Symptoms Of The Human Papilloma Virus

The human papilloma virus can create a variety of infections. To diagnose HPV, a doctor will perform a series of blood tests and use a physical examination. Women who suffer from HPV are commonly diagnosed using a Pap smear at their regularly scheduled gynecological appointment.

Identification

The human papilloma virus is the virus that is transmitted in sexually transmitted diseases. There are more than 100 varieties of HPV; more than 30 of these varieties are the foundation of various sexually transmitted diseases. While the different conditions can vary in terms of their severity, the initial symptoms associated with an HPV condition are normally consistent with each other. Some forms of HPV can be treated to the point of being cured, while others, such as herpes, can only be managed but not cured. Some forms of HPV are not sexually transmitted, but they still cause symptoms similar to a sexually transmitted disease.

Types

One of the more common forms of the HPV is the common wart. The common wart can appear anywhere on the body except for the genitalia. Warts that appear on the genitalia are specific to the sexually transmitted diseases, but common warts are normally just mild forms of HPV that can easily be treated. Another form of HPV that is not sexually transmitted is a condition known as plantar warts. These are painful warts that appear on the soles of the feet, and normally have a black spot in the middle of them. Flat warts are white- or beige-capped warts that usually appear anywhere on the upper body, and can become very itchy.

Effects

Genital warts are the most common early symptom of HPV in a sexually transmitted disease. Genital warts are identified by their rough and bumpy surface, and by their typical appearance in small groups of around 10 warts. They may also appear as a lesion on the skin. They are pink in color and painless to touch. In men, genital warts normally appear around the tip of the penis; in women, they normally appear on the skin that surrounds the vagina.

Prevention/Solution

Common warts and flat warts can be removed surgically. Cryosurgery is sometimes used to remove warts. This is a process where the wart is frozen, after which it can be easily removed by the doctor. In more extreme cases, laser surgery may by used to remove persistent warts. In the case of genital warts, a doctor may recommend surgery, or may recommend a regimen of medications designed to prevent the constant recurrence of the condition. The Centers for Disease Control recommend receiving a vaccination that was approved in 2006 as a way of protecting against the possible onset of HPV.

Considerations

One of the concerns for women regarding HPV is the possibility of contracting cervical cancer from the virus. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, about 10 of the 30 known human papilloma viruses that are responsible for sexually transmitted diseases could potentially cause cervical cancer. However, nearly 90 percent of the women diagnosed with a cervical human papilloma virus are symptom-free within two years.

Expert Insight

The Mayo Clinic indicates that it is possible to be infected with HPV and not display any symptoms. In some cases the symptoms may show up later, or in other cases, the symptoms may never show up at all.

Tags: sexually transmitted, human papilloma, sexually transmitted diseases, transmitted diseases, papilloma virus

Calculate The Percentage Increase Of A Negative Number

Percentage increases are easier to make sense of with positive numbers.

Just as you can calculate the percentage increase between two positive numbers, you can do the same for negative numbers. However, for real life applications, the result may be meaningless or misleading. For example, to say that a company with a $15,000 loss one month underwent a 20% increase to a $18,000 loss the next month is deceptive, as the word "increase" has positive associations and implies that things got better, when in reality they got worse.

Instructions

1. Identify which number from your problem is a and which one is b in the formula (b-a)/a * 100. The first number, or pre-increase number, is a, and the second number, post-increase, is b.

Example:

What is the percentage increase from -20 to -25?

-20 = a

-25 = b

2. Plug in the numbers from the problem into the equation.

Example:

(b-a)/a * 100

(25-20)/20 * 100

3. Carry out the calculations.

Example:

(25-20)/20 * 100

= 5/20 * 100

= 0.25 * 100

= 25

There is a 25% increase from -20 to -25.

Tags: Example 25-20, increase from, positive numbers

Types Of Diagnostic Tests For Burns

In the treatment of burn patients, there are a number of diagnostic tests that may be run by physicians. These techniques enable doctors to analyze the depth and severity of the burn beyond what a standard clinical evaluation can reveal. Learning the basics about these tests helps clarify the process for patients and their families.

Biopsy

Biopsy refers to removing and studying sample tissue. In the case of burn patients, biopsy is a diagnostic test that is useful because it examines the extent of collagen damage to the skin, vascular damage to the tissue, and damage to cell proteins in the skin.

Thermography

Other tests used for burn victims are less familiar than a standard biopsy. Thermography is the term for studies of burn temperature. When attempting to determine the exact depth of a burn wound, doctors can use thermography as a diagnostic tool because deeper wounds are cooler than more superficial wounds. There is reduced vascular perfusion, or blood circulation, to the deeper wounds, leading to a lower temperature.

Video Angiography

Another diagnostic test for burn evaluation is a process known as laser fluorescence videography. This sophisticated technique measures changes in the perfusion of tissues by injecting a substance called indiocyanine green intravenously. Damaged tissues have poor circulation, which is visualized by the videography.

Tags: burn patients, deeper wounds, diagnostic test

Noninvasive Cervical Cancer Treatment

When cervical cancer is only located outside the cervix, in its exterior lining - and is not located inside the cervix - it is referred to as noninvasive cervical cancer. Any cancer labeled "noninvasive" refers to the cancer's location---and the fact that it is not actually located inside the organ, muscle, or other body part. Noninvasive cancers are easier to treat than more intensive cancers because of their more accessible locations and limited cancer cell damage. There are five noninvasive cervical cancer treatment options, and only one of these five actually requires the removal of the cervix.

Treatment Types

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are five noninvasive cervical cancer treatment options and each offer less intensive treatment than one might experience with most other cancer treatment options (which typically use radiation, chemotherapy, or multiple surgeries). One of the noninvasive cervical cancer treatments, loop electrosurgical excision procedure--also known as LEEP--actually uses a wire, not a scalpel. Cone biopsy, known as conization, is another noninvasive cervical cancer treatment type, as is laser surgery, cryosurgery and hysterectomy.

Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)

The loop electrosurgical excision procedure (known as LEEP) focuses entirely on slicing away cancer located at the cervix mouth by use of a wire loop. This wire loop, and its electrical currents, can clear away the cancerous cells at the mouth of the cervix with as much precision as a surgeon's scalpel.

Cone Biopsy (conization)

In this procedure, a surgeon's scalpel is used to obtain tissue from both the lower and the upper cervical area. Since the shape of the cervical tissue area removed is typically cone-shaped, due to the shape of the cervix and the surrounding upper and lower layers, the procedure is called a cone biopsy.

Laser Surgery

In this surgical procedure, cancerous cells--and those in a pre-cancerous state--are both destroyed when the surgeon applies a very intense light in the form of a beam. The beam, narrow in scope, is directed only at the cancerous area being treated, so it does not cause damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

Cryosurgery

Using extreme temperature, a freezing one in this case (instead of heat and light, as used in the laser surgery), this type of noninvasive cervical cancer treatment attempts to freeze--and thus kill--the cancer cells in the outer cervical area.

Hysterectomy

When one of the aforementioned noninvasive cervical cancer treatment options cannot completely kill the cancerous cells in the outer (or mouth of the) cervical area--or other complications arise that necessitate it--a surgeon may elect to perform a hysterectomy in order to remove the noninvasive cervical cancer rather than attempt to treat it as an invasive cancer.

Since the hysterectomy involves the actual removal of the cervix (as well as the uterus), this type of surgery is usually reserved for cancer that has spread into the cervix (invasive cancer) or uterus and is unable to be killed by noninvasive treatment means.

Tags: noninvasive cervical, cervical cancer, noninvasive cervical cancer, cancer treatment options, cervical cancer, treatment options

Keep Records Of Your Personal Physical Exam Results

Keep a personal copy of all your physical exam results.

Physical exams are an important part of routine health care maintenance. When you are seen for your physical you are screened for diseases, updated on any necessary vaccinations and your risk factor for future disease is assessed and discussed. Although your physician maintains records of your physical exam in your chart, it is prudent to create and keep a record of your results for numerous reasons, including the onset of illness or if you are under the care of a new physician.

Instructions

1. Contact any doctor's office or medical facility where you have personally had a physical exam. Ask to speak directly to someone in the medical records department of the office or facility and request an "Authorization for the Release of Information" form. If you are contacting the medical office ask that they send the form to you by fax or go the office and pick it up personally.

2. Complete the form requesting records of your physical exam results. Indicate how many years of results you are requesting. Return the form to the office. If there is a fee for the requested copies, make the payment as directed. It may take up to 30 days before your records are sent to you or are ready for pick up. Upon receiving your records review them carefully and contact your doctor immediately if you have questions or notice inaccuracies.

3. Purchase a binder or folder for your results. Place your exam results in the folder in chronological order. This will make it easier to see the bigger "story" if there are subtle changes with each physical exam and it will make it easier when reviewed by you or a new physician in the future. Keep the binder in a secure and private location such as a personal lock-box or safety-box.

4. Store a second copy of your physical exam results to your computer by creating a computer file for "Physical Exams" and use a scanner to download them onto the computer. Note if your doctor uses electronic medical records and request an electronic copy to simplify adding the results to your personal records.

5. Store your electronic records on your computer only or keep a copy on a password-protected portable flash or USB drive. With each new physical exam, add your results to update all copies of your personal records.

6. Write down any results that the doctor gives you during your physical exams or over the phone. Date the notes and add them in the correct order to your personal records.

Tags: your physical, exam results, physical exam, your physical exam, personal records

Gis Training At Colorado Schools

A GIS can map the surface of the earth.

A Geographic Information System, or "GIS," is an electronic database of geographic information that allows users to observe and analyze maps and other geographical information related to the earth's surface. A GIS can create maps and solve problems like determining where debris that falls from airplanes will land. There are five schools in Colorado that offer GIS training.

Colorado Northwestern Community College

Colorado Northwestern Community College is located in Rangely, Colorado, and it offers a degree program in Natural Resources and Ecology Management. Though the focus of the program is on ecology, GIS is studied to help you understand observe and analyze the ecological data you come across in the field. There are no prerequisites for enrolling in the program, but you do have to mail your high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores to the school.

Front Range Community College

Front Range Community College offers a GIS Fundamentals Certificate program at its Boulder County campus in Longmont. This 12-credit program introduces such GIS topics as cartography, relational database management, spatial data modeling and analysis, and remote sensing and digital image processing. You are also required to complete an internship at a GIS employer and an independent study in a GIS topic of your choice. To become accepted to the program, you simply have to apply to the school, noting that you'd like to enroll in the GIS Fundamentals Certificate Program.

Pueblo Community College

The GIS Certificate program offered by Pueblo Community College is online, but it does require that you spend one weekend on campus per class. It's a 16-credit program that you can complete in about one year and that will have you taking such courses as Arcview GIS, Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing, and Cartography. To apply, you simply have to fill out a free online application or go the Admission Office at Pueblo Community College.

University of Colorado at Denver

The University of Colorado at Denver offers a post-graduate certificate in GIS through its College of Architecture and Planning. This 18-credit certificate program is designed for students who are entering urban planning, environmental planning and architectural fields. Two of the courses in the program that you must complete are Introduction to GIS and a seminar in Planning and Design Applications. Because this is a post-graduate program, you do have to have an undergraduate degree. To be considered, you have to have a GPA of at least 2.5 and submit a portfolio of creative work and a sample of writing or a work project.

University of Denver

The University of Denver offers a GIS Master of Science program through its Department of Geography. There are two options within the program: the coursework option, which requires you complete 60 credit hours, and the project option, which requires you complete 52 credit hours and satisfactorily complete a GIS project under the supervision of an adviser. Whichever option you choose, you have to take 32 required courses, which include such topics as database design and remote sensing. In the coursework track, you have to take 16 other geography courses and 12 other courses in any discipline. In the project track, you have to take 12 other geography courses and 8 other courses in any discipline. To apply, you have to submit an application, three letters of recommendation, an essay/personal statement, your GRE results and your university transcripts.

Tags: Community College, have take, Pueblo Community, Pueblo Community College, Colorado Denver

Types Of Carcinomas Of The Breast

Breast cancer is a cancer that begins in the cells of the breast. It strikes mostly women, but men can also be diagnosed with it. Breast cancer is not one uniform disease, but a category that encompasses various types of breast cancers. These cancers are typically grouped into categories depending on where they begin, the kind of tissues in which they start, or the symptoms they manifest. Some types are more common than others, and some cancers have characteristics of more than one type.

Non-invasive carcinomas

Non-invasive breast carcinomas are cancers that have not spread past the tissues in which it started. These types of cancers include ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ, and Paget's disease.

Ductal carcinoma in situ, also called DCIS, is the most common kind of non-invasive carcinoma, according to the American Cancer Society. It is considered a precursor to invasive breast cancer, and is often diagnosed on a mammogram by clusters of microcalcifications. When looking at prognostic factors, physicians will separate these cancers into two types, the comedo type and the noncomedo type, with the comedo more likely to recur.

Lobular carcinoma in situ, commonly called LCIS, is not technically a cancer, but a marker for women who are at higher risk of later developing invasive cancer in either breast. This type of disease is usually not found on exam, but during a nonrelated breast biopsy. Since the increased risk of breast cancer in women with LCIS remains for over 20 years, lifelong surveillance and follow-up are recommended.

Paget's disease of the nipple is a kind of ductal carcinoma that starts in the main ducts of the breast. It spreads to involve the skin of the nipple and areola (Govindan, 2008). The skin around the nipple begins to look scaly and red, and sometimes bleeds. It is rare, and comprises only one percent of all breast cancers, and is associated with DCIS (cancer.org).

Common Types of Invasive Carcinomas

The most common kind of invasive breast cancer is invasive (sometimes called infiltrating) ductal carcinoma. The American Cancer Society approximates that eight out of 10 invasive breast cancers are of this type. This cancer starts in a milk duct and spreads into the fatty breast tissue.

Invasive lobular carcinoma starts in the lobules, the milk-producing glands. This type of cancer accounts for one out of ten invasive breast cancers.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of invasive breast cancer, but does not usually have a lump. It constitutes 1 to 3 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses, says the American Cancer Society. Symptoms include swelling of the breast, redness, and warmth. The skin on the breast can also start to look pitted like an orange peel (called peau d'orange). Since there is generally not a lump, it may not appear on a mammogram and can also be mistaken for a breast infection. This cancer is more likely to spread and has a worse prognosis than the other invasive breast cancers.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer is breast cancer that does not have the "receptors" that help most breast cancers grow, namely estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2. Most treatments used for breast cancer, like hormone therapies and targeted therapies like Herceptin work on these receptors, but do not work on triple-negative breast cancers. These cancers are usually aggressive, strike younger women and women of color and are more likely to recur, but are very responsive to chemotherapy, says the American Cancer Society.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Breast cancer that has spread to other organs of the body is called metastatic breast cancer. When breast cancer spreads to other sites, it is still breast cancer, just in another part of the body. The most common places for breast cancer to metastasize are the bones, brain, lungs and liver, according to Dr. Ramaswamy Govindan in the 2008 edition of The Washington Manual of Oncology. It is incurable, but treatable, with the aim being to relieve any symptoms, control the spread of the cancer, maintain quality of life and extend survival, Govindan says. He says the average survival time is two to three years, but with newer treatments, more women are living five years or possibly more.

Tags: breast cancers, breast cancer, invasive breast, American Cancer, American Cancer Society, Cancer Society

The Best Respiratory Hospitals

Three U.S. hospitals provide top-quality care for respiratory diseases and conditions

U.S. News and World Report, in its rankings for 2009-2010, listed three hospitals as the top institutions in the country for respiratory care: National Jewish Health, the Mayo Clinic, and Johns Hopkins Medical Center. The ratings were based on factors including patient safety, patient volume, reputation for specialties and nursing staff.

National Jewish Health

National Jewish Health was recognized as the top hospital by U.S. News and World Report for the treatment of patients with respiratory illnesses. The hospital staff, according to U.S. News, provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment, ranging from from consultation to outpatient service. National Jewish Health treats asthma, autoimmune lung disease, respiratory failure, emphysema, and lung cancer.

National Jewish Health

1400 Jackson St.

Denver, CO 80206

303-398-1565

nationaljewish.org

Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic was ranked the second-best pulmonary hospital by U.S. News and World Report. The hospital was recognized for its comprehensive consultations and its diagnostic and therapeutic patient services. The hospital's technology provides state-of-the-art in-hospital and outpatient care. Specialists with the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine exhibit expertise in conditions including lung cancer and lung disease as well as pulmonary vascular disease.

Mayo Clinic

200 1st St. S.W.

Rochester, MN 55905

507-284-2511

mayoclinic.org

Johns Hopkins Medical Center

US. News and World Report's third-rated respiratory hospital, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, was listed for its Division of Respiratory Care Services. Nearly 80 practitioners staff more than a dozen intensive care units, two emergency departments and an ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation) program that uses technological advances to help with patient breathing.

Johns Hopkins Medical Center

4940 Eastern Ave.

Baltimore, MD 21224

410-550-23033

hopkinsbayview.org

Tags: Jewish Health, National Jewish, National Jewish Health, Hopkins Medical, Hopkins Medical Center

Apply For Harp Assistance

Homeowners with underwater mortgages can refinance through HARP.

Homeowners often refinance their homes to make mortgage payments more affordable. However, lenders will not refinance your loan with a debt that exceeds your home's property value. The Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, can help you reduce the interest rate and loan terms on your home mortgage if your home's property value has fallen since you purchased it. By doing so, HARP helps lower your monthly payment to fit your budget and help you avoid a future foreclosure.

Instructions

1. Use the free services of a housing adviser approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to make sure HARP is right for you. Contact an adviser at 888-995-4673 to explore all of your options for avoiding foreclosure and staying in your home.

2. Contact your mortgage provider to find out whether or not Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac owns your loan. You can also contact Fannie Mae directly at 800-732-6643 and Freddie Mac at 800-373-3343 to determine who owns your loan. If neither company owns your loan, you will not qualify for HARP.

3. Check your payment history for the previous 12 months to be sure that you have not missed any payments by more than 30 days.

4. Get a home appraisal to determine your home's market value. Compare it to the amount you owe on your mortgage. So long as you owe more than your home is worth, you may apply for HARP. However, you will not qualify for HARP if the outstanding balance on your home is more than 125 percent of the market value of the house.

5. Call your mortgage provider to find out whether or not the company participates in HARP. If it does not, contact other mortgage companies and banks to compare their rates and fees, and refinance with a bank that offers you the most affordable terms. Speak with a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae representative to find a list of HARP-participating lenders in your area.

6. Submit an application according to your lender's requirements. Come prepared to supply information about your current loan, income, assets, investments and tax information from recent years.

Tags: your home, your loan, more than, owns your, owns your loan

Disability Awareness Month School Activities

Learn some understanding for those with disabilities.

It is hard teaching children about disabilities. Children often stare at those with obvious disabilities. You can teach your students to be more understanding of those with disabilities and help them to realize that disabled people are no different. They want to play and have friends, too and may need a little help from time to time. Some games are fun and can open the door for discussion about what it is like to have a disability.

Walking Blind

This activity is good to use with a variety of ages from elementary to middle school. Hide an object somewhere in the room, but in plain sight. Send one child to look for it and take note of how easily he found it. Have another student come to the front of the room and put a blindfold on him. Re-hide the object and have him look for it. No one can say anything or give him any clues as to where it might be. After a while, allow one of the other students to give some directions from his seat. He cannot physically touch or guide him.

Discuss with the student who was blindfolded what it was like when he had no help. Then discuss what it was like when he had even a little bit of help. Encourage the students to be helpful whenever they see someone who is blind.

Writing Exercise

Use this activity with middle schoolers and up. Have the students to write a story for this assignment. Give them a word length requirement as well as one more element. The story must include one character with a disability. Encourage them to do some research on the disability to learn more about it and to incorporate some of those elements into the story. The student should show some understanding of the disability by the time she finishes writing the story. Have the students read their stories out loud to the class and tell what they learned about the disability and how they feel about it now that they understand it a little more. Each student should give some suggestions on how she can help someone with that particular disability.

Missing Limbs

Complete this activity with a variety of ages of students from elementary to high school, just make the activities a little more difficult for high school age students. Put a sling on one arm of a student volunteer. Choose another student from the class. Give them each a project to do. The student with the sling cannot use the arm in the sling. Make sure the job is something that is easier to do with two hands. Also think of a classroom activity for two other students to do where one leg is unusable. For example, have them go around the room and pick things up off the floor. After both of these activities, have a discussion panel with the two "disabled" students at the front of the room. Ask them how they felt about performing simple tasks with the use of only one limb. Tell them to describe their feelings to the class. Take suggestions from the students about things they can do to help people who have this disability. Give some suggestions of your own as well.

Tags: those with, what like, activity with, another student, from elementary, front room, give some

Check Broken Links In Favorites

Broken links stored in your browser's favorites have the potential to frustrate and take up unnecessary space on your hard drive.

The Internet has been around a for a while now, so if you regularly bookmark web pages you visit, chances are at that least some of the links you've saved will have become redundant. Instead of trawling through your favorites attempting to weed out dead links yourself, you can choose from a number of software applications that will do all of the hard work for you.

Instructions

AM-DeadLink

1. Navigate to Aignes.com

2. Hover over the "Products" button, and select "AM-DeadLink."

3. Go to the bottom of the page, and click on "Download." The program is free.

4. Run the application.

5. Select the browser you want to check from the drop-down menu at the top of the application window, and click on the green tick icon to check your bookmarks. The program will then report the status of each of your bookmarks, and you'll have the option to delete any dead links.

URL Paster

6. Go to Urlpaster.com, and click on the "Start download" button. You'll be redirected to a download site where a free trial of the software should start to download automatically.

7. Run the program from the zip file downloaded.

8. Launch the application, and click on the "Find broken link" icon in the navigation menu. Your favorite links will be scanned.

9. Review any broken links that are found, and delete them. To use all the program's functions, you'll need to buy a license key, which you can do by closing and restarting the application and clicking on the "Buy now" button. You'll need to fill in your personal details and make a card or PayPal payment.

Check Favorites

10. Go to Jrtwine.com, and click on "Products."

11. Navigate to the bottom of the page, and select "Check Favorites."

12. Click on the link to download a zip file containing the software installer, and run the program.

13. Launch the application, and click on the green tick in the navigation bar to check your bookmarks. The program will display any dead links that you then have the option to delete. You can only check 10 links while using the evaluation version of the software and will need to return to the product page to buy a license to run unlimited scans. Check Favorites supplies ongoing support only for Internet Explorer.

Tags: Check Favorites, dead links, your bookmarks, application click, bookmarks program, bookmarks program will, bottom page

Get A Gum Graft

Get a Gum Graft

Gum grafts sound more serious and painful than they actually are, although they treat the very serious condition of gum recession. The condition causes no pain, but because gums cannot grow back, a graft will cover the exposed area. Results include an improved smile and decreased tooth sensitivity. Read this article to know prepare and care for a dental graft.

Instructions

Prepare for the Graft

1. Know which medical situations necessitate a graft. The most common conditions include receding or thinning gums that expose too much tooth, uneven gum tissue, root exposure and sensitivity. Each situation creates an unsightly smile and increases the risk of cavities and root gouging.

2. Distinguish between the two kinds of dental grafts. The free gingival graft (FGG) takes donor tissue from the roof of the mouth and attaches it to the existing gum line where it will grow to adhere. Dentists perform this procedure easily and most often. It also heals quickly.

3. Understand that a connective tissue graft (CTG) takes longer to administer, requires better surgical skills and is used in more serious cases to cover exposed roots. Healing takes longer and may require follow-up laser reshaping.

Care for the Graft

4. Take pain medication as prescribed before leaving the dental office or as soon as you get home because the anesthesia will wear off quickly.

5. Wear a stent if directed by the dentist. A stent is like a retainer coated with ointment that protects the roof of mouth (where donor tissue was excised) and assists healing. Wear the stent as long as needed, but wash it daily with soap and water and reapply ointment for the first three days.

6. Refrain from spitting, rinsing, drinking with a straw or eating crunchy sharp-edged foods for 24 hours after the dental graft. Failure to abide this rule could increase bleeding and delay healing.

7. Get plenty of rest for the first 24 hours. Avoid physical activity and lay down with your head elevated.

8. Keep the affected area clean with a Q-tip and antibacterial rinse provided by the dental office. Do not brush or floss at the site until given permissions by your dentist.

Tags: cover exposed, dental graft, dental office, donor tissue, graft takes, more serious, roof mouth

Prostate Cancer Recurrence Symptoms

One of every six men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. After diagnosis and treatment, the first indicator that prostate cancer has returned is a rise in the PSA (protein specific antigen) level. This is why regular follow ups with the oncologist are so important after cancer treatment.

Initial Signs

Once a patient has completed surgery and radiation, PSA levels drop and stabilize. After surgery, some prostate cells left in the body can continue to excrete PSA. If PSA levels increase post treatment, it may be a sign of lymph node involvement or metastasis (spread to another organ). Many men are asymptomatic (present no symptoms) with prostate cancer and elevated PSA levels are the only indicators that the cancer has returned.

Dysuria

Dysuria (difficult urination) is a common symptom of advanced prostate cancer. If a man has trouble starting a urine stream, pain upon urination, blood in the urine, burning sensation while urinating, whether or not he has been treated for prostate cancer, he needs to consult his physician. Frequently needing to urinate at night is another indicator that there is a problem that requires a trip to the doctor.

Bone Pain

In prostate cancer, metastasis tends to spread from the local prostate area outward. Bones are almost always the first sites of prostate metastasis (spread of cancer to a new organ). If bone pain in the pelvis, lumbar spine or femurs is experienced, it may be a sign that the cancer has spread. To evaluate for cancer recurrence and determine sites of metastasis, a doctor will usually order a bone scan.

Weight Loss

As is true in most cancer cases, weight loss is another sign of advanced metastatic disease. In the earlier stages of prostate cancer, weight loss is not usually evident. However, in patients with progressive, metastatic cancer, 90 percent will suffer from loss of appetite. As many as 60 percent of advanced cancer patients will develop cachexia, otherwise known as "wasting syndrome." Researchers have discovered a chemical link between cancer cells and the wasting effect observed in cancer patients. These patients may consume normal or nearly normal diets, but are unable to use nutrients in an efficient manner.

Prediction

A recent study at Johns Hopkins University (presented in June, 2009) tracked 774 prostate cancer patients, and out of the research, a prediction tool for prostate cancer recurrence was formulated. The first element is how long it takes for the PSA level to double post treatment. The second factor is the original Gleason score (staging tool on the aggressiveness of the cancer). The final determinant is the time frame between surgery and the first detectable PSA level. The results show that it takes approximately 10 years on average for metastasis to be detectable radiologically. For those men whose PSA doubled in three months, they were 20 times more likely to progress to metastatic cancer.

Tags: prostate cancer, cancer patients, cancer returned, indicator that, metastasis spread

How Much Money Does A Rad Tech Make

Radiologic techs can earn decent wages.

Radiologic technicians perform a variety of diagnostic imaging exams such as X-rays and mammographies. They may hold either an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree, which has an effect on the amount of money they make. Other factors that affect income include the type of clinic or hospital and its location.

Salary

The average salary for radiologic techs in the United States is $54,180, or an hourly rate of $26.05. The median income is $53,240, with the bottom 10 percent earning $35,700 a year and the top 10 percent earning $75,440.

Industry

General medical and surgical hospitals employ the most radiologic technicians at an average annual wage of $54,770, while those working at physicians' offices earn less at $50,860. The industry of scientific research and development pays radiologic techs the highest wages at an average of $64,800, followed by management, scientific and technical consulting services at $61,970. Specialty hospitals pay an average salary of $58,320, and radiologic techs in outpatient care centers earn $42,950 on average a year.

Location

Radiologic techs in the San Jose area of California earn the highest wages in the U.S. at an average annual salary of $78,300, followed by Oakland, Ca., at $72,790 and Boston, Mass., at $72,540. Massachusetts is also the top-paying state for this occupation at an annual salary average of $68,530; Nevada, Maryland, Hawaii and Washington D.C. follow with average salaries ranging from $63,270 to $66,420.

Advancement

Radiologic techs who specialize in a specific area tend to make more money. For example, technicians can train to perform imagery work in the fields of mammographies, bone densitometry or CT scanning. With experience, techs may also be promoted to supervisory roles, and eventually become chief radiologic technologists and even department directors.

Tags: annual salary, average annual, average salary, average salary radiologic, highest wages

Types Of Abnormal Pap Smears

A pap smear is a test done by a gynecologist to look for cell changes on the cervix. Pap smears should be done once a year for the first three years and then every three years unless there is an abnormal pap smear. Follow the physician's directions for when to have follow-up pap smears done.

Atypical Squamous Cells

Atypical squamous cells is a type of abnormal pap smear that is showing a cell change that is not precancerous. If the pap smear shows this result, the physician will often wait to repeat the test at a later date because it may be due to an irritation of the cells that will resolve on its own.

Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion

This type of abnormal pap smear, also known as LGSIL, is caused by an infection or a minor injury. The low-grade abnormal pap smear means the cells are slightly abnormal with a small portion of the cervix affected. A biopsy is done to examine a tissue sample to check for cancerous changes. This change in the cells usually needs no treatment, as it resolves on its own.

High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion

High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, also known as GHSIL, signifies the cervical cells are extremely abnormal with much of the cervix being affected. The diagnosis of GHSIL does not signal cancerous changes to the cervical cells, but precancerous changes could occur in the future. A biopsy is typically done to examine the tissue for changes. It can be treated by freezing the abnormal tissue.

Atypical Glandular Cells

With this type of abnormal pap smear, also known as AGC, the cells inside of the cervix are abnormal and may have come from the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes. The AGC diagnosis is typically followed by a biopsy, HPV testing and a biopsy of the lining of the uterus. This change signals a precancerous or cancerous abnormality.

Risk Factors

There are factors that could increase the risk of having an abnormal pap smear. The biggest risk factor is the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are usually no symptoms of HPV infection. If the HPV infection does not resolve on its own, there is an increased risk of HPV developing into cervical cancer. Other risk factors for abnormal pap smears include smoking cigarettes, having multiple sexual partners, taking birth control pills and having a weakened immune system.

Tags: abnormal smear, also known, type abnormal, type abnormal smear, abnormal smear also, abnormal with, cancerous changes

Locate The Reflexology Thyroid Zone

Locate the Reflexology Thyroid Zone

The thyroid is very important to controlling the metabolism of our bodies. If the thyroid isn't operating right, either too slow or overactive, our bodies can lose weight excessively or gain weight without reason. Alternative medicine practices can help without resorting to expensive medications that may also have undesirable side effects. Reflexology can help this condition if you know where the thyroid zone is on the hands and feet.

Instructions

1. Use a creeping technique to activate each of the following zones. Creeping is done with the edge of your thumb. You press the thumb to the zone at the first crease of the knuckle and slowly roll it forward along the edge. Once you reach the end of the thumb, you lift the thumb, move it forward slightly, and repeat the thumb pressure. The motion is much like that of a caterpillar.

2. Find the thyroid zone on the right hand at the base of the thumb. Begin creeping along the bottom knuckle, slowly working your way all the way around the base of the thumb. Work the base in the counter-clockwise direction if you are looking down from the top of the thumb.

3. Locate the thyroid zone on the bottom of the right foot. The zone begins at the base of the big toe on the pad and runs along the first three toes. The creeping technique is used to work the pad by these three toes. The motion is from the big toe towards the third toe.

4. Look at the top of the right foot and move to the base of the big toe. The thyroid region is at the base of the big toe along the top of the foot to the third toe. Work this region with a creeping technique from the big toe towards the third toe.

Tags: creeping technique, thyroid zone, base thumb, from towards, from towards third, knuckle slowly

Medicare Benefits For Kentucky

Medicare is a federally-funded health care insurance program.

A federal health care program, Medicare allows those 65 or older or disabled to receive health care benefits. This program provides coverage to all of those eligible, regardless of income. Funded by tax dollars, Medicare had 724, 356 enrolled Kentuckians in 2008. There are three different plans under Medicare coverage: Plan A, Plan B and Plan D. Many Kentucky residents also opt for supplemental insurance to help with the part of the medical bills that Medicare does not cover. Some can also participate in Medicare Advantage, or Plan C, which provides all the services covered in Plan A and Plan B, with additional coverage such as dental, vision and emergency care.

Plan A

In Kentucky, eligibility for Plan A is available to seniors 65 or older or disabled persons under the age of 65. This plan comes free of charge if the person or their spouse has paid into Social Security for at least 10 years. Plan A covers short-term hospital visits yet does not provide for long-term health care. This also includes visits to nursing care facilities and home hospice care. When a person begins their inpatient care under this plan, they enter a benefit period which continues until they have remained out of the hospital for 60 consecutive days. This plan requires patients to pay a deductible before Plan A begins to cover the inpatient costs.

Plan B

Plan B provides coverage to all citizens over 65 even if they meet the requirements for Plan A coverage. Plan B requires a monthly premium from those enrolled and provides assistance with most outpatient medical costs. Doctor visits, most preventative medical exams such as X-rays and mammograms, medical equipment like wheelchairs and braces, ambulance services, and medication given during a doctor visit are all covered under Plan B. Medicare Plan B typically pays for approximately 80 percent of the medical costs, depending on the nature of the visit and care provided, as it does not cover certain types of procedures.

Plan D

Those in Kentucky who rely on prescription drugs can opt for Medicare Plan D. Plan D supplements Plan A and Plan B by providing assistance in covering the costs of prescription drugs. Enrollment in this plan is optional, yet all who are under Plans A or B may sign up. Plan D requires a monthly premium in addition to premiums paid to the other parts of the Medicare plan. Plan D also requires that policy holders meet their deductibles before coverage begins, which is about 75 percent of the original prescription cost. Yet, Medicare Plan D sets a cap on the amount it will pay on drugs per year, so the patient must pay out of their own pocket when they reach this amount. Still, those on a low income can receive a subsidy to help pay for what Medicare does not cover.

Tags: health care, does cover, Medicare Plan, Plan Plan, Plan Plan, coverage Plan

Start An Online Parenting Column

Parenting publications are popping up everywhere, and more publications means greater demand for writers. Some of those writers become regulars through features and columns. If you can write clearly and concisely and can provide new information regularly, one of those writers could be you. Below are eight steps to landing an online parenting column.

Instructions

1. Define your parenting niche. When deciding on a niche, find an area that has yet to be tapped into, that you are well suited for, and that you will enjoy for many years to come. If you don’t enjoy it, the work involved in building an audience and finding publications to purchase your column can become so laborious that you begin to dread the work.

2. Set a word count. Columns vary from, for example, a 100-word review all the way up to a 1,500-word how-to article. By setting the exact number of words in each column, you set a precedent for future publications. Your column length lets potential editors know if they’ll have room for it on a regular basis.

3. Develop a writing style. Your writing style is your voice. It’s your personality expressed through words. It distinguishes you from other columnists and allows you to develop a following. If you’re not funny by nature, don’t attempt a humor column. If you’ve never been hip, avoid trying to incorporate “hipness” into your writing. Develop a writing style based upon the audience you want to reach, the word count you’ve selected and the type of column you want to write.

4. Find a critique partner. This must be someone you can trust with your idea and someone who will give you honest feedback—even if it hurts. The best way to polish both your writing and the overall feel of your column is to ask for honest critiques. This way, before delving into a column, you'll have the concept polished.

5. Write up a dozen columns and have them critiqued. Not only will this help you bring out the best in your column, it will tell you whether you want to continue with the concept or try something different.

6. Locate an online publication. Look through Writer’s Digest’s book "Writer's Market" for publications that may be interested in your column idea. You can also do a search for “columnists wanted” or “parenting publications” to find the contact information of possible leads.

7. Write a query letter. A query letter is a pitch or proposal letter. It’s written to the editor of a publication telling him that you have an idea he may be interested in. Give specifics about the column idea and tell the editor why his readers will want to read it.

8. Sign a contract. Whether you’re writing the column for free or for payment, ensure that all terms are written down and signed by both parties. You don’t want to later find yourself in a dispute as to who owns the rights to your column. Your contract should address considerations such as publication rights, ownership of the column heading, ownership of the columns written and payment.

Tags: your column, writing style, column idea, Develop writing, Develop writing style, query letter, those writers

Georgia Health Insurance Guide

PeachCare provides qualifying children under age 19 with comprehensive health coverage.

While most Americans understand that health insurance is important to ensuring quality and affordable healthcare, millions remain uninsured throughout America, 3 million of which live in Georgia according to a 2009 Families USA report. That represents one in every three people in the state's population that does not have access to affordable healthcare without the threat of high medical bills and possible bankruptcy. Fortunately, programs available through the Georgia State Insurance Commission and provisions in the 2010 federal health reform bill are making it easier than ever for residents to find health coverage.

About

The Georgia State Insurance Commission regulates health insurance in the state, ensuring fair health insurance practices and quality coverage options for all residents. The commission makes certain that the contracts and relationships between insurers and policy-holders run smoothly. If you have a complaint against a health insurer, you may file a formal complaint with the Consumer Services Division of the Insurance Commission, at which time the commission will investigate the complaint and attempt to find a fair solution to the problem. The Consumer Services Division is located in Atlanta, but you can contact the department by phone at 404-656-2070.

Public Health Plans

Certain Georgia residents qualify for public health insurance through the state and federal government. Individuals and families with disabilities, terminal illnesses and from low-income households may qualify for Medicaid, which pays for 100 percent of medical expenses from participating health providers. Eligibility varies according to household size, income, assets and medical need. For example, as of 2011, a family of four with a household income of less than $500 per month qualifies for Medicaid, whereas a pregnant woman in the same size family can qualify for pregnancy Medicaid with an income as high as $3,725 per month, or 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Similarly, PeachCare is Georgia's Children's Health Insurance Program that offers comprehensive health coverage to children from households with incomes to high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low to afford comprehensive private health insurance. PeachCare is available for children in families with incomes equal to or less than 235 percent of the federal poverty level.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Unlike many states, Georgia does not offer its residents a state-sponsored preexisting condition health insurance pool. Instead, Georgia residents who cannot find health insurance due to a medical condition must seek assistance through the federal preexisting condition insurance pool, or PCIP. To qualify, you must have been denied insurance because of your health condition and have been uninsured for at least six months prior to applying for coverage through the federal PCIP.

Health Reform and Georgia

In 2010, the federal government enacted The Affordable Care Act, a major health reform bill that will overhaul the American healthcare system by the year 2014. The law affects Georgia significantly, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that 700,000 Georgia residents may become eligible for free or low-cost public health insurance than were enrolled prior to passing the law. Additionally, residents of the state, like all other American citizens, will not be denied health insurance due to a pre-existing condition as of January 1, 2014. This will eliminate the need for participation in the federal PCIP. Additionally, the law will require all citizens to carry health insurance or else pay a tax penalty to offset the costs associated with providing health care to the uninsured.

Tags: health insurance, Georgia residents, health coverage, health insurance, Insurance Commission, 2010 federal, affordable healthcare

Michigan Political Yard Sign Regulations

Michigan municipalities have a wide range of regulations regarding when and where political yard signs are posted.

In the state of Michigan each municipality has its own rules regarding the posting of political signs, while the Michigan Department of Transportation regulates the publication of political signs in public areas and roadways. These regulations vary by jurisdiction, but follow the same general guidelines.

Time Frame

Political signs in the city of Allen Park may be posted as early as 60 days before an election, while the village of Manchester allows political signs to be posted 45 days prior to an election and St. Clair Shores allows a one month window. In Ann Arbor, political yard signs are not mandated by time limits; rather, they are limited by the condition of the signs. In the cities of Saline and St. Clair Shores, political signs must be removed no later than 10 days following an election, whereas Manchester gives residents only five days to remove political signs.

Size

Different municipalities in Michigan require that political signs fit certain dimensions before they can be posted. Ann Arbor allows residents to post political yard signs if their height does not exceed 48 inches and the width does not exceed 36 inches, including the base of the sign. The bottom of political yard signs in Ann Arbor must be at least six inches from the ground. The city of St. Claire Shores allows yard signs that are no bigger than three feet in height and four feet in width. The signs must not protrude more than five feet from the top of the curb.

Permits

St. Clair Shores does not require residents to obtain a permit to post political yard signs, however political candidates and organizations must receive the permission of home or property owner before erecting them. Allen Park does not require permits for political yard signs, but it too requires the permission of the property owner.

Placement

Although homeowners in Michigan are free to exercise their right to support or oppose a political candidate or position, drivers have the right to have an unobstructed view of roads and traffic signs. Saline does not allow political yard signs posted in any area that obstructs the view of traffic, and will remove them promptly. The city of Ann Arbor requires yard signs be placed a minimum of 15 feet from the street and five feet from the sidewalk's edge. If a "legally existing obstruction" does not allow the poster to follow those guidelines, the sign may be placed right in front of the legal obstruction. St. Clair Shores bans all political yard signs placed on a right-of-way that could pose a danger to the public, as well as on public property.

Tags: yard signs, political yard signs, political yard, Clair Shores, political signs, feet from, signs posted

Health Insurance Fraud Laws In Illinois

Health insurance fraud in Illinois is a serious offense.

Insurance fraud occurs when people deceive an insurance company or a government insurance provider so that they can collect money from a false claim. Many people can commit insurance fraud. Private persons, insurance agents, physicians and healthcare providers can all engage in health insurance fraud. Illinois has several laws that regulate and punish those persons who make false insurance claims. The federal government also has laws that control healthcare fraud in Illinois.

Illinois Criminal Law

The main law that regulates health insurance fraud in Illinois is the Insurance Claims For Excessive Charges Act. This act makes it illegal for doctors or healthcare providers to inflate the costs of their services in order to defraud health insurance providers. This law protects public health insurance providers, such as Medicare, as well as private insurers. The act also makes it illegal for patients to collude with physicians to inflate the seriousness of their injuries on health insurance forms. Violation of this act is a misdemeanor in Illinois. A person who violates this act can be punished by serving up to a year in jail and by paying back the fraudulently gained money.

Illinois Civil Law

Along with criminal penalties, Illinois also has civil penalties and civil protections that regulate health insurance fraud. An Illinois health insurance company that has been defrauded by a group health plan has the right to cancel or refuse to renew health insurance coverage offered to that group. This applies even if an individual in the plan has not defrauded the insurer. As long as the plan sponsor has performed a fraudulent act or made an intentional misrepresentation to the insurer, the insurer is allowed to drop every person in that group. The state of Illinois can also refuse to provide medicare or Medicaid services to a person who has committed healthcare fraud in the past.

Federal Law

The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is the main federal law that regulates fraudulent health insurance claims made against Medicare or Medicaid. For first-time offenders who fraudulently misrepresent an insurance claim, the punishment is a year in jail with a fine of $10,000. For repeat offenders, or for people involved in a conspiracy to defraud the government, the penalties are even more serious. Sophisticated parties like physicians and healthcare providers who repeatedly defraud the government can be sentenced to as much as five years in federal prison and charged a fine of $25,000. These parties will also have to pay back the money that they fraudulently earned as restitution for their crimes.

Tags: health insurance, fraud Illinois, insurance fraud Illinois, healthcare providers, insurance fraud, defraud government, health insurance

Create A Website That Gives Profits To Charity

Website building is simple if you join a web-host that already has basic templates designed.

Creating a website that gives profits to charity demands roughly the same protocols of creating any other website, except that you, the owner of the website, will either directly give your profits to charity or the website itself will contribute automatically to a digital account owned by the charity. In general, creating this website requires choosing a Web host, filling in a template for the website, creating a revenue stream, and choosing the exact mechanism (e.g. yourself or PayPal) that will deliver the profits to the charity.

Instructions

1. Choose the purpose of your website. Though you may ultimately donate your profits, it is still essential that your website have some sort of revenue generating mechanism. You can either sell something online, provide a service for someone else, or simply create the website as a promotional tool for the charity or charities that you are supporting.

2. Choose a Web host. Several important criteria for a suitable Web host are worth considering: (1) your budget; (2) the features you need compared to what is made available by the host; (3) the Web traffic you seek compared to the potential traffic supported by the host; and (4) your design needs. Your budget will ultimately determine what host is possible, but considering all of the other factors will determine which hosts are better options than others. In general, if you want to build a website yourself with a pre-ready design template, type "website builders" into a major search engine (such as Google or Yahoo). If you want someone else to design the site, then type "website design" into a major search engine. Review the options, and select one. Double-check that the host offers a "Checkout" feature.

3. Design the website based on the purpose of the website. For example, if you are directly promoting the charity, then use the charity's logo, mission statement, and previous successes as promotions for the charity on the front page of the site. If your site is primarily commercial and then charity driven (i.e. you need business first before you can donate profits), then mention briefly the charity-based purpose of the site, but focus on establishing what your service or good is and why you are qualified to provide it.

4. Choose the mechanism by which the profits will be delivered to charity. Either you will collect the profit of the site yourself and deliver it to the charity (e.g. in check or money order form) or you can contact the charity directly and have them give you their PayPal or bank account Direct Deposit information. In the latter case, you would simply access the website builder or contact the website designer and change the "Checkout" service to match your preference. That is, either the profits collected will go to your account, of you will have the relevant data entered of the charity of your choosing, resulting in the profits going directly into the accounts of the charity owner(s).

Tags: into major, into major search, major search, major search engine, profits charity, search engine, someone else

Tsa Transportation Security Officer Job Description

The Transportation Security Administration provides security at U.S. airports.

The transportation security officer provides security for passengers, aircraft and airports. The officer is an employee of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is directly responsible for front-line passenger and baggage screening. Specific duties include examining baggage as it runs through X-ray machines and screening passengers with a hand-held wand, walk-through detectors and other electronic detectors, according to the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA.

Additional duties

Baggage must go through security screening.

A TSA transportation security officer controls and monitors entry and exit points into secured airport locations, such as tarmacs, terminals, airside gates, baggage claim and other common areas.

Physical Requirements

The TSA transportation security officer position requires strenuous physical exertion. He must be able to repeatedly lift and carry up to 70 pounds, continually stand between one to four hours and walk up to 2 miles a day. He must also have vision that is correctable to 20/30 or better in his best eye and 20/100 or better in his worst eye. The officer must have good hearing, either corrected or uncorrected. Average blood-pressure readings are not to exceed 140/90.

Communication Skills

Interacting with the public throughout the shift is a major part of a transportation security officer's job. She must be able to remain courteous under stressful conditions, including dealing with troublesome passengers. She must also be able to explain security regulations to the public. She must be proficient in English, both written and spoken, though command of foreign languages can prove helpful.

Education and Training

The TSA transportation security officer position requires a high school diploma, or a general educational development diploma or the equivalent. One year of experience in a security field or as an X-ray technician can be substituted for education. The officer, who must be a U.S. citizen or national, must past a variety of tests, including the TSA's Screener Assessment Battery (a series of tests that evaluates a proficiency in English and an aptitude to interpret X-ray images), color vision test, job-related medical interview, a drug-screening test and an interview. After training, he's required to pass all training exams and demonstrate continuous improvement while on the job.

Focus

As a transportation security officer, she must be able to maintain her focus in a noisy, and sometimes confusing environment. She needs to respond quickly and appropriately in an emergency situation that arises at the airport.

Credit History

An applicant's credit history is also reviewed before employment as a TSA transportation security officer. He won't be eligible for this position if his credit history shows he's defaulted on more than $7,500 in debt, owes federal or state taxes, or has any past-due child-support payments.

Benefits

Full federal benefits are available to transportation security officers.

Full federal benefits, including retirement savings programs, insurance and paid leaves, are available for this position.

Tags: security officer, transportation security, officer must, transportation security officer, must able, transportation security officer, credit history

Truck Driving Schools In Atlanta Georgia

Georgia requires classroom training before applying for a commercial truck-driving license.

A commercial driver's license is required before you can begin a career as a truck driver. The State of Georgia further requires potential drivers to successfully complete a classroom training program that includes behind-the-wheel training prior to applying for a Georgia commercial driver's license. In the Atlanta area, several trucking schools offer programs that meet the state's requirements.

America's Driving Force

America's Driving Force is located approximately 10 miles south of Atlanta in the suburb of Conely. Founded in 1991, the school offers a truck-driver training program to help you obtain your Georgia Class A CDL license. Three-week accelerated programs are available; all programs include the requisite classroom and behind-the-wheel training required by the state of Georgia. America's Driving Force also offers lifetime career placement assistance for graduates. The school also has a relationship with several major trucking companies that offer tuition reimbursement after graduation.

America's Driving Force

4180 Moreland Ave.

Conely, GA 30288

404-608-8608

americasdrivingforce.com/

Atlanta Truck Driving School

Atlanta Truck Driving School is in the suburb of East Point, approximately six miles from downtown. The school offers one-on-one coaching and mentoring from private instructors. The CDL certification class lasts four and a half weeks; it includes a minimum of 34 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Nine out of 10 of Atlanta Truck Driving School students pass the state-required road test on their first attempt The school also offers flexible class schedules and payment plans, and has a dedicated team to assist you with job placement after graduation.

Atlanta Truck Driving School

2251 Sylvan Road

East Point, GA 30344

404-768-6565

atlantatruckdrivingschool.us/

Daly's Truck Driving School

Daly's Truck Driving School is located in Conyers, approximately 20 miles east of Atlanta. The school offers a 17-day commercial driver's license course, with new classes beginning every day of the week. Behind-the-wheel training includes real-time experience on tractors, trailers, and straight trucks. Full- and part-time courses are available, and the school's job placement department can assist with tuition reimbursement from several major trucking companies.

Daly's Truck Driving School

2206 Eastview Parkway

Conyers, GA 30013

678-413-8731

dalystruckdrivingschool.com/

Tags: Truck Driving, Driving School, Truck Driving School, America Driving, America Driving Force, Atlanta Truck, Atlanta Truck Driving

Treatment Plan For Cancer

Cancer treatment plans are an individual decision based upon personal beliefs and the location and type of cancer. After consulting with a qualified physician, you must decide between traditional or alternative treatment. The most common treatment plans used today are those that seek to eradicate the cancer by removing it or killing the cancer cells.

Surgery

If the cancer has not spread, surgery may be enough to remove your cancerous growth and cure the problem. Skin cancers are often removed with minor surgery. Some surgeries are much more complex and life threatening. Surgery is not indicated in some cases, such as when the cancerous growth has merged with vital organs. Leukemia is cancer of the blood and surgery in the form of a bone marrow transplant has been a successful treatment plan for it.

Radiation

Approximately 60 percent of cancer patients receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan. Radiation is applied to the body by directing a beam at the affected part, to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. It can also be administered internally. This can be done by drinking it, receiving it through an IV, or having radioactive seeds implanted into the cancerous mass. Several sessions of radiation therapy are usually required before the cancer cells start to die off. Radiation therapy is often combined with surgery or chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy means therapy with chemicals, or drugs. Many chemotherapy drugs have been developed over the last century that target particular types of cancer. Chemotherapy can be administered by pill, cream, liquid, shot or intravenously. You may take chemotherapy every day or once a week; the frequency depends on the type of drug you take. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles with rest periods in between so the body can build new cells to repair itself.

Alternative Treatments

Alternative treatments for cancer can be taken along with traditional treatments as long as your doctor is aware. Some herbs may interfere with chemotherapy treatments, so it is important to let your doctor know every supplement or herb that you take. You may also refuse surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and rely upon alternative treatments alone. The choice is yours but should be made with the help of qualified traditional and alternative doctors. Alternative treatments for cancer include using acupuncture, aromatherapy, mind body medicine, herbs and raw juicing.

Tags: cancer cells, Alternative treatments, Alternative treatments cancer, cancerous growth, plan Radiation, radiation therapy, surgery chemotherapy

Understanding Psychiatric Evaluations

A psychiatric evaluation is used to determine if a person is in need of psychiatric treatment and what type of treatment might be best. A psychiatric diagnosis may or may not be given based on the evaluation.

Function

A person seeking a psychiatric evaluation does so because he has a behavior or belief that disrupts his everyday life. These beliefs or behaviors may be affecting areas such as school, work or relationships, as well as the person's functioning, such as eating or sleeping.

Types

The purpose of a psychiatric evaluation depends on the specific situation in which it is given. For instance, a psychiatrist meeting with a patient in a psychiatric emergency setting may offer a different type of evaluation than one in an outpatient clinic. In any situation, a psychiatrist will evaluate the patient's safety, to determine if the person is at risk for harming himself or others.

Features

The evaluation itself will include an interview between psychiatrist and patient. The psychiatrist will ask questions and might give some simple cognitive (thinking) tests to help determine what the problem is. The psychiatrist may also review the patient's medical records, talk to family members, order neurological or psychological tests or even consult a medical doctor.

Tags: psychiatric evaluation, determine person, psychiatrist will

Menopause & Bloating

Bloating may be caused by high levels of the hormone estrogen, which can occur during peri-menopause, which is the phase that leads up to menopause. When high estrogen levels occur, this is called estrogen dominance or overload. The symptoms of this are many, including sore breasts, premenstrual syndrome, irritability and, alas, bloating. Progesterone, the other female hormone, can also cause water retention, which can make you bloat. Unpredictable hormone fluctuations during peri-menopause may be the culprit behind your bloating, which generally resolves itself once you start your menstrual period. However, once you are fully in menopause and can no longer rely on the onset of your period to relieve bloating, there are other approaches you can take to try and prevent this problem.

Causes

Bloating can also be caused by anxiety, stress and poor nutrition, according to Menopauseinsight.com. If a woman is undergoing hormone therapy replacement (HRT) this, too, can cause bloating, which is uncomfortable and even painful.

Diet and Hormones

Bloating is a common complaint among menopausal women. Some doctors think it is due to decreasing hormone production whereas others believe that bloating is the result of a change in diet. Many menopausal women start eating more fruits and vegetables in an attempt to have better nutrition, which is good, but this can exacerbate bloating and gas. Menopausal women are encouraged by the North American Menopause Society to eat lots of vegetables, soy proteins, whole grains and dairy products because they are nutritious, but they are also gas-producing.

Bile

Menopause-symptoms.com notes that bile production decreases when estrogen levels decline. Bile aids our digestion and serves to lubricate the intestines. When we don't have enough bile, our stools can get dry and hard and may not pass through our system as rapidly as they normally would. You can end up constipated as a result and bloated.

Estrogen Sources

The body will search for new sources of estrogen when estrogen levels decline during peri-menopause. Estrogen can be found in fat cells so the body converts calories into fat in an effort to make more estrogen. When this happens, the result may be estrogen over-correction. Bloating will occur and insulin resistance may also result, according to Bodylogic.com.

Androgens

Women complain of weight gain during menopause. This is caused by androgens, which are male hormones. When a menopausal woman gains weight, it will probably be in her abdomen. This makes the feeling of bloating even worse.

Lactose Intolerant

As we get older, we are likely to become lactose intolerant. Bloating, cramps, gas, diarrhea, and nausea can occur shortly after ingesting milk products.

Considerations and Approaches

Everyone has gas, although some have it worse than others. Our bodies don't absorb and digest some starches, fiber and sugar, which are carbohydrates. These problematic carbohydrates, which are also called polysaccharides, include stachyose and raffinose. Undigested sugar leads to gas, bloating and flatulence, according to Menopauserx.com. On the other hand, proteins and fats don't cause much gas. However, if you are constantly bloating, discuss this with your physician. This could be a sign of colitis, ulcers, acid reflux, Crohn's disease or cancer.

Many women have successfully dealt with their bloating problems by using herbs. According to Herbalshopper.com, natural herbs that are especially effective when it comes to eliminating bloat include oregano, cardamom, fennel and peppermint. Peppermint, in particular, relaxes the intestines and you will be able to pass gas, which will make you feel better. Fennel also helps release trapped gas and improves digestion. Pancreatic enzymes, which you can get in a supplement, provide relief from bloating and an upset stomach and also assist in digestion. Talk to a qualified herbalist, as well as with your physician, and find a remedy that works well for you.

Tags: during peri-menopause, estrogen levels, bloating which, estrogen levels decline, levels decline

Radiation Treatment For Breast Cancer & Femara

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breast cancer is also the seventh-leading cause of death for women in the United States. Each year approximately 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Fortunately, there are treatments available for breast cancer that send the disease into remission and prevent future recurrences.

Prescription drugs help treat breast cancer in post-menopausal women

Background

Breast cancer occurs when cells inside the breast begin to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. These malignant or cancerous cells have the potential to spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system, causing secondary cancers in other areas. The female hormone estrogen stimulates breast tissue and exacerbates breast cancer, causing it to grow and spread more quickly.

Function

Radiation therapy uses focused beams of radioactive energy to target cancerous cells in breast tissue. This energy destroys cancer cells left over after surgeries like lumpectomies or mastectomies, which are used to remove cancerous tumors. Femara is a prescription medication that limits estrogen levels in the body, preventing breast cancer both from spreading and returning. Because Femara greatly limits estrogen, doctors reserve the use of the drug to women who have already undergone menopause and are no longer menstruating, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Features

Radiation therapy decreases the risk of a second breast cancer tumor in 70 percent of women, according to BreastCancer.org. Therapy usually takes place every few days or weekly for a number of weeks. Femara is taken daily in the form of a 25mg tablet. Approximately 92 percent of women who take Femara remain cancer-free two years after remission, according to the drug's official website.

Risks

Radiation therapy frequently causes side effects to the skin on your breasts, including itching, redness and darkening, which is likely to persist for up to two months after treatment ends, according to the American Cancer Society. There is also a potential for breast symptoms and changes, including tenderness, pain, swelling and increased size. Because radiation therapy sometimes affects the lungs, coughing and difficulty breathing and swallowing are also possible side effects. The most common side effects of Femara occur in 1 to 33 percent of women and include hot flashes, joint pain, night sweats, weight gain, nausea, fatigue, swelling, muscle pain, vaginal bleeding, headaches, vomiting, dizziness and constipation, according to RxList. Femara also poses a risk for potentially life-threatening cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, blood clots, and stroke. Approximately 2 percent of women who take Femara develop osteoporosis due to the decreased estrogen levels the drug causes.

Self-Care

A healthy, balanced diet and adequate sleep help reduce the side effects of radiation therapy, according to the American Cancer Society. Wearing loose clothing and avoiding bras also helps with the skin side effects of radiotherapy. If you develop side effects from Femara, the makers of the drug suggest that you let your oncologist know. Together, you may find solutions to help you cope with these adverse effects.

Tags: side effects, breast cancer, percent women, according American, according American Cancer, American Cancer

Financial Help For Cancer Patients

Financial Help for Cancer Patients

A cancer diagnosis is stressful and challenging. Along with treatment options, tests and outcomes, patients must also face financial issues. Due to rising health-care costs, a patient can easily meet insurance deductibles and co-payments, perhaps for multiple years. Some individuals may have no health insurance at all, and fear the financial burdens treatment imposes. However, a variety of local, federal, agency and medical assistance programs are available to ease fiscal concerns.

Identification

Assess your situation. If you are uninsured or have poor coverage, it's likely you will need assistance with medical bill reduction or added insurance coverage. Questions to ask your physician: Will you need a significant amount of time off work, either for yourself or caring for a family member with cancer? Are you going to need transportation help, such as for frequent radiation therapy?

Types

Start local for assistance. Begin with your health-care provider. Ask for referrals to hospital social workers or finance advisors. Also seek referrals to local city or county agencies. Some cities or service groups have local patient funds for a variety of financial needs (utilities, prescriptions, etc). Members of houses of worship or service organizations should consider asking for assistance from these groups.

Features

Discuss your situation with your employer. The FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) allows for up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off work per calendar year for certain conditions, such as cancer (or caring for immediate family members). The employer, under FMLA, must maintain health benefits throughout the leave. Some prerequisites apply. Also, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), patients may qualify for flextime at work while undergoing treatments.

Considerations

Go national for funds. Contact the Hill-Burton program (1-800-638-0742) to see if a nearby hospital is participating in this federal grant program. Hill-Burton allows construction money for hospitals that receive funds in exchange for reduced or free services for patients who cannot pay.

Function

Another national source, CancerCare (1-800-813-4673) offers limited grants for patient costs related to transportation, child care and home health care. Through its partner, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, patients can receive additional services, such as medication, female prosthesis and hormonal replacement. Ask about CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation information. NeedyMeds (http://www.needymeds.org), an internet-based group, provides assistance for the uninsured and will supply resources for finding low-cost or free medical services.

Potential

Others to investigate are Medicaid (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/contacts) which offers part-time nursing, medical supplies and equipment, and Medicare (1-800-633-4227) for federal health insurance. Veterans or their dependents may contact the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for medical assistance and treatment by calling 1-877-222-8387.

Expert Insight

Consult health-care providers for agency contact information regarding the specific type of cancer diagnosed. Many groups offer assistance for certain cancer patients, such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) or the National Brain Tumor Society (NTBS). These give limited, but vital, patient assistance. Be aware that medical bills often can be negotiated down significantly. Ask a family member to seek financial aid on your behalf. Click on the National Cancer Institute link below for expanded resources. Concentrate on healing.

Tags: Cancer Patients, family member, Financial Help, Financial Help Cancer, health insurance, Help Cancer

Cable Vs Dsl Vs Satellite

Cable, DSL (digital subscriber line) and satellite Internet are three types of broadband (high speed) Internet. How they are set up, function and perform will vary. Which connection is ideal for you will depend on your budget, home layout and location.

Cable

Just as the name implies, cable Internet uses a cable connection to transmit data. While the same line is used, cable TV is not required to have cable Internet. A cable Internet connection uses a cable modem, which acts as the hub between your ISP (Internet service provider) and computer. Cable connections can suffer from slowdown when a lot of people on the same ISP are active at once. Depending on your home layout, minor wall drilling may be required.

DSL

DSL is short for 'Digital Subscriber Line.' DSL uses your phone line to transmit data. Unlike a dial-up connection (e.g., 56K), DSL does not tie up your phone line when in use. The quality of the phone line can impact connection performance. DSL uses a DSL modem, which acts as the hub between your phone line, computer and ISP. DSL is easy to install yourself and is generally cheaper than cable.

Satellite

Depending on the Internet service provider, satellite connections use either a one or two way satellite. Satellite Internet is noticeably slower than any other broadband connections and just as (if not more so) pricey. A satellite connection is also more susceptible to outages caused by weather. While satellite connections are sufficient for the basic web browsing, if you intend to play online multiplayer games or download a lot of large files, you may want to look elsewhere. Satellite connections will work from just about anywhere; however, because of the price to performance ratio, they are usually considered a last resort.

Tags: phone line, cable Internet, your phone, your phone line, acts between, acts between your, between your