Health and Medical Information

Archive for May, 2008

Among the many kinds of contact lenses available today are: novelty, colored, crazy, Halloween, special effects, theatrical, costume, scary, glow in the dark, wild eyes, mirrored, black, white, and red. Be careful about buying cheap contact lenses, they may not be the quality you want; discounted quality contact lenses are the most desirable. The choice of which lens is right for you should be based only on an examination by your doctor or eyecare professional, not over the phone. Once you have the prescription in hand you can look for discounted lenses online.

Contact lens sales are solely regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission.) And all correcting contact lenses must have a valid prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Extended wear contact lenses are used for overnight or continuous wear ranging anywhere from one to six nights or up to 30 days. There are differences in the water content and shape of the contact lens between different brands. There are also a few rigid gas-permeable lenses designed and approved for overnight wear.

Although easier to handle and less likely to tear, rigid gas-permeable lenses are not as comfortable in the beginning as soft contacts and it may take a few weeks to get used to wearing them compared to just a few days for soft contacts. There are two types of contact lenses - soft and rigid gas permeable. You can become adjusted to soft lenses within a few days, compared to several weeks for the rigid ones.

In some models, each lens corrects for near and distance vision and in others, one lens is for near vision, and the other is for distance vision. Rigid gas permeable lenses tend to be cheaper over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are more durable, resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give clearer, crisper vision.

Rigid lenses don’t absorb chemicals, unlike soft lenses which will soak up residue from your hands like soap and lotion. If you plan to wear lenses for more than 18 hours for the purpose of changing your eye color, then buy colored soft lenses.

You want to always buy from a reputable company; you can buy contact lenses without a prescription, but then the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device violating FTC regulations by selling you contact lenses without having your prescription. Ask about lens prices at your doctor’s office when you have your eye examination, or during a follow-up visit after you get your prescription. Check out how long the online supplier has been in business before you buy from them.

Focus on value, not the price; most people looking for the best price are really looking for the best value. Get a feel for how the retailer handles customer service calls, in case you end up having a problem after your order arrives. There are many good discount contact lens retailers now on the Internet making their lenses available at a good discount for both prescription and non-prescription lenses.

Rebates sometimes are available from the seller, from the manufacturer, for first-time contact lens wearers and for individuals who buy lenses and get an eye exam - make sure to ask. Beware of any attempts to substitute a brand different from the one you want when buying contacts. You can buy discount contact lenses from an eye doctor, on the Internet, from an optical store or a warehouse club.

One sight-threatening concern is the infection Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is caused by improper car of the lens; this difficult-to-treat parasitic infection’s symptoms are similar to those of corneal ulcers. Daily-wear lenses are removed daily for cleaning and are a safer choice, provided they aren’t worn while you’re sleeping. A basic rule: never swap your contact lenses with anyone else.

The risk of corneal ulcers for people who keep extended-wear lenses in overnight is 10 to 15 times greater than for those people who use daily-wear lenses only while they are awake. Heat disinfection is the only effective method against the microorganism Acanthamoeba keratitis, a common culprit for contact lens wearers, and it also kills organisms in and on the lens case. Under the binding down of a rigid contact lens during sleep, the flow of tears and oxygen to the cornea is reduced. The lack of oxygen leaves the eye vulnerable to infection.

If you are planning to buy discount contact lenses, you should buy the best quality you can get, even at a higher price; you don’t want to skimp on quality when it comes to your eyes. Shopping for contacts online will save you a lot of money; contact lenses are deeply discounted. Laser or LASIK surgery and its risks can be frightening and too expensive for some people; contacts can provide a safer, more comfortable alternative.

For more information on color contact lenses and where to buy discount contact lenses visit http://www.VisionNurse.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s popular website which offers tips, advice and resources, including information on LASIK eye surgery, sunglasses, eyeglasses and affordable quality contact lenses

Creating a beautiful smile, beaming almost from ear to ear, has become an accepted rite of passage for teenagers these days, as common as SATs and their first date.

In fact dental braces are now so common that kids rarely get teased about wearing them and it’s seem as something that ‘just is’, during the teenage years.

To make sure that you get the outcomes that you want with your dental braces, you have ongoing maintenance and care of them to understand carefully.

Are Invisible Braces The Answer?

Although the new style of Invisalign braces are much less intrusive type of dental brace, it would not be true to say that they are the answer to all problems.

They are less annoying in their almost invisibility, yet they still need to be taken care of when used, with cleaning, care with food and other issues a problem.

The ADA (American Dental Association) do not believe that this design of dental brace is suitable for all problems. Indeed they do not recommend they are used for children and when they are used, the best use is for minor work, typically where normal dental braces would not necessarily be used.

A good invention, Invisalign braces fill a niche in the dental braces market, but only a small one, especially where the adult wearer already has a good bite pattern and the issues are minor.

So, traditional dental braces are still the product of choice for most children and adults, whether they have a short or long term problem with their teeth and mouth.

Dental Braces and Intimate Relationships

If you are sexually active and wear dental braces, care must be taken especially when French kissing or other relations that involve the mouth.

The metal in the braces could seriously get in the way and where tender parts of the anatomy or condoms are involved, this might make the experience memorable for the wrong reasons.

No-one would like for dental braces to have a lasting impression such as injury, a sexually transmitted disease or even worse an unwanted pregnancy to be the result.

It’s also possible that even a minor injury could lead to oral or other infections that whilst not described as an STD, would still make a mark on your sexual partner.

Ironically, that is pretty much a kiss of death on any relationship and probably best to be avoided where possible.

Dental braces are a part of growing up. They are quite an important part of dental health and many people have passed this way before.

With a few simple precautions they fulfil an important role in managing the appearance of millions of people today, so they are worth the effort.

Despite the discomfort, many years experience has proven that the effort is worth it and a million-dollar smile is within touch for many more people these days than ever before.

(c) 2007 Best Dental HealthGuide. If you want to find the best information and product ideas to keep your teeth healthy and bright. You can, right here, on Martin Haworth’s fascinating website at http://www.BestDentalHealthGuide.com

Mental health counselling can be an effective therapy as part of a wider treatment plan for an individual who is suffering from depression or an anxiety related disorder, or for people who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives and are finding it difficult to cope with, or for those who are struggling to deal with specific problems and issues. It is often a doctor who will recommend mental health counselling, however, many individuals will seek the services of a counsellor themselves, either by asking their doctor for advice or by approaching a counsellor directly.

What is counselling

Basically, counselling can be described as a type of talking therapy. It is usually delivered in a safe and private setting so that the individual concerned can relax and talk openly and freely about their particular problems or issues and the emotions or feelings that can accompany them.

It is described as a talking therapy because the counsellor will listen empathetically to an individual in order to understand the situation from the individuals point of view. In doing this a trained counsellor will be able to encourage an individual to see their situation more clearly, perhaps from a different perspective, and will be able to help them identify new ways of coping with their problems or circumstances. Counselling usually does not involve giving advice or telling someone what to do with their lives, it is more about exploring problems, identifying possible solutions and choices and obtaining clarity.

For counselling to be effective, it is essential that an element of trust develops between the counsellor and the person or persons receiving the counselling as only in this way can there be an open and free dialogue. It may take time for a person receiving counselling to lose any initial feelings of distrust, fear and embarrassment so quite often counselling will be offered over several sessions in order for a relationship to develop between the counsellor and the patient or client.

There are several types of mental health counselling services available, each drawing on its own particular theory of human psychology and development. There are also many different types of counsellors, some of who are trained to deal with a particular problem or circumstance. For example bereavement counsellors, counsellors who specialise in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, and counsellors who understand the issues surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, as well as many others.

Counselling can take place on a one to one basis, or in group sessions, face to face or over the phone. It can last for just one session, a specific block of sessions or be open ended with no time limit at all. Regardless of the particular type of mental health problem involved, the first step to recovery is recognising that there is a problem in the first place.

When mental health counselling can help

Mental health counselling can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have a tendency to repress feelings like guilt, frustration, anger, resentment, sadness and so on and who find it difficult to cope alone and who for whatever reason, perhaps do not want to discuss how they feel with their friends and family. It can help an individual to gain new insights into their own particular circumstances and problems and to achieve clarity and direction in life. Most of all it can help an individual cope and improve their quality of life.

There are numerous circumstances where someone might seek the services of a mental health counsellor or be referred for counselling by their doctor and these include but are certainly not limited to:

Relationship problems, including separation and divorce
Problems at work or financial worries, dismissal, redundancy
Physical, sexual and/or mental abuse
Bereavement
Depression and anxiety
Post natal depression
Eating disorders
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Alcohol and drug abuse
Phobias
Panic Attacks
Dealing with stress
Post traumatic stress

Finding a counsellor

In order to get the right kind of help it is important that you access the most appropriate type of counselling for you and as there are so many available options, it can be problematic if you decide to go it alone.

In the first instance, it would be advisable to speak to your doctor as he or she will be able to take into consideration your full medical history before recommending any particular type of therapy or counsellor. If you decide to seek the services of a trained counsellor independently, it is up to you to check out the cost and the credentials of any potential counsellor before you start.

Many voluntary organisations have counsellors and there are numerous private counsellors advertising in the press, phone books and on the Internet. However, you can find an accredited counsellor from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy website at bacp or from the National Board for Certified Counsellors at nbcc if you live in the USA.

Simon jones is an expert in depression and related disorders. For more information about depression please come and visit our site http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk