Gynecomastia Is Associated With Several Risk Factors

Not every male gets gynecomastia, but more get it than you would think. This is likely because few people like to talk about it. If you have not been affected by this condition, there is no way to tell for sure if you ever will. However, there are some factors that may be able to tell you if you have a high chance of developing gynecomastia.

One of the most common culprits is the impact of hormones. For this reason, it is likely that if you develop this issue, it will be during puberty. Of course, this happens to be when many boys are already self-conscious and possibly being humiliated for unrelated factors, so adding excess fat on the upper body can lead to increased social issues. You should know, though, that hormones are unbalanced when you are particularly old or young, too. This means that you can develop this condition in old age, and even some newborns have it, so hormones can strike at any time and lead to excess chest fat.

If you take certain medications, you may have an increased possibility of developing gynecomastia. Not surprisingly, anything that alters you hormone levels can have an effect. This means androgens and anabolic steroids can increase your chance of facing this issue. Even anti-androgens, which are given when you are fighting certain types of cancer, can cause this problem. Additionally, your risk of getting excess fat on your chest increases when you are given medication to treat AIDS, infections, or ulcers. This does not necessarily mean you should refuse medication because of the slight risk of getting this issue. Instead, let your doctor know your concerns if you are worried about this.

Before you skip medications, it is important to note that some conditions can actually increase your risk of gynecomastia. Examples include kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, and hypogonadism, and these are just a few conditions that can lead to excess fat on the chest when left untreated. For this reason, you should not avoid treatment for these issues just because of the slight chance of excessive fat.

In addition, self-medicating can improve your chance of developing gynecomastia. For example, if you regularly drink alcohol or take recreational drugs, you may be putting yourself at risk for excess chest flab, among other issues.

It should be clear by now that this condition has several risk factors. Some of them can be controlled, while others cannot. However, either way, you have some treatment options if you do notice flab in the chest region at any age.

How Are Ovarian Cysts Diagnosed?

There are lots of women who want to know how ovarian cysts are diagnosed; maybe due to their curiosity and in preparation for the future. Ovarian cysts are found when women undergo a pelvic examination. If the doctors suspect a cyst, they often advise the patient for further testing in order to know the type of the cyst and whether treatment is needed or not. But before you know about how are ovarian cysts detected, it is best that you know first what ovarian cysts are.

What are Ovarian Cysts?

Cysts are sacs that are filled with fluids which can form anywhere within the body. These cysts are formed on or in the ovaries. Functional cyst is the commonest kind of cyst in the ovary. This type of ovarian cyst is formed during menstruation. The two kinds are:

Follicle Cysts. These types of cysts are formed when the ovary sac doesn't break for the eggs' release and it keeps on growing. Follicle cysts often go away in 3 months.

Corpus Luteum. When the sac doesn't dissolve, these cysts are formed. Instead, it is sealed off when the eggs are released then the fluids are building up inside. They may cause pain but they're rarely cancerous.

How Are Ovarian Cysts Diagnosed?

Typically, doctors will ask first the patients some questions in order to know a diagnosis. Here are some of them:

Size. What is the size of the cyst?

Composition. Is the cyst solid, filled with watery substance or mixed? Cysts that are filled with fluid are not cancerous. Those considered as mixed or solid need further evaluation in order to determine whether a tumor is present or not.

If you want to know how are ovarian cysts detected, here are some of the procedures performed by doctors.

Pregnancy test

When a pregnancy test turns positive, it might suggest that the cyst you have is corpus luteum, which develops when the follicle (ruptured) that released the eggs reseals and then fluid build-up occurs.

Pelvic ultrasound

This is a painless procedure where a transducer is utilized to send as well as receive sound waves that are high frequency (ultrasound). The instrument is movable over the abdomen and your vagina, which creates an image or picture of your ovaries and uterus on a screen. The resulting image can be photographed then analyzed by the doctors in order to confirm whether a cyst is present or not, determine its state and identify the location.

Laparoscopy

An instrument called laparoscope is used in the procedure. It is a slim and lighted medical instrument that is inserted into the abdomen through an incision (small). After the instrument was inserted, the doctor can now see the ovaries and then remove the cyst.

CA 125 blood test

Women with cancer of the ovary often have elevated CA 125. If partially solid cysts are developed in the ovary and you have high ovarian cancer risk, the doctor will test the CA 125 levels in the blood in order to determine whether the cyst is cancerous or not. Elevated levels of CA 125 can occur in conditions such as uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory illnesses and endometriosis. Surgeries on how are ovarian cysts removed is also available in the treatment of this medical condition.

Reasons to See a Knee Doctor Soon After You Notice Pain in the Area

For many people, a knee doctor is a necessity when they can no longer handle the pain. The discomfort can be in one or both knees, and it can range from mild to extreme. Whether you are suffering from pain that has been around for years, or have recently been injured, you should go to a specialist to get the care you need.

If you have a lingering injury in this part of your body, choosing the right knee doctor may allow you to finally get it treated. You should not have to live with constant discomfort. If it hurts to simply walk, you need to get treatment for the issue soon. Even if it only hurts when you are particularly active, such as while working out, you need help. It can be hard to stay healthy or get in shape when you have injuries in your legs, which means this issue can have a major negative impact on your life. Do not let your quality of life diminish because you have an issue that could be treated by a specialist.

If you recently got the injury, you should go to a knee doctor as soon as possible. Many people get these types of injuries in sports, keeping them from achieving their best. If you have impressive athletic abilities, do not let them go to waste just because your knees are out of commission. In many cases, surgery will be necessary. While this requires a recovery period, you at least have a date by which you can expect to start feeling well enough to play sports again. When you let injuries go untreated out of fear of what surgery will do, you face years of discomfort, and you may not even be able to play sports at all during that time. You certainly will not be at your best anyway.

Another reason to get the injury checked out is that it could spread to other parts of your body after a while. You may find that another area of your body has had to work harder to compensate for your knees, leaving you with additional problems. In fact, when you see a knee doctor, you may find out that you have a condition that starts in your knees and spreads to the rest of the body. Therefore, getting treatment early on can alert you about such conditions.

It clearly makes sense to at least get an initial consultation from a knee doctor near you. You will find out if you have to have surgery or if there is another treatment available. At that point, you can look forward to the pain finally going away in the near future.

Walk In Clinics For Fall Care

Walk in clinics tend to be busier during the fall and winter months. If you are getting sick, it is a good idea to visit a local facility to get the medical care you need. Doing so can help you to avoid some of the more devastating and difficult types of health problems that exist. During this time of the year, the demand for healthcare goes up. However, you do not have to wait in line at your doctor's office or deal with an ER visit that takes too long. Rather, just turn to one of these immediate care providers instead.

For Prevention

One of the main reasons to visit walk in clinics at the start of the fall season is to take steps to prevent illness. These providers can offer you a flu shot, for example. This can help you to ward off the more dangerous and more limiting types of flu that may be present this year. It may also help you to get a checkup so that you are well on your way to being healthy heading into the holiday season.

Sports and School

With the start of the school year, many of these facilities see an increase in the number of students that come in. Did you know that these facilities can provide you with a large list of services? The facility can help you to get the exams and health screenings necessary to enroll in school or sports programs. If you do get injured during a sport, they can help with the diagnosis of the problem as well as the treatment plan. In addition, many children need shots prior to heading into the school year. You do not have to wait for your doctor's office to have time for this. These facilities can do it for you, too.

Handling the Cold

Once people are back to work in closed quarters or in school buildings, the increase in the amount of illness present goes up. You are more likely to become ill during the fall months than in the summer. This is the prime time to go in and see these medical facility professionals for help. You can get medications that you need. You can make sure your child's fever is under control or get strep through cultures to rule out that condition.

Walk in clinics are fast and easy to use. You do not have to have insurance to make use of them either. They can serve as a simple tool to getting you back on your feet, back to school or back to work in no time. If you need medical care, turn to these facilities as a go-to solution that is right near you.

Guide To Recovery After A Breast Augmentation

Recovering from any type of surgical procedure is no fun. When you signed up for your breast augmentation, you may have spent your time daydreaming about how you will look and flaunt your new chest. Even though you were warned that it would be a little time before you would be able to see the final results, you still couldn't help but to run and buy some new lingerie and outfits to accommodate your new figure. Before you rush and start trying things on, you need to be aware that after a breast augmentation, your body needs sufficient time to heal. The best way for your body to heal is to rest. Surgery is a form of trauma to the human body. It doesn't matter that that the surgery was done to improve your health or appearance, you need to get a good amount of rest to help your body recover properly. In addition to following your doctor's orders, you need to listen to your body as well.

Many people have a hard time sitting still and doing nothing when they are required to do so. One would think that since you need to get a large amount of rest during your recovery, that it would be easy for you to comply. Unfortunately, this is the time when most people tend to test their limits. This is one time in your life where disobeying your surgeon's orders during your recovery can come back and haunt you. Not only could you end up with some serious health complications from your breast augmentation, but you could also ruin your final results as well.

When you doctor warned you about discomfort, they really meant pain. There is a reason why they prescribed you pain medication. If you don't want to feel the pain or any discomfort that occurs as your body heals itself after your operation, you need to follow the directions for that prescription. Don't abuse or take the painkillers improperly or you could wind up in the hospital fighting for your life.

Get help. This is one of those times in life where you should not be afraid to ask for some help and assistance around the house. Much of your daily movements involve you using and moving muscles that are in your chest. Since you just had a breast augmentation, the muscles and tissues in your chest area are going to be very sore. Your breasts are going to be wrapped in bandages for a few weeks to help prevent them from moving unnecessarily, keep them properly supported and to reduce the amount of swelling you will have. Your doctor will restrict you from doing too much as far as exercise, strenuous activities, heavy lifting and certain household chores such as vacuuming. This is to give your body time to heal with the implants properly in place and to keep them from slipping out of position. Have some friends and family help out so you don't do anything to affect your recovery and healing.

The First 3 Months After Your Knee Replacement Surgery

During your knee replacement surgery, you will be under general anaesthesia and there will be an incision made on your knee to allow surgical tools to move in and out of the knee. Once the damaged portions of the knee are removed and the artificial joints placed into the knee and attached using adhesive materials, the knee will be sutured together and you will be pushed to the recovery room.

The recovery period starts immediately after the surgery and even though you are still feeling the effects of the anaesthesia, you will be encouraged to start moving your knee. High chance are that you have not used the knee for physical activities for quite some time due to the pain which led to you undergoing the knee replacement surgery. As a result, the muscles are weak and you need to start building up and strengthen the muscles to allow better control of your new joint. A physical therapist will prescribe some physical therapy exercises for you to do yourself at home. You will be able to get discharged around 3 days after surgery and during this period, you will start to learn how to move around with the help of crutches until your knee is able to take your body weight. Once the knee is strengthened and is able to bear weight, you can slowly reduce your dependency on your crutches.

The first 3 months post surgery is a risky period as the replacement joint is still not fully attached to the surrounding muscles and tissues firmly. You knee can often give way so make sure you keep doing strengthening exercises to strengthen the region. You will also feel pain in the knees rather often during this period and this is perfectly normal. You will be prescribed painkillers but do not rely totally on the painkillers. If you notice any abnormal swelling or abnormal pain in the knee, make sure you go back to your surgeon for a check. Although the operating theatre is sterile, infection can still happen but this is rare. If you see any infection in the site of the incision, you need to go back to your surgeon as well. You should aim to regain your knee's full range of motion within this 3 months and this will help to prevent any scar tissues from building up or arthrofibrosis.

The first 3 months post surgery is totally about recovery and regaining back the functions of your knees. It is probably the toughest part of the whole surgery process and you will feel extremely useless. However it is the most important part and a bad recovery can lead to even more problems in future.

Home Yoga DVDs - The Advantages

The benefits of practising yoga are remarkable. Toned muscles, improved circulation, a less stressed life and increased flexibility can all be yours in exchange for a few stretches and poses. Attending classes can be fun, but those that opt to follow along to the professional guidance of that can be found on a home yoga DVD enjoy added advantages.

So what other advantages are there if you do decide to use DVDs to guide your yoga exercise sessions?

Firstly, you can set your own schedule. You won't have to rush to the local gym so that you can secure a space for your mat in a primary position so that you have a good view of the instructor. With a home DVD, you can practice at a time that suits you, whether this is first thing in the morning, last thing at night or before the children get home from school. You can fix your own schedule and make it fit with your day. You can always see the instructor as you have a front row view.

Secondly, you can use the DVD player to your advantage. If you are learning a new pose and you're really not sure whether you have done it right - you can rewind the scene. You'll be able to watch the instructor take you through the move again. If you were in a class, the other participants might not appreciate you stopping the class to ask the instructor to show you the move again. There's nobody to complain if you do this with a home yoga DVD.

Thirdly, you won't have to spend out on a fancy wardrobe of trendy yoga attire. You'll be able to wear whatever you find most comfortable to do your yoga in. Nobody is going to be judging what you look like as you stretch out at home working on your flexibility and poses. Welcome to the wonderful world of home exercise!

Fourthly, you'll be able to set your yoga exercise routine so that it suits what you want to achieve. If you have recently undergone surgery or you are recovering from illness or an injury, you'll be able to select the exercises that best suit your recovery. This just isn't possible in classes that cater to large groups of people.

Finally, beginners tend to have a much easier introduction to yoga when they start off with home yoga DVDs. They learn the proper techniques at a pace that suits them. This is not always possible in classes where everybody is at a different level of experience. The instruction has to cater to the group as a whole, not to the person who hasn't done it before and is feeling a bit lost.

In addition to the benefits that yoga offers, a home yoga DVD delivers many advantages to the beginner.

What You Need to Know Before Your Appointment for Annual Physical Exam

Did you know that many serious health issues might not show any symptoms until it's too late? A person with high blood pressure, for example, might feel completely normal, but is running a very high risk of developing cardiovascular disease and having a heart attack. A person could be on the brink of developing or already have a potentially deadly illness like heart attack, stroke, or even certain types of cancers or sexually transmitted infections but still feel totally fine. That's why health specialists recommend an annual physical examination whether you feel sick or not.

Annual physicals may vary from doctor to doctor, but most physicians try to check all the body's systems during an exam. This means examining the skin, listening to the heart and lungs, feeling for abnormalities in abdominal organs and lymph nodes, and testing vision, reflexes and neurological response time. Often times the examination of these systems by a doctor is supplemented with laboratory work in the form of blood and urine tests. Common blood work can measure blood count, electrolyte, blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and thyroid function. Routine sexually transmitted disease tests, check for HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and hepatitis B and C. A urine test might also be used to measure kidney function. The doctor will also go over your immunization record and may update you on any necessary vaccines. Results of blood work and urine tests may take 3-5 business days, and a doctor or nurse will call you with those results once they are processed. Depending on the office, blood work and immunizations may cost additional fees, so talk to your receptionist or doctor beforehand if you have concerns.

One of the most important things to remember before going to your physical exam is that an accurate medical history is a critical component of an effective physical. Before your appointment, be sure you know the facts about your own and your family's medical history, as certain illnesses like high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart attack and breast cancer can be genetically predisposed. Your personal surgical history, as well as knowledge of any medications, supplements, or herbs you are taking, is important as well, so write them down and bring the list with you if you're afraid you'll forget. If you're going to a new doctor, try to get a copy of your old medical and immunization records to make the process easier. Most importantly, remember to be honest with your physician. Questions about mental health, sexual activity, smoking and drinking habits, and use of illicit substances all provide important information to your health care provider about how to best take care of you, so tell the truth, even if you feel embarrassed.

Most insurance companies cover annual exams, as preventative medicine is easier and less expensive for them, too! But even if you don't have health insurance, you should still try and get a physical annually, as it can save you a lot of medical bills in the long run! Many walk in clinics around the country have affordable preventative healthcare even for people without insurance, so check out clinics in your area for possible options.

Top Tips for Practising Yoga At Home

Doing yoga at home is all the rage these days and it's never been easier. With the availability of well put together DVDs that will support you through every pose, it's the ideal exercise for keeping bones strong and muscles supple. It's become an essential for many athletes due to its low impact toning and strength building advantages.

Here are some top tips for practicing yoga at home so that you can get the best from it:

Make some space

First off, give yourself enough room to be able to stretch out. You may need to move some furniture to the side so that you have enough space. Ideally your surroundings should be clean and peaceful. Some yoga at home practitioners enjoy decorating their yoga space with items that give them that peaceful feel good factor.

Invest in your equipment

A yoga mat is essential for comfortable exercising. With yoga mats on the market for everybody, you'll find a variety of styles, colours and prices. You may also want to invest in a yoga blanket that can be used to keep warm during relaxations. This can double up as a support for some of the poses.

Purchase your instruction

You don't need to spend out on a private tutor these days. There is a variety of yoga instruction DVDs on the market. A qualified teacher will take you through the moves and the benefit of using a DVD is that you can stop it playing whenever you like to readjust your position.

Read up

In addition to your DVD you may like to learn more about your new exercise technique. A wide range of yoga books and flash cards provide handy reference material and magazines can provide inspiration. The yoga community can be found online too, on blog sites, online magazines and in discussion forums. Another source of education are podcasts that are downloadable. Covering many different levels and interests, it's possible to learn more about what's new in the yoga world.

You can go mobile with your yoga

If you have to travel for work or leisure, you can easily take your yoga with you. The DVD will play on your laptop and it's not a lot of effort to pack your yoga mat into your travel bag.

Start off gently

When you start out with yoga at home, you should start slowly. Even 15 minutes can be plenty to get going with. Your body may not be used to stretching and your muscles will need a chance to adjust. Yoga was not created as a fitness method, but more as a way to stay supple and be in touch with the divine. Take it easy at first and you'll soon adjust to the moves and enjoy the benefits.

Set the scene

Many people enjoy listening to good music during their practice. You may want to set up speakers so that you can play something soothing in the background as you stretch out and go through your moves. After you've gone through your stretches, then it's time to mediate and relax. Meditation provides many benefits including stress relief, lower blood pressure and you can become more in touch with your intuition.

By following these top tips for practicing yoga at home, you'll set yourself up to enjoy your poses and reap the benefits of this excellent life enhancer.