February 17, 2022

Acid reflux affects about 20 million people in the United States. San Antonio, TX, is among the states with many acid reflux treatment cases. The condition usually emerges from a malfunctioning valve at the top of the stomach. The acid makes its way back up to the esophagus, leading to pain and discomfort. Book an appointment with the finest center for acid reflux in San Antonio. Acid reflux is often treatable, with the more severe cases requiring surgery to repair the sphincters. However, myths and misconceptions come in seeking the proper treatment. Let’s debunk some of them.

Acid Reflux is Heart Related

Heartburn is a common symptom of acid reflux, but it’s not what you think. The stigma exists because when the esophagus becomes irritated, it causes burning in the chest area, which can feel like heart attacks. 

It has become so common to link acid reflux with heart-related problems, that many people go undiagnosed for years before they learn other factors are involved. You don’t have to suffer any longer, and neither do your loved ones.

Acid Reflux is a Milk Problem

There aren’t a lot of dairy products in my diet, and I’m not lactose intolerant, but whenever I have too much cow’s milk or cheese, my acid reflux flares up badly. Since it’s been so bad lately, I’ve been thinking about going dairy-free to keep my symptoms under control.

Soda is Good for Acid Reflux

It’s not true that soda and other sugary drinks can help with acid reflux. They’re bad for the problem because the sugar only fuels the fire. The carbonation also makes it worse by causing bloating and giving you gas. Carbonated beverages are best avoided if you have heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Acid Reflux Kills Bad Breath

Heartburn can cause bad breath because of the acid it leaves in your mouth. This often leads people to believe that acid reflux is the enemy when really, it’s just a symptom. While you’re looking for ways to treat or cure bad breath caused by heartburn, do some research about what’s causing your heartburn. If you keep getting flare ups after eating certain foods, leave them out of your diet and find alternatives.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Always Leads to Cancer

It’s a scary diagnosis when you get told that you have GERD, and everyone starts warning you about how it could lead to cancer. The thing is, everyone tends to forget that the disease only presents a risk if left untreated and unmanaged. That’s why it’s so important to learn about what causes acid reflux and how you can treat it before you ignore the symptoms even more than you already do.

Acid Reflux Doesn’t Cause Weight Gain

Heartburn can cause bloating because of gas accumulating in your stomach, causing swelling and discomfort. Since people tend to avoid eating or drinking anything when they experience heartburn, they also don’t take in enough nutrients, which leaves them feeling tired and weak. If heartburn keeps you from eating correctly, you might start to see a change in your weight.

Acid reflux is a common occurrence, but it comes with many myths and misconceptions. The biggest myth about acid reflux is that it’s heart-related. Heartburn can be treatable, and the more severe cases may require surgery to repair sphincters. Seek guidance from an acid reflux specialist.

Chronic sleep deprivation is a slow killer, and you may not see its adverse effects for a while. Having a busy lifestyle contributes to stress and sleep disorders, Here is why your Rockville CPAP specialist recommends seeking immediate medical attention when you have the condition.

Below are six negative impacts associated with chronic sleep deprivation:

1. Coronary disease

People who consistently sleep less or have a poor-quality sleep for one reason stand a high chance of suffering heart ailments like a heart attack or heart failure. You could be living in a noisy neighborhood, working two jobs and barely having sleep time, or suffering from sleep apnea. Whatever the reason, you must solve the sleep deprivation problem before developing coronary problems.

2. Poor balance

Not sleeping enough can affect the balance and coordination of your legs, thus making you prone to slips and falls. People of advanced age are already susceptible to falls, and their bones are more brittle. If you suspect that your elderly loved one is sleep-deprived, have them see a specialist sooner rather than later.

3. Diabetes

When the body is not well-rested, essential functions like insulin regulation do not go as planned. Your immune system continues to suffer due to poor-quality sleep so much that it cannot fend off viruses and bacteria. Diabetes is a likely outcome for a person who does not sleep enough, and this disease can pave the way for other health conditions.

4. Memory impairment

Sleeping well allows the brain to rest and lock in the information you will need later. Failure to sleep well makes it harder to recall critical things as the short and long-term memory is impaired. Students will find it harder to remember concepts they learned in class, affecting their performance. Lack of enough sleep can also impact mundane tasks like driving, which can yield catastrophic results.

5. Adding weight

If you are not getting adequate sleep per night or whatever time slot you have allocated for sleeping, the chances are that you will gain weight. The body reduces leptin and increases ghrelin. Leptin is a hormone produced in fat cells and circulates in the bloodstream. This “starvation hormone” alerts your brain when enough energy is in your fat cells to participate in metabolism. When leptin production goes below your average threshold, your brain assumes you are hungry. Therefore, sleep deprivation can make one eat more and inadvertently gain weight.

6. Skin problems

Research studies derive that people who get inadequate sleep have more skin-related issues than their counterparts who get enough sleep. You will find the former group has more wrinkling, fine lines, and loose skin. Some people turn to cosmetic treatments like Botox injections to eliminate wrinkles and fine lines, but this does not address the root cause. You are better off mastering the art of good sleep.

Sleep deprivation has many adverse impacts, and the symptoms are not usually present right away. It may take a while before you realize how lack of sleep contributes to health problems. If you suffer from sleep apnea or related disorders, seek professional help from certified physicians.

Chronic pain can be highly debilitating, and a lot of research and resources have been dedicated to finding a cure for this problem. One such treatment is the nerve block, which is a drug or medication injection (anesthetic) delivered to one or several nerves that are causing pain. Nerve blocks deliver temporary relief from pain, typically lasting 1 to 2 weeks. Are you wondering if nerve blocks in Austin are the ideal option for you? Read on to find out:

What Are Nerve Blocks?

Nerve blocks, also called neural blockades, are medical injections designed to block the pain radiating from the nerves. They are designed to help manage or prevent several types of pain and can also be used during surgery to cause loss of feeling. In fact, epidurals are one of the most well-known nerve blocks. They are usually administered to women during childbirth to relieve labor and delivery pain.

Nerve blocks are usually delivered through needles. During an epidural, a doctor will inject the drug into a space just outside the patient’s spinal column. Nerve block treatments also involve the use of a CT scan, ultrasound, or fluoroscope to guide the injection needle. Generally, the provider uses guided images and needles to deliver anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medication to one or several nerves.

When to Consider a Nerve Block

Generally, nerve blocks are primarily used to provide temporary, but effective relief from pain. The targeted areas are usually the arms, legs, buttocks, neck, and back. The pain itself might be caused by a wide range of conditions, such as:

• Phantom limb pain.
• Complex regional pain syndrome or chronic pain in any area of the body
• Headaches, such as migraines and cluster headaches that have failed to improve after regular, standard treatments.
• Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is long-term pain that flows a shingles flare-up.
• Trigeminal neuralgia, which is characterized by shooting pain in the lower jaw and face.
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatic cancer
• Spinal stenosis. This is a condition that causes narrowing in the spaces in your spinal column.
• Physical injuries affecting the nerves
• Neck pain
• Chronic regional pain syndrome
• Arthritis pain
• Back pain
• Trigeminal neuralgia or face pain

Other Reasons to Get Nerve Blocks

Nerve blocks are not just used to provide temporary relief from pain. In some cases, your healthcare provider may use the injections to determine the source of your pain. They will derive crucial information from your body’s response to the injections that could help repair the damaged nerves.

Who Does Not Qualify for Nerve Blocks?

You might not quality for nerve block treatments if you have:

• A bleeding disorder or are currently on anticoagulants.
• An infection at the injection site
• Past neural problems in the nerve area being injected

Conclusion

Nerve damage or irritation is responsible for a wide range of pain-related conditions. If you have been diagnosed with chronic pain and would like to explore nerve blocks as a treatment option, contact Republic Spine and Pain to discuss your eligibility with an expert pain-management physician. Use the online tool on our website to schedule a consultation or call our Austin, Texas office today.

Keeping your natural teeth clean and healthy may sound easy, but data shows that roughly 26% of adults have tooth decay without any treatment. More so, 46% of adults aged thirty and above present signs of gum disease, while another 9% suffer from extreme periodontitis. If you have sustained teeth problems that necessitated an extraction, you may want to consider Monterey bone grafting to help your recovery. Below are five proven ways to maintain proper oral health:

Flossing

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is customary for most people, but flossing is not part of their oral hygiene regimen. Even those who attempt flossing may not be doing it correctly, rendering it useless. The next time you floss, wrap the floss tightly and pass it gently between your teeth.

Perform this movement beneath the gum lines about twice and preferably in front of a mirror for guidance. If you notice bleeding when flossing, this could signify gum disease. Continued flossing should alleviate the signs of onset gingivitis, but consult your dentist if the bleeding carries on after two weeks.

Avoid staining teeth

Beverages like coffee and red wine are notorious for staining your teeth if you consume them too often. The superficial stain is easy to remove with professional teeth cleaning, but internal staining affects the enamel. If you must have your glass of red wine, tea, or coffee, try rinsing your mouth with water afterward or drink from a straw instead. 

Straighten your teeth

Crooked teeth or misaligned teeth are not the most attractive thing to look at, which can impact your smile. Some people get an open bite, underbite, or other anomalies that affect their smile and, in turn, affect their self-esteem. Straightening your teeth solves such problems developed from childhood, and it doesn’t matter how old you are. Invisalign treatment is ideal for adults who don’t wish to wear braces and straighten their teeth within a year.

Overall health

Proper oral health goes in tandem with your general health status. If you seek to improve your smile, don’t neglect to address diabetes, hypertension, teeth grinding, obesity, etc. These and other health conditions affect your smile, not just how perfectly your dental formula appears. More so, a weakened immunity makes it harder to treat oral problems like gingivitis. Establish a workout regimen and consume nutrient-dense foods to boost your immunity.

Fill in the missing teeth

Dental caries may necessitate tooth extraction to eliminate the pain. Tooth loss can also arise from trauma sustained in an accident or gum disease. Whatever the reason, having missing teeth leaves gaps that will affect your smile and make the adjacent teeth shift. Dental implants are an easy solution that will restore your natural smile.

Regular dental checkups are essential, so the dentist can examine your teeth and gums to see if problems need addressing. They will perform x-rays and give a proper diagnosis, plus complimentary teeth cleaning if necessary. Postponing treatment paves the way for severe medical issues that will yield suffering and cost more to manage.

Excessive weight is a common problem affecting most people in today’s society. Developing an exercise program and change in diet are the most advisable treatment options. Exercise and diet alone are not effective treatments for overweight people. They may require a surgical operation.

 Dr. Titus Duncan in Atlanta, Georgia, is among the top bariatric surgeons found here, offering the best weight-loss surgery options.

Bariatrics with Dr. Titus Duncan

Dr. Titus Duncan is a renowned bariatric surgeon found at Peachtree Surgical & Bariatrics in Atlanta, Georgia. His experience teaching and lecturing about bariatric surgery worldwide makes him one of the best weight-loss surgeons in America. He is well respected among his peers at the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery due to his pioneering work and experience in laparoscopic surgery.

What happens at Peachtree Surgical & Bariatrics

Peachtree Surgical & Bariatrics are trailblazers in laparoscopic bariatric surgery with procedures that include:

• Revision surgery
• Gastric sleeve
• Mini gastric bypass
• Lap-band surgery

Dr. Duncan and his team have the latest modern pre-and post-op diagnostic testing and rehabilitation facilities. Services include swallowing disorders such as Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy(POEM) and an outpatient reflux surgery for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(GERD).

The physicians work in close conjunction with patients during diagnosis to develop specific methods for treatment by their particular needs. The team consists of exceptionally trained physicians and bariatric surgeons supported by coordinators, nutritionists, nurses, and assistants.

Experienced physicians like Dr. Titus Duncan assist in educating and training surgeons through their bariatric surgery program.

The Peachtree Surgical and Bariatrics team offers convenient mobile services for long-distance patients.

Non-surgical methods for weight loss, such as Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty, are also available. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy is also another medical weight loss program, especially for those who do not qualify for bariatric surgery.

What is bariatric surgery?

 The digestive tract is adjusted through bariatric surgery, thus allowing less food consumption. The surgery, therefore, assists in weight loss. Bariatric surgery resolves conditions related to being overweight like:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Joint pain
• Obstructive sleep apnea

Surgery with improved eating habits and lifestyle changes helps reduce death rates for severely obese patients.

When is bariatric surgery advisable?

A measure of height about weight is known as Body Mass Index (BMI)and defines levels of obesity which determines whether bariatric surgery is required.

You could suggest bariatric surgery when :

• BMI is 40 or more (extreme obesity)
• You have a BMI of 35-39, and you have weight-related severe problems like sleep apnea, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes.

 Patients after bariatric surgery have to undergo a strict and lifelong diet and exercise program to avoid complications and not add weight after surgery.

Have you ever felt like you keep adding weight and your lifestyle changes or exercise programs are not quite working? Check out our website or call our offices in Atlanta. You could visit our Atlanta offices for further one-on-one services for more information.

Antibodies are a type of protein that helps the immune system identify and destroy foreign substances. They mean a lot in several different types of testing, from blood tests to pregnancy tests. In Otsego, Minnesota, some centers offer lab tests to confirm or rule out certain health conditions. Target the best Otsego lab test centers. However, some myths and misconceptions revolve around antibody testing. Here are some of them which need debunking.

A Positive Test Means That you Have an Illness or Disease

Antibodies are just markers for the presence of certain substances, so they don’t automatically mean that someone has an illness or disease. A person could have antibodies present without being ill because their body produced them as a protective measure against something they were exposed to earlier on in life. Likewise, there may be no antibodies present even if the person does have an illness.

Antibody Tests are Always Accurate

As much as we rely on test accuracy, this is not always the case. Sometimes antibody tests can produce inaccurate results, for example, if you have recently been vaccinated or taking medication that interferes with the test results.

Antibody Levels Don’t Change Throughout a Person’s Life

Antibodies can be detectable long after someone has exposure to something. They may even increase over time, so antibody tests will need to be repeated from time to time to monitor their levels of antibodies.

A Negative Test Means That You Don’t Have the Illness

Again, this is not always true. A negative test could mean that the person being tested doesn’t have enough antibodies to produce a positive result. It is especially likely if you have an exposure to the illness or disease lately.

You Can’t Get a False Positive from an Antibody Test

It is possible to get a false-positive result from an antibody test. If someone has been vaccinated, their body will produce antibodies, so the test results could turn out positive even if they don’t have the illness or disease under the test.

You Can’t Have a Negative Antibody Test if You Have an Illness

It is not always true. Some diseases, such as HIV, can produce negative antibody tests. The virus itself may not cause antibodies to be built, or the person’s immune system may be too weak to generate them.

You Can Only Get a Positive Antibody Test if You Have Had the Illness

In some cases, you may have exposure to an infection that can produce antibodies even though they have not developed symptoms of the disease. It is known as a false-positive result.

You Need a New Antibody Test if You Already Have a Positive one False

If you have a positive antibody test, it means that the body has produced antibodies to fight against something – usually, this is an infection. Once the body has started making these antibodies, it will continue doing so even if another test takes place after some time. The blood will contain the same amount of antibodies whether or not a second test happens.

Antibody testing is one of the most common medical procedures in use today, and it’s essential to understand what antibodies are before they’re administered. However, some myths need debunking concerning antibody testing. It helps you make more informed decisions about your healthcare.

How do you keep your feet healthy? The feet usually do a lot of work, walking and every movement, hence the need to take care of them regularly. Washing them frequently with soap and water is essential, not to mention keeping them dry and moisturized.

Routine foot care is critical in maintaining your health and preventing foot issues. Midtown East plantar fasciitis specialist John Jurcisin of Precision Footcare provides comprehensive care to enhance healthy feet. Suppose you have a problem with your feet that limits your daily activities; contact Precision Footcare for an appointment.

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is the wide strip of tissue on the bottom of your foot. Plantar fasciitis is a health issue that occurs due to the inflammation and damage of the plantar fascia tissue.

The tissue protects your foot arch by functioning as a shock absorber. When the tissue is under too much pressure, it causes inflammation, tears, and pain in the heel part of your leg. The pain becomes worse when you stand or after an exercise.

However, the pain may worsen over some time, disrupting your physical activity and even making walking difficult.

Plantar fasciitis can occur in anyone; however, it’s more familiar with athletes or runners, to be specific. You are also likely to develop the condition if you have excessive weight or are older. People who work with extended standing, including teachers, factory workers, or nurses, are also prone to the disease.

How does your provider diagnose plantar fasciitis?

Dr. Jurcisin is a foot care expert and offers detailed diagnoses to get to the root of your problem and provide customized treatment.

He examines your feet and asks about your symptoms, which helps him determine the location of the pain. Dr. Jurcisin also orders imaging tests such as X-rays to evaluate more causes of foot pain, including bone spurs and fractures.

In addition, he checks your past medical reports and asks about your daily life activities to rule out plantar fasciitis as the cause of your pain. Together with the team at Precision Footcare, they conducted a further diagnosis to determine why your plantar fascia wore down. They also work with you to prevent future harm.

What are the treatments for plantar fasciitis?

Treatments for plantar fasciitis range from stretching exercises to over-the-counter medications, rest, and more.

If Dr. Jurcisin also recommends further treatments such as using devices like custom shoe inserts, night splints, padding, or walking cast to minimize feet stress. He may also offer steroid injections and physical therapy for pain relief.

If the pain persists even with the above treatments, Dr. Jurcisin may recommend surgery. The surgical procedure alleviates your pain, improves healing, and enhances mobility.

Proper foot care is essential to prevent foot conditions and improve their health. Wearing fitting and comfortable shoes is also helpful to your feet health. Suppose you have heel pain that makes your walking difficult; you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis. Reach out to Precision Footcare today to schedule your consultation.