Wednesday, April 6, 2011


Laser hair removal is the act of having unwanted hair removed by a laser under the guidance of a medical professional. Patients typically receive laser hair removal treatments on areas of the body including the upper lip, chin, legs, underarms, and bikini area. Not only is this meant to remove the existing hairs, but also to slow or prevent the growth of future hairs in the treated areas. This medical procedure usually requires that patients undergo multiple sessions before seeing long-term results.1
The laser, which is a pulsating beam of light, works because its light is so intense that the beam's heat travels straight to the hair follicle (through the skin), targeting the melanin (dark pigment) in the follicle and damaging it. Because of this process and how the laser works, blond, white, and gray hair follicles are usually not successfully treated. People who tend to experience the best success rates with these procedures have light skin and dark hairs. The procedure will commonly take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the size of the area being treated. A common side effect of laser hair removal is that the laser can, sometimes temporarily, lighten the skin or darken the treated skin. Less common side effects include blistering, scarring, or damaging of the skin.2
Before laser treatments are performed, most doctors will require a consultation to discuss medical history. At this consultation, the doctor is likely to advise that patients should not tan, and should wait for existing tans to fade before undergoing treatment. Likewise, patients seeking laser hair removal should not pluck or wax hairs.3

f you have considered laser hair removal, and live in the Washington, D.C. Area, there are several centers that offer this service. Before having any procedure done, it is important to verify the accreditations and licensing of the center you choose. Be sure to meet with a representative from the laser hair removal center, and ask any questions you may have, prior to consenting to treatment. Not only will this help you make an educated choice, but it could also affect your treatment, as they can offer advice based upon your own personal situation. To locate other facilities that offer hair removal services, you can consult your dermotologist, or physician to obtain recommended treatment centers.
The Center for Laser Surgery, located in Washington, D.C. was established in 1995. The Center for Laser Surgery offers treatments in cosmetic laser surgery, dermatology and total vein treatments. The director of the Dermatology and skin surgery program is Dr. Susan Elliot. Dr. Elliot is board certified by the American Academy of Dermatology and has been listed frequently as a “top doctor” by the Washingtonian Magazine and as a “Top Physician of America by the Consumer Research Council”. The Center for Laser Surgery of Washington has over ten years of experience both in research and clinical areas. To speak with a representative and receive a complimentary consultation, patients are encouraged to call 1-202-966-8814. The Center for Laser Surgery is located at 3301 New Mexico Avenue, NW. Washington, DC 20016 1
Another facility that offers laser hair removal in Washington D.C. is Reveal. There are several locations throughout Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Reveal offers the laser hair removal treatment called Alased. Available exclusively at Reveal facilities, this treatment is customized to treat your unique hair and skin textures to maximize results. To contact Reveal in the Washinton D.C. Area, patients can call 1-866-REVEAL-ME, or visit Alase Downtown D.C. Located at 1028 19th St. NW. Washington, D.C. 20036 2

Details

Laser hair removal is a medical treatment that slows hair growth for an extended period of time. By using an intense laser, technicians direct the pulsating beam of light at the hair follicle. The damage to the follicle from the intense heat, prohibits hair growth at its normal rate. This slows the growth of the hair for a longer period of time, than shaving or waxing the area.3 Typically patients are required to undergo several treatments to see desired results. Having a laser hair removal procedure performed does not offer a guarantee of permanent hair removal.
Common areas where this procedure is performed include the face, under arms, bikini line and legs. A light complexion and dark skin tend to offer greater results.
Common side effects from laser hair removal treatments may include skin irritation. While temporary, patients may experience crusting or scabbing of the affected area after treatment. Changes in skin pigment may also occur causing a lightening or darkening of the treated skin. In rare cases, blistering, scarring or other texture changes can be found on the skin after treatments. 4
Immediately following a procedure, you may experience redness or swelling for a few hours. Also stinging may occur for a few days following treatments. Once you have received successful treatment, you may need to receive additional procedures every 6-12 months to maintain the area. 

Monday, April 4, 2011


surgical oncologist doctor sanchez
Mesothelioma cancer, or malignant mesothelioma, is an extremely rare disease generally affecting the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity. Less than 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer each year, and the average age of people afflicted is between 50 and 70 years old. Mesothelioma cancer is most strongly associated with exposure to asbestos, and can remain latent in those exposed for 30 to 40 years. There are two main types of mesothelioma cancer: pleural, in which the cancer affects the lining of the chest and peritoneal, which affects the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Pleural is the more common of the two, accounting for approximately three out of every four cases. Peritoneal comprises the bulk of the remainder of mesothelioma cancers. Other extremely rare forms of mesothelioma cancer affect the lining of the heart (the pericardium) or testicles.

Symptoms of mesothelioma cancer include the following:

Pleural mesothelioma cancer:
  • Pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Hoarseness
  • Persistent cough
  • Persistent fever
  • Excessive sweating
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer:
  • Stomach pain
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Swelling of the abdomen
It's important to remember that these symptoms may be caused by other, less serious conditions. In addition, other cancers can exhibit the same symptoms as pleural mesothelioma cancer, such as small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer. If you experience the symptoms of mesothelioma cancer, please visit your physician for an accurate diagnosis.
Your doctor may employ a number of resources to accurately diagnose mesothelioma cancer, beginning with a discussion of your medical history, followed by a complete physical examination including X-rays of the chest and lung function tests. Further tests may include a CT scan, an MRI, a bronchoscopy (a procedure in which a tiny camera at the end of a flexible tube is inserted into the chest via the mouth), and finally, for complete confirmation, a biopsy. These methods will also be used to stage, or determine the progression of, the disease.

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment

Being diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer can be an overwhelming experience for you and your family. Cancer Treatment Centers of America will rally around you a multidisciplinary team, consisting of a medical oncologist, a surgical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist, accompanied by expert practitioners from a variety of other fields. Your team will work with you to create an individualized, integrative treatment plan for your mesothelioma cancer, consisting of conventional methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, as well as complementary or alternative treatment options.
Surgery is a time-tested method for treating mesothelioma cancer, provided the tumor is confined to one space. Surgery may also be used as a palliative measure (to reduce discomfort from the symptoms).
Chemotherapy, treating mesothelioma cancer with anticancer drugs, may be used in conjunction with other conventional methods or, in certain cases, on its own. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America we employ numerous innovative chemotherapy techniques that can reduce side effects while optimizing treatment.
Radiation therapy, often used in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy, uses high-energy rays to either destroy or impede the growth of tumors. Innovative new methods have been and continue to be developed, enabling more focused delivery of higher doses of radiation that limits its effect on healthy cells.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

EASY TIPS FOR PLANNING A HEALTHY DIET AND STICKING TO IT


Healthy Eating: Guide to New Food Pyramids and Tips for a Healthy Diet
Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible– all of which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for you.
Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”—it’s not just what you eat, but how you eat. Your food choices can reduce your risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, as well as defend against depression. Additionally, learning the habits of healthy eating can boost your energy, sharpen your memory and stabilize your mood. You can expand your range of healthy food choices and learn how to plan ahead to create and maintain a satisfying, healthy diet.

Healthy eating tip 1: Set yourself up for success  

To set yourself up for success, think about planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps rather than one big drastic change. If you approach the changes gradually and with commitment, you will have a healthy diet sooner than you think.
  • Simplify. Instead of being overly concerned with counting calories or measuring portion sizes, think of your diet in terms of color, variety and freshness—then it should be easier to make healthy choices. Focus on finding foods you love and easy recipes that incorporate a few fresh ingredients. Gradually, your diet will become healthier and more delicious.
  • Start slow and make changes to your eating habits over time. Trying to make your diet healthy overnight isn’t realistic or smart.  Changing everything at once usually leads to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan. Make small steps, like adding a salad (full of different color vegetables) to your diet once a day or switching from butter to olive oil when cooking.  As your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices to your diet.
  • Every change you make to improve your diet matters. You don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy to have a healthy diet.  The long term goal is to feel good, have more energy and reduce the risk of cancer and disease. Don’t let your missteps derail you—every healthy food choice you make counts.

Think of water and exercise as food groups in your diet.

Water. Water helps flush our systems of waste products and toxins. Yet many people go through life dehydrated—causing tiredness, low energy and headaches. It’s common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated will also help you make healthier food choices.
Exercise. Find something active that you like to do and add it to your day, just like you would add healthy greens, blueberries or salmon. The benefits of lifelong exercise are abundant and regular exercise may even motivate you to make healthy food choices a habit.

Healthy eating tip 2: Moderation is key 

People often think of healthy eating as an all or nothing proposition, but a key foundation for any healthy diet is moderation.  Despite what certain fad diets would have you believe, we all need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to sustain a healthy body.
  • Try not to think of certain foods as “off limits.” When you ban certain foods or food groups, it is natural to want those foods more, and then feel like a failure if you give in to temptation. If you are drawn towards sweet, salty, or unhealthy foods, start by reducing portion sizes and not eating them as often. Later you may find yourself craving them less or thinking of them as only occasional indulgences.
  • Think smaller portions. Serving sizes have ballooned recently, particularly in restaurants. When dining out, choose a starter instead of an entrée, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything. At home, use smaller plates, think about serving sizes in realistic terms and start small.  Visual cues can help with portion sizes—your serving of meat, fish or chicken should be the size of a deck of cards. A teaspoon of oil or salad dressing is about the size of a matchbook and your slice of bread should be the size of a CD case.

Healthy eating tip 3: It's not just what you eat, it's how you eat 

Healthy eating is about more than the food on your plate—it is also about how you think about food. Healthy eating habits can be learned and it is important to slow down and think about food as nourishment rather than just something to gulp down in between meetings or on the way to pick up the kids.
  • Eat with others whenever possible. Eating with other people has numerous social and emotional benefits—particularly for children—and allows you to model healthy eating habits. Eating in front of the TV or computer often leads to mindless overeating.
  • Take time to chew your food and enjoy mealtimes. Chew your food slowly, savoring every bite. We tend to rush though our meals, forgetting to actually taste the flavors and feel the textures of what is in our mouths. Reconnect with the joy of eating.
  • Listen to your body. Ask yourself if you are really hungry, or have a glass of water to see if you are thirsty instead of hungry. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly.
  • Eat breakfast, and eat smaller meals throughout the day. A healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating small, healthy meals throughout the day (rather than the standard three large meals) keeps your energy up and your metabolism going.

Healthy eating tip 4: Fill up on colorful fruits and vegetables 

Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day—the brighter the better.Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet—they are low in calories and nutrient dense, which means they are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.
Fruits and vegetables should be part of every meal and your first choice for a snack—aim for a minimum of five portions each day. The antioxidants and other nutrients in fruits and vegetables help protect against certain types of cancer and other diseases.

Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day—the brighter the better.

The brighter, deeper colored fruits and vegetables contain higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants—and different colors provide different benefits. Some great choices are:
  • Greens: Greens are packed with calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, vitamins A, C, E and K, and they help strengthen the blood and respiratory systems. Be adventurous with your greens and branch out beyond bright and dark green lettuce—kale, mustard greens, broccoli, Chinese cabbage are just a few of the options.
  • Sweet vegetables: Naturally sweet vegetables add healthy sweetness to your meals and reduce your cravings for other sweets. Some examples of sweet vegetables are corn, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes or yams, winter squash, and onions.
  • Fruit: A wide variety of fruit is also vital to a healthy diet. Fruit provides fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Berries are cancer-fighting, apples provide fiber, oranges and mangos offer vitamin C, and so on.

Don’t forget to shop fresh and local whenever possible

The local farmer’s market, fruit stand or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group are great ways to get access to fresh, local produce. To find local growers, farmer's markets, and CSAs in your area, visit Local Harvest.

Healthy eating tip 5: Eat more healthy carbs and whole grains

C:\Users\Robert Home\Pictures\HG new format\Healthy_sandwich.jpgChoose healthy carbohydrates and fiber sources, especially whole grains, for long lasting energy. In addition to being delicious and satisfying, whole grains are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants, which help to protect against coronary heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes. Studies have shown people who eat more whole grains tend to have a healthier heart.

A quick definition of healthy carbs and unhealthy carbs

Healthy carbs (sometimes known as good carbs) include whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables. Healthy carbs are digested slowly, helping you feel full longer and keeping blood sugar and insulin levels stable.
Unhealthy carbs (or bad carbs) are foods such as white flour, refined sugar and white rice that have been stripped of all bran, fiber and nutrients. Unhealthy carbs digest quickly and cause spikes in blood sugar levels and energy.

Tips for eating more healthy carbs

Whole Grain Stamp
  • Include a variety of whole grains in your healthy diet, including whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, and barley. Experiment with different grains to find your favorites.
  • Make sure you're really getting whole grains. Be aware that the words stone-ground, multi-grain, 100% wheat, or bran, can be deceptive. Look for the words “whole grain” or “100% whole wheat” at the beginning of the ingredient list. In the US, check for the Whole Grain Stamps that distinguish between partial whole grain and 100% whole grain.
  • Try mixing grains as a first step to switching to whole grains. If whole grains, like brown rice and whole wheat pasta, don’t sound good at first, start by mixing what you normally use with the whole grains. You can gradually increase the whole grain to 100%.
Avoid: Refined foods such as breads, pastas, and breakfast cereals that are not whole grain.

Healthy eating tip 6: Enjoy healthy fats & avoid unhealthy fats

Good sources of healthy fat are needed to nourish your brain, heart and cells, as well as your hair, skin, and nails.  Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA are particularly important and can reduce cardiovascular disease, improve your mood and help prevent dementia.

Add to your healthy diet:

  • Monounsaturated fats, from plant oils like canola oil, peanut oil, and olive oil, as well as avocados, nuts (like almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans), and seeds (such as pumpkin, sesame).
  • Polyunsaturated fats, including Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, found in fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and some cold water fish oil supplements. Other sources of polyunsaturated fats are unheated sunflower, corn, soybean, and flaxseed oils, and walnuts.

Reduce or eliminate from your diet:

  • Saturated fats, found primarily in animal sources including red meat and whole milk dairy products.
  • Trans fats, found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, baked goods, and other processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Healthy eating tip 7: Put protein in perspective

Sizzling SalmonProtein gives us the energy to get up and go—and keep going. Protein in food is broken down into the 20 amino acids that are the body’s basic building blocks for growth and energy, and essential for maintaining cells, tissues, and organs. A lack of protein in our diet can slow growth, reduce muscle mass, lower immunity, and weaken the heart and respiratory system. Protein is particularly important for children, whose bodies are growing and changing daily.

Here are some guidelines for including protein in your healthy diet:

Try different types of protein. Whether or not you are a vegetarian, trying different protein sources—such as beans, nuts, seeds, peas, tofu and soy products—will open up new options for healthy mealtimes.
  • Beans:  Black beans, navy beans, garbanzos, and lentils are good options.
  • Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and pecans are great choices.
  • Soy products: Try tofu, soy milk, tempeh, and veggie burgers for a change.
  • Avoid salted or sugary nuts and refried beans.
Downsize your portions of protein. Most people in the U.S. eat too much protein. Try to move away from protein being the center of your meal. Focus on equal servings of protein, whole grains, and vegetables.
Focus on quality sources of protein, like fresh fish, chicken or turkey, tofu, eggs, beans or nuts. When you are having meat, chicken, or turkey, buy meat that is free of hormones and antibiotics.

Healthy eating tip 8: Add calcium for strong bones

Add Calcium for Strong BonesCalcium is one of the key nutrients that your body needs in order to stay strong and healthy. It is an essential building block for lifelong bone health in both men and women, among many other important functions.
You and your bones will benefit from eating plenty of calcium-rich foods, limiting foods that deplete your body’s calcium stores, and getting your daily dose of magnesium and vitamins D and K—nutrients that help calcium do its job.
Recommended calcium levels are 1000 mg per day, 1200 mg if you are over 50 years old. Take a vitamin D and calcium supplement if you don’t get enough of these nutrients from your diet.

Good sources of calcium include:

  • Dairy: Dairy products are rich in calcium in a form that is easily digested and absorbed by the body. Sources include milk, yogurt, and cheese.
  • Vegetables and greens: Many vegetables, especially leafy green ones, are rich sources of calcium. Try turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, kale, romaine lettuce, celery, broccoli, fennel, cabbage, summer squash, green beans, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and crimini mushrooms.
  • Beans: For another rich source of calcium, try black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, white beans, black-eyed peas, or baked beans.

Healthy eating tip 9: Limit sugar and salt

If you succeed in planning your diet around fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and good fats, you may find yourself naturally cutting back on foods that can get in the way of your healthy diet—sugar and salt.

Sugar

Sugar causes energy ups and downs and can add to health and weight problems. Unfortunately, reducing the amount of candy, cakes, and desserts we eat is only part of the solution. Often you may not even be aware of the amount of sugar you’re consuming each day. Large amounts of added sugar can be hidden in foods such as bread, canned soups and vegetables, pasta sauce, margarine, instant mashed potatoes, frozen dinners, fast food, soy sauce, and ketchup. Here are some tips:
  • Avoid sugary drinks. One 12-oz soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar in it, more than the daily recommended limit! Try sparkling water with lemon or a splash of fruit juice.
  • Eat naturally sweet food such as fruit, peppers, or natural peanut butter to satisfy your sweet tooth.