Have A Headache? See Your Dentist

November 14, 2010
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Have A Headache? See Your DentistEnlarge Image

Headaches

Do you or someone you know suffer from chronic headaches or Migraines? Usually these people have seen a variety of different doctors, with little if any relief. Their symptoms are being treated, but the cause of the problem still persists. Ever thought about seeing your dentist for a migraine? Well that is just one of the conditions that Neuromuscular dentistry is being used to treat. Neuromuscular dentistry is one of the new technologies available in dentistry today. It is different from regular dentistry in that it focuses on the muscles of the jaw and neck and how they are related to the teeth.

Neuromuscular dentistry recognizes that the muscles that move the jaw must be in a comfortable, relaxed position in order to not be in conflict with the teeth and jaw joint i.e. we must have ” happy muscles.” ? Some of the symptoms that occur when we do not have these” happy muscles” include: Headaches, Loose teeth, Clenching or grinding, root abfractions, Pain or clicking and popping in the jaw joints, Shoulder, neck, and back pain, Numbness in arms and fingers, non-specific Facial pain, problems swallowing , hot or cold sensitive teeth ,Crowded teeth , Receding gums , Ringing or congestion in the ears. A person could experience Migraine headaches and no other symptoms for example, yet be suffering from a neuromuscular dental problem.

There are a number of different types of equipment used in Neuromuscular dentistry to help us get a person to a position of “Happy Muscles”. First, we must find a position at rest that is most comfortable for the patient. . This is position where the muscles are relaxed, regardless of where the teeth line up. A device known as the Myo-monitor is used to help relax the patient’s muscles. It is a low frequency T.E.N.S. (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation)unit. The Myo-monitor stimulates the Trigeminal Nerve and The Facial nerve using a very mild electrical impulse.

This TENSing accomplishes 3 things. First, It pumps waste metabolites and lactic acid away from the stressed muscles. Second, it increases the blood flow to the muscle, which increases the oxygen, glucose, and energy to the muscle itself. Finally, it allows the jaw to relax into its ideal position. Tensing usually takes 45- 60 minutes depending on how bad a patients symptom are and how tight their muscles are. Sometimes we will use an EMG machine to measure the level of tightness in the different muscles. Before tensing ,the EMG shows how hyperactivity of the muscles. After TENSing there is much less activity and the muscle are much “happier”.

After TENSing and finding the ideal position of the jaw where the muscles are happy, we make an appliance called an orthotic to keep the muscles in this position. Keeping the muscles in this position is very important because it allows them to remain at their ideal length, which prevents them from going into spasm. Again, we want to get to a state of “Happy Muscles”.

Wearing the orthotic allows the muscles to heal, pain to dissipate and/or disappear and the jaw joint to heal. The orthotic is usually worn for 1-3 months to make sure the bite is correct and that the symptoms disappear. Once the patient has become symptom free, we make a decision about Phase 2 of treatment. The patient may decide to wear the orthotic indefinitely, have orthodontic treatment done to move teeth into the correct position, have the teeth restored or adjust the teeth to their ideal bite.

The following three patient cases recently came to me for migraine treatment.

Alan is a 68-year-old male with a history of migraine headaches 6-10 times per month for the past 25 years. “I had seen every imaginable type of doctor in the country, including the Mayo clinic. Nothing would stop the headaches; just control the pain with drugs. It got to the point where I had to carry narcotics with me everywhere I went.” Alan was treated using neuromuscular dentistry and is now virtually headache free. “I am so happy with the results of my treatment. I am practically headache free and don’t have to take any headache medications anymore. What a relief after all these years.”

Barbara is a 43-year-old mom of three with a history of headaches and stiff neck for the past 7 years. She had seen numerous physicians, specialists, chiropractors and acupuncturists over the years. “Nobody was able to stop the headaches and I haven’t been able to move my neck completely for 1 and ½ years. I had to miss my 10 year old’s birthday party because of a migraine.” When Barbara came to our office, she had a severe headache and a knot the size of a golf ball in the muscles of her neck. We used the TENS unit on her for 1 hr. “I couldn’t believe it. My headache had disappeared, the knot in my neck was gone, and I could move my neck from side to side for the first time in a year and a half.” Barbara has been virtually pain free for the last 3 months, and is extremely happy with the results of her orthotic use. “I can’t wait to have my mouth restored.”

Deaun had occasional migraines until two years ago. “I was at a comedy club with my husband and I felt a migraine coming on. We left the club, went home and I went to bed. Ever since then, the migraines have been pretty much all the time for the last two years.” Deaun had been to numerous doctors with no resolution. “They kept telling me that all they could do was give me pain medication. Then I heard about Dr. Cohen. My husband didn’t think anything would work, but I really wanted to try neuromuscular dentistry. I am so glad that I did. My headaches have been reduced to about 1 every 6 weeks, and even my husband, the skeptic, is amazed at the improvement. I am religious about wearing my orthotic and feel great.”

For more information go to http://www.dentalsedationcenter.com/

Atkins Diet Menu Ideas

November 14, 2010
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Who isn’t aware of the very famous Atkins diet which is a high fat, high protein and a low carbohydrate diet for weight loss. This diet was developed by Robert C. Atkins and like all the other crash diets, this is also based on the concept to help reduce weight through the consumption of certain menu ideas. The Atkins diet is a low carb diet because it is believed that foods which are rich in sugar and other refined carbohydrates tend to increase the production of insulin (a hormone which has the ability to stimulate the storage of calories in the form of fat). The whole point of these Atkins diet menu idea is to include foods which are not only low in sugar content, but also help in weight loss. Therefore this diet is not advised for pregnant women, children, kidney patients and athletes as there are not enough nutrients which are provided by these kind of food. Given in the following article are some diabetic diet menu ideas which can also be used as Atkins diet foods, take a look.

Atkins Diet Menu List

Since the Atkins diet menu ideas don’t include foods which are rich in sugar, they are useful for the Type 2 diabetes patients. These menu ideas are different for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as there has to be variety in the foods you eat for a particular time period. The Atkins diet menu plan is also a very useful plan for those people who are looking for a filling weight loss diet which is not based on starvation like some fad diets. This is an advantage of the Atkins diet, as it is a high protein diet and therefore, you don’t have to compromise on shedding your muscle weight. But you have to follow a good exercise routine if you don’t want to put on an extra few pounds because of these foods. These menu ideas are mentioned below in categories, so find out, what the Atkins diet is all about!

Induction Menu Ideas
When it comes to the Atkins diet menu ideas, there are three phases this diet is carried out in. The first of which is the induction, which means, that the body has to get used to the new diet food in its training period. The Atkins diet, foods to eat in the induction menu consist of not more than 20 gms of net carbohydrate a day and this triggers a condition known as ketosis. The ketosis process starts to burn fat to produce energy and thus results in a rapid weight loss condition. The menu ideas for this phase are;

Breakfast

Eggs, scrambled or fried, with ham or bacon
Decaffeinated coffee or tea
Lunch
Bacon cheeseburger without bun
Tossed salad
Seltzer water
Dinner
Shrimp cocktail with mustard and mayonnaise
Steak, roast, chops, fish or fowl
Clear consomme
Diet Jello with a spoonful of unsweetened whipped cream
Tossed salad
Ongoing Weight Loss Menu Ideas
This is the second phase of the Atkins diet, in which the body is accustomed to burning the extra fat in the body to produce energy through ketosis. Hence, you need more portions of vegetables and nuts, depending on the weight loss achieved until now. In this phase you have to slowly increase the content of carbohydrates, which you weren’t consuming earlier, with fat and protein. This is to be done to stay away from deficiencies of carbohydrates, as it is one of the most essential nutrients in metabolism.

Breakfast
Cheese omelet
Bran Crisp bread (amount containing 2 grams of carbohydrate)
3 ounces of tomato juice
Decaffeinated coffee or tea
Lunch
Salad with ham, cheese, chicken, egg and oil and vinegar dressing
Iced herbal tea
Dinner
Poached salmon
Seafood salad
½ cup of strawberries (in heavy, unsweetened cream)
2/3 cup of vegetables
Maintenance Menu Ideas
In this phase there are two sections, which are the pre maintenance and the lifetime maintenance. In the pre maintenance phase, the body has to slowly get used to the weight loss which is achieved and in the lifetime maintenance one, you have to keep a goal to maintain your weight. There is a balanced ratio between the carbohydrate, fats and proteins consumed in this plan along with a daily exercise routine. Thus, your weight will surely be balanced and maintained. Therefore the Atkins diet food list for this phase is;

Breakfast
Cheese and spinach omelet
Bran Crisp bread (amount containing 4 grams of carbohydrate) with butter
½ cantaloupe
Decaffeinated coffee or tea
Lunch
2/3 cups of vegetables
Roast chicken
Green salad with creamy garlic dressing
Dinner
Salad with tomatoes, onions and carrots with any no-carbohydrate dressing
French onion soup
1 cup fresh fruit compote
Lightly breaded veal chops
1 cup vegetables
½ small baked potato with sour cream and chives
Glass of dry wine
With these Atkins diet menu ideas, you can surely achieve a little amount of weight loss, if followed regularly and honestly, with exercise. You should consult a dietitian if you want to take up any weight loss diet as these diets are very unhealthy if not prescribed.

What Is No Kill Animal Shelters?

November 14, 2010
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We have all heard of animal shelters where stray, lost, unwanted, abused, and neglected pets can be found. Some of these animals are found on the streets and others are dumped there by their owners who for various reasons no longer seem to want their faithful pets. While some animal shelters have no other choice than to euthanized these innocent animals there are no kill animal shelters.

While these types of no kill animal shelters are in the minority they serve a very valuable to service to the community. Like the regular animal shelters these no kill animal shelters look after homeless animals that have been left behind or turned out by their human families.

In the no kill animal shelters the animals are brought in and given a gentle cleaning to rid them of all of the filth of the streets and unwanted parasites on have decided to make their homes on and in these pets. The veterinarian staff at the no kill animal shelters will treat any of the wounds and injuries that these pets have sustained. In addition any diseases will be cured or the pets will be made as comfortable as possible for the duration of their life.

Once the new tenants to the no kill animal shelters have been groomed and treated by the vet, they are given a new meal and bedded down for a while. These animals at the no kill animal shelters will stay in the shelter while a suitable foster family or adoptive family is found.

The various foster families who work with these unwanted animals will work hard to regain the trust of these animals. In addition the pets will learn to be a part of a family again. They will learn the various commands and obedience commands that are necessary for a household pet. When the animals are ready to be adopted the foster family will bring them back to the no kill animal shelters.

Here the screened and prepared adoptive families will be waiting to see if they are ready to adopt these gentle creatures who are just crying out for some love and caring. These families will be allowed to take their new pets’ home but it will be for a short trial period. During this period the family and the pet will have a chance to bond and grow comfortable with each other.

The adoption process will be allowed by the no kill animal shelters only when they are satisfied with the caring and love that these previously unwanted pets are receiving from their new adoptive families. In many ways no kill animal shelters are the answer for a new life many pets.

Quick & Easy Strategies To Shed Weight

November 14, 2010
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Quick & Easy Strategies To Shed Weight

Weight Loss Articles | October 4, 2010

Looking for some simple and effective techniques to lose a few pounds? Then look no further. This article contains several appetizing ways to consume more food, but lose fat in the process.

Looking for some simple and effective techniques to lose a few pounds? Then look no further. Listed below are several appetizing ways to consume more food, but lose fat in the process. It does not get much easier than that!

Chewing The Fat Off – Reports have revealed that chewing sugar-free chewing gum for a total of an hour each morning resulted in ingesting an average of sixty seven fewer calories daily and used up about 5 percent more energy versus when they didn’t have gum. This might not really seem like much, however, followed along side a proper diet plan and exercise chewing gum could speed up the results.

Almonds A Day Keep The Pounds Away – A City of Hope National Medical Center study had participants consume Seventy almonds daily and follow a low calorie diet program for 180 days. The result was an 18 percent decrease in their body weight. The reason? Almonds contains a lot of nutrients plus the fiber, protein and fat all help make you feel satisfied much longer.

Serve a Bowl of Cereal for Lunch or dinner – Think twice before feeding your money to the vending machines for lunch or dinner. Instead, consider a bowl of cereal in its place! Research out of Purdue University has revealed these cereal consuming participants ate an average of 640 less calories in a day as well as lost approximately four pounds within a 2 week time. It doesn’t necessarily mean you should gorge on sugar packed cereal’s every lunch or dinner, but rather go with high fiber content, unrefined cereals like Bran Flakes with low fat or skim milk.

Eat More Of This – Reduced calorie soups consumed at the beginning of a meal has been proven to lower the amount of food as well as calories ate at that particular meal (soup as well as entree) a Penn State study revealed. Opt for a broth-based soup, not a cream-basedFree Web Content

Great Family Fun at Greater Family Prices with Six Flags Coupons

November 14, 2010
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Six Flags Great America in Chicago has been a fixture in my childhood, and now it’s prominent in my children’s. I first visited there when I was about 13 years old with a large group of teenagers attending through my local park district. Back then we were able to enjoy group rates as about 25 of us piled into a bus and headed up for the 90 minute drive. We saved some money by eating at a local diner before heading into the park. I honestly had never seen anything like it before (this was in the 1970′s when mega theme parks were something new, and Great America was only one year old when I attended). There was a huge adventure right in front of my very eyes, and I had five magical hours to explore and ride thrill rides to my heart’s content. That was when attending a theme park was cheaper than it is today. Before the days of Six Flags coupons, we saved soda pop cans to get $10 off at the gate.

Today, we shop online and print our tickets out before we attend. And the park is much, much larger than it was back in the day. Taking a family of six (we have seven, but our little one is still free) would cost us over $270 . . . until we found out about the best kept secret around. Online coupons have become big business for retailers who want to lure loyal customers like me to visit their establishment. Six Flags knows that the kids who visited them in the 70′s are having their own families now, and they want to make sure we know that we are appreciated and should come visit for a 20% reduced price. That’s a cool $60 savings for my family, which will purchase a meal plus gas for the trip. That makes it worth it to me for a family memory that will truly last a lifetime. My memory of Six Flags in 1977 is just as fresh 33 years later, so I have no doubt my kids will be able to conjure up images of good times with mom and dad at Six Flags.

The way it works really simplifies things for us. We pick our date, and pull out our credit card to pay. Six Flags is currently advertising an additional 5% off your price if you pay online and in the park with a Discover Card, which is being advertised as the official card of Six Flags. Every little bit helps. Once we print our tickets out, we head on out. We tend to bring some drinks and snacks in a cooler in the car because it’s a long ride for us, and we can save a lot this way. We find a local restaurant outside the park and have a late breakfast. And then we’re off! When we arrive at the park, we wave our tickets at the gate and are ushered into a very short line where our tickets are quickly verified, and we are on our way to fun and adventure. No waiting in line to pay full price!

I anticipate a season pass or two in the future when my oldest child drives. He can take his siblings or a friend or two for a day of fun at Six Flags, and the more they visit, the cheaper those passes become. Great America is currently selling a season pass that will pay for itself on the second visit. Season passholders get free tickets for their friends to use on certain days during the season. There is also $300 in coupons for savings on food, drinks, souvenirs, and much more. My kids will definitely want to check out Hurricane Harbor, the adjacent water park as well. The season pass includes unlimited entry to that as well.

Oh, and for you Chicagoans who remember the old Kiddie Land theme park in a collar county of Chicago? This beloved park closed down last year after 50 years of service. Six Flags has purchased The Little Dipper Rollercoaster, and it will go into operation this year at Great America!

With Six Flags Coupons, saving 10 to 50% is possible when you shop online. Every park has a different promotion; check out your discount today.

Biotin Side Effects

November 14, 2010
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A water-soluble B-complex vitamin, Biotin is also known as vitamin H or B7 and is essential for the function of certain enzymes in the body. Biotin has been derived from the Greek word bios meaning life. It can be easily sourced from a variety of foods such as dry fruits, oats, eggs, cucumber, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, goat’s and cow’s milk, raspberries, strawberries, royal jelly and brewer’s yeast. As the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for biotin is very small; children between 5µg to 12µg, and adults between 20µg to 30µg, hence, deficiency is a rarity. However there are certain instances where biotin deficiency may occur. In such scenarios, biotin supplements are recommended. Before one intakes these dietary vitamin supplements, it is imperative to know and understand what biotin side effects, benefits and deficiency entails.

Biotin Benefits
One of the important vitamins listed under B-complex, biotin plays an important role in the upkeep of good health and promotes growth. Biotin acts as a carrier of carbon dioxide in the process known as the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle). It aids in the conversion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins into energy (glucose), increasing the body’s metabolism. It helps to keep hair lustrous and in good healthy condition. Brittle nails and cradle cap can also be kept at bay with adequate biotin dosage in the body. It has proven to be extremely helpful for diabetics, and people suffering with high cholesterol and depression, as it helps to lower blood sugar levels and metabolize carbohydrates for energy conversion.

Biotin Deficiency
Biotin deficiency is a rare nutritional disorder caused by the deficiency of biotin, either due to inadequate dietary intake or as a result of other health related conditions. When the enzymes responsible for extracting biotin from the diet fall short of their capacity to do so, a deficiency can occur. Some medical studies indicate that a high consumption of egg white binds biotin with its proteins, leading to biotin deficiency. Prolonged intravenous feeding or an intake of antibiotics can also trigger a deficiency. Biotin deficiency symptoms include skin conditions like acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, seborrhea, eczema, etc, loss of appetite, low metabolism and chronic fatigue, hair loss, dandruff and loss of hair color, insomnia, depression, drowsiness, hallucinations, muscle pain, etc.

Side Effects of Biotin
Very few side effects have been attributed to biotin. One of the main factors leading to biotin side effects is either excess or prolonged dosages. Very little evidence is available to prove that normal use results in side effects. A study conducted on pregnant rats, where they were subjected to extremely high doses of biotin, increased the probability of miscarriage as the size of placenta decreased. However, this test is not used as a benchmark for women. For more information read more on benefits and side effects of biotin.

Prolonged use in certain cases has resulted in occurrences of aggravation of skin infections and rashes. Biotin also has a reverse affect on blood sugar and insulin levels. It will reduce or decrease the levels of insulin in the body, while increasing blood sugar levels. Pregnant women, or sick people should pay special attention to this aspect of biotin vitamin side effect.

High dosage of biotin along with vitamin B5 can cause a life-threatening condition called eosinophilic pleuropericardial effusion. This was found in one documented case, which was resolved once the patient stopped taking both; biotin and vitamin B5. What could not be understood was what triggered this fatal condition, whether it was biotin or vitamin B5 alone, their combination, or an another reaction in the body.

Biotin side effects are very rare, however, as a precautionary measure it is best to consult a doctor to determine deficiency and the correct dosage to ensure that one does not suffer any kind of complications in future.

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