonsil Stones

An inflamed tonsil caused by a condition called “tonsil stones,” will manifest symptoms like white and hard masses developing on your tonsils. These masses are the ones called tonsil stones.

If you are suffering from this condition, you can begin treatment by attempting to remove these stones on your own. Try gargling saline solutions and using oxygenating toothpaste and gently brush your tonsils with a moistened q-tip.  This procedure will aid in removing and preventing the future development of these stones.  If this procedure fails then you need to see a doctor.

To recap, if you are suffering from tonsillitis, it might be due to pathogenic infection, tonsil stones or to certain temporary or chronic condition. Try applying the aforementioned procedures methods to sort out between the possible causes when you want to know the cause of your tonsillitis.

Davis Acupuncture Clinic
2043 Anderson Rd
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 400-1239
http://www.davisacupuncturist.com/

Back Pain Treatments and Drugs

When the physician has diagnosed your back problem, then the next step is for him to create a treatment plan for you.  Sometimes your treatment plan may entail more than one procedure to treat your condition most effectively. Your treatment plan may entail, for example, a combination of regular massages, physical therapy and prescription medications to make it maximally effective.

The kind of treatment you will be getting for your back pain will be based on the cause and severity of the pain. One of the most common procedures for back pain is medication which quickly relieves your pain albeit transitorily.

Prescribed Medications for Back Pain

Prior to prescribing your medications, the doctor will need to know the other medications you’re presently taking.  This is important to help him prescribe to you other drugs that will not harmfully interact with your other medications.

Opioids – Opioids are given for severe types of back pain. These kinds of drugs like morphine are administered under a physician’s careful supervision and are used to manage chronic pain.

Anti-depressants – Antidepressants work by blocking pain receptors from reaching your brain.

These are effective pain blockers that are used to relieve chronic back pain.

Muscle relaxants – If you are suffering from chronic back pain caused by muscle spasms, then relaxing these muscles is one way to relieve this type of pain.

Over-the-Counter Medications for Back Pain

Over-the-counter drugs are also useful in relieving many types of back pain and are ideal for the treatment of acute back pain.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs – Aspirin and ibuprofen are the most common forms of these drugs and they are good at reducing not only pain but inflammation as well.
Acetaminophen – This type of drug, Tylenol being one example, is good at relieving body pain including back pain; however it is useless at addressing inflammation.

Spinal Injections for Back Pain Treatment

Spinal injections are other effective ways to give relief for back pain.

Epidural steroid injection – This is a powerful injection that delivers steroids to battle inflammation of the nerve root. The doctor usually administers two or three injections to the affected part of the back. Three injections is usually the maximum dose since side effects can develop if more than three is given.

Other injections – These can include facet joint injection for the relief of spinal arthritis pain, mechanical back stress or back injury pain.

Other Treatments for Back Pain

Spinal injections and medications are the most common conventional treatments for back pain. Other alternative back pain treatments that can prove just as effective to address your back pain include:

  • Exercise – This exercise can involve stretching or light walking. They are very effective relievers of back pain and can make the back strong and healthy. They also enable you to manage your back pain effectively and prevent it from worsening.
  • Spinal bracing – The use of a spinal brace is to protect a spine suffering from, say, spinal fracture from worsening. It helps to control back pain by curtailing unnecessary and extreme movements and to stabilize your spine.
  • Physical therapy – Physical therapy or PT for short, adopts various kinds of techniques to address back pain.  These therapies include the use of cold and hot therapies among many others.
  • Chiropractic care – This is a specialized form of spinal cord treatment that addresses many kinds of back pain and back problems and safeguards the back from worsening its already bad condition.
  • Alternative therapies – Some of the most effective alternative back pain treatments include physiotherapy to help relieve muscle pain and inflammation.
  • Acupuncture – Acupuncture involves the use of sterilized and very thin non hollow needles inserted at certain points in the body.  Many back sufferers have reported long term pain relief from their acupuncture therapy.
  • Yoga – Yoga has many poses and postures and basically all of them involve relaxation techniques and breathing exercises.  Studies have shown that yoga provides back pain sufferers some kind of relief from their pain.

If all these treatments prove unfruitful in addressing your back pain, one other radical form of treatment you can try is back surgery. It is up to your doctor to decide whether this course of action is really needed for your condition.

It is always important to talk about all your treatment choices with your doctor so you may choose the best treatment plan for yourself.

Coping with Dry Skin

Listed below are some healthy advices on how to properly deal with your dry skin problem.

Use cool water to bathe or shower – Cool water as opposed to cold water should be water under normal temperature. Mildly warm water can also be used as long as it is not warm or hot enough to strip away the natural oil in your skin.

Drink lots of water – Keep your body hydrated by drinking 8 glasses of water each day. If you can’t stand drinking this much amount of water, you can drink fruit juices or some herbal tea instead, these keep your skin moist without you needing to buy skin care products.

Keep your skin moisturized – Keeping your skin moist and supple is the most important thing you can do for your skin. You need to at least keep your skin moist for two times a day. You need to use the best moisturizer for your skin. A lot of people do not follow this as they argue that doing so will make their face oily. The truth is it does not make the face oily.  It actually prevents the premature aging of the skin and makes the skin more supple.

Live a healthy lifestyle – Cigarette smoking, drug abuse and alcoholism will not only give you skin problems it will destroy your health and oftentimes your life as well.  If you are abusing substances you may need to seek help to detoxify your body and help you shun these addictive substances.

Try to relax – Try to relax your body by getting a massage that will also benefit your skin. The oil that is used during massage can keep your skin lubricated and supple. You can also opt for acupuncture to help yourself relax and remove any pain you may have. Acupuncture also enables you to get good quality sleep which is both beneficial for your skin and your whole body. You can also avail skin rejuvenating procedures from beauty salons.

These are just some of the ways to deal well with your dry skin problem. Dry skin is really an easy condition to resolve and the aforementioned advices will help you maintain a perfectly moisturized skin.

Vickery Health & Wellness
18455 Burbank Blvd #306
Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 578-6730
http://www.vickeryhealth.com/

Bronchitis – Preparing for your Appointment

If you have lingering symptoms of bronchitis, you need to make an appointment with your doctor so you may be correctly diagnosed and get the required treatment. If after a couple of weeks of treatment your symptoms do not get better, you may need to return to your physician as they may point to a worse underlying condition. Also, if during two weeks of treatment your symptoms seem to be worsening, you need to also see your doctor again.  The serious symptoms that should prompt you to go back for another appointment can include:

  • Swollen ankles and/or feet
  • Continuous high fever
  • Breathing problems while lying down or at rest
  • Blue-colored lips and skin
  • Blood in mucus or sputum

These signs can be that of a different and worse condition or bronchitis complications.

Listing Down your Bronchitis Symptoms

In preparing for your appointment with your doctor, one of the best things you can do is to prepare a list of symptoms you have experienced. This list can aid you in answering questions the physician may question you during your first exam. You need to assess if you indeed are experiencing any of the following symptoms related to bronchitis:

  • Wheezing or other uncommon sounds when you breathe
  • Recent cold or flu
  • Greenish or yellowish thick mucus
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue that disrupts your regular activities
  • Breathing difficulty when climbing up the stairs or walking
  • Coughing that begins in the morning and persists or becomes severe for the rest of the day
  • Pain in the chest when taking deep breaths or coughing

Added to these symptoms, should be other pertinent information about your health history and your family’s as well. Other information you can include in this list should mention if you or if someone in your immediate family suffers or has suffered from:

  • Other respiratory problems
  • High cholesterol
  • Lung, kidney or heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Asthma or other breathing issues
  • Allergies that need treatment

Your doctor will have questions to ask you as well and some of them may be about your lifestyle choices that may have helped develop your bronchitis. Some of the lifestyle choices that may have caused you bronchitis can include:

  • Tobacco smoking
  • Exposure to second hand tobacco smoke
  • Exposure to pollutants like chemicals
  • Exposure to too much dust

In the Doctor’s Office

When you come for your first appointment, the doctor will likely listen to your lungs using a stethoscope. The doctor may also require you to do certain breathing tests and undergo a chest X-ray.

You may want to ask your doctor certain questions regarding your complaint. These questions may include:

  • Can certain breathing exercises better my condition?
  • Do I need to undergo tests to ascertain that I have bronchitis?
  • Do I have chronic or acute bronchitis?
  • Do I need to completely stop smoking or can I just cut back on it?
  • Do you think I have emphysema or asthma?
  • Do I need to get a flu shot?
  • Is my bronchitis bacterial or viral?
  • What do I need to avoid in order not to get bronchitis again?
  • What short term treatments can I avail of to better my breathing?
  • Will you prescribe antibiotics for my problem?
  • Will these antibiotics alter my diet?

Diagnostic Questions

When he has determined you have bronchitis, your doctor will talk about treatment choices and make suggestions for the best treatment plan for you. The doctor should do his best to completely help you understand your diagnosis so you may have a good idea of the effects of the medicines as well as the lifestyle changes you need to adapt to.

Your doctor should give you answers to the following questions that are based on your own particular case:

  • Do I need an inhaler?
  • Are there exercises I should not perform?
  • What is my long-term prognosis?
  • Do I need to consult with a specialist?
  • Are there any oxygen therapies you can recommend?
  • What medicines do I need to take? What side effects do they have?
  • Will a vaporizer be helpful?
  • What over-the-counter drugs do I need to take?
  • Will some of the prescribed medicines interact with my other ongoing supplements or medicines?
  • Will quitting smoking better my symptoms?

Bringing along someone to accompany you to your appointment can be helpful since your companion can write down what the doctor says and he can also remember some of the information you may have missed telling your doctor.

Your doctor in turn will have corresponding questions to ask you that will help him diagnose your problem accurately. Some of the questions may be like these:

  • When did you first notice your symptoms?
  • Describe your symptoms. Have they been infrequently or frequently occurring?
  • Have your symptoms affected your work performance or your sleep?
  • Are you a smoker? Are you a heavy smoker? How long have you smoked?
  • Do you feel much weaker now than you have been last year?
  • Are you still able to walk as fast as you used to?    Do you have a hard time climbing a flight of stairs? Do you do regular exercise?
  • What factors make your symptoms worse?
  • What factors make your symptoms improve?
  • Do your symptoms get worse in cold air?
  • Do you get a flu shot every year?
  • Were you already vaccinated for pneumonia prevention? If yes, when?

Dr. Guoen Wang is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and doctor of Chinese medicine in Austin Texas.

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