Ristorando Blog

Archive for July, 2010

Tapeworms are segmented white worms that can grow to enormous lengths in the host’s intestines. The tapeworm begins its development in an intermediate host, and your cat must eat the intermediate host along with the worm larvae it harbors.

The larvae then mature in their new host i.e. your cat. Common intermediate hosts include fleas, mice, rabbits, and other animals. Tapeworms do not normally show up in feces, making them more difficult to diagnose than most other worms.

But they do shed small, white, rice like body segments that are passed in bowel movements and that often stick to the fur around the anus. If you see tapeworm segments on your cat, talk to your vet.

A special dewormer is needed to eliminate tapeworms. A number of parasites also can take up residence in your cat. Aside from direct residence, signs of intestinal parasites may include weight loss, anemia, respiratory infection, and diarrhea.

If your cat has these symptoms, see your vet, and take a fecal specimen along. Even if your cat has no symptoms of worms, it is a good idea to include a fecal exam as part of her routine examination.

Some signs of illness require a quicker response than others, especially when observed in an older cat. If your cat has one or more of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian.

* Abnormal aggression
* Bleeding or discharge
* Blisters or ulcers on the tongue
* Continual sneezing
* Coughing
* Dehydration
* Depression
* Diarrhea
* Difficulty breathing or breathing through the mouth
* Difficulty urinating or defecating
* Fever
* Frequent urinary accidents or a change in the color, odor, or amount of urine
* Discharge from nose and eyes
* Lameness or stiffness that lasts more than a day or two
* Listlessness
* Loss of appetite or difficulty eating, drinking or swallowing
* Lumps or swellings that persist or grow larger
* Paralysis
* Reduced stamina
* Sores that do not heal
* Unexplained weight loss or gain
* Vomiting
* Watery eyes
* Weakness

Are you allergic to MSG? If you have a MSG allergy, you need to understand what it is and what foods might contain MSG. MSG is used to add to the flavor of foods or to bring out the taste of the food more. Chinese foods usually contain this taste enhancer as well as some American foods. In the grocery store you may have noticed on the front of some products they advertise, “Contains no MSG”. This is vital information for MSG allergy sufferers. One such food product that advertises no MSG is a dry mix for a Ranch Dressing, it contains no MSG enhancer and is safe for a MSG allergy sufferer.

Taken in large doses MSG can cause a feeling of warmth, sweating, headaches and chest pains. Moderate amounts of MSG may not cause any severe symptoms although you still need to refrain from eating foods that contain the additive. Living with an MSG allergy is not as easy as one would think. Foods such as canned soups and other popular foods contain the additive. It enhances the flavor of the foods and many manufactures are using this to add flavor to the product. Learning what foods contain MSG and the foods that do not is tough.

You will have to look at labels, do some research online and find the foods that do not contain this flavor enhancer. The reason for the intense research is because foods that contain MSG have to place it on the label, but if that food is combined with another food in a mixture, it does not have to be disclosed. If you suffer from MSG allergies, you should also refrain from eating foods containing sulfites and aspartame. Foods such as gum, candy and some drinks contain MSG without your knowledge.

Living with an MSG allergy is not going to be easy but with the proper knowledge and understanding about the additive will help you find foods that will not cause an allergic reaction. Staying away from flavorings such as soy sauce and beef, pork, chicken flavorings as well as malt flavorings and broths can help keep you free from an allergic reaction after eating. Food allergies and airborne allergies might require skin test or blood tests to determine the cause of the allergy, but a detailed report of what you eat and do are also important to narrow it down to a few things.

Cosmetic dentistry uses many different tools and techniques to provide you with the dazzling smile that you have always wanted. A cosmetic dentist can alter your smile so that you are happy and confident with it. Are you suffering from:

Are you having trouble sleeping? The first reaction many people have is to go get some sleeping pills. However in this case, our first reaction is not always the best. Sleeping pills are bad for our bodies, they are an unnatural solution to a natural problem and, most importantly, the use of sleeping pills does not improve our daytime functioning. After considering these points, you will begin to understand that the use of natural alternatives are a much better solution to the problem of insomnia.

Sleeping pills are bad for our bodies. You simply cannot get around this fact. “Some risk of dependence” is a line that you often hear on sleeping pill advertisements. But isn’t that just another way of describing addiction? The longer sleeping pills are taken, the more our body begins to depend on them. But at the same time, we also begin to develop a tolerance for their effects. So we place ourselves in a situation in which something that we crave more and more actually works less and less.

Sleep is a natural process. From time to time, our ability to sleep may be affected. Lack of sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation are not something that we should ignore. But using prescription sleep aids is an unnatural solution to the problem. If we resort to the use of these medications, we’re essentially drugging ourselves to sleep. In fact, the actions that these pills take in our brains may actually prevent deep, restorative sleep. After using sleeping pills for a while, if we’re able to overcome our dependence and stop taking them, we will likely face a difficult struggle with rebound insomnia.

Finally, it’s important not to lose sight of our goal. What we’re actually trying to accomplish is not simply sleeping at night, but rather better functioning during the day. Unfortunately, sleeping pills do not improve daytime performance. Many users of prescription sleep medications report feelings of fatigue and lethargy throughout the day. It’s been shown that sleeping pills can actually decrease brain cell activity during the day, leading to an inability to concentrate.

If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, sleeping pills are not the answer. Not only do they place our bodies in a position of dependence to chemicals, they interfere with the natural processes of sleep and can actually impair our performance during the day. A much better solution to the problem of insomnia is a natural sleep program that takes into account your sleep environment, your lifestyle, and if necessary, the use of safe, non-habit-forming natural sleep aids.

Back pain affects nearly 80% of Americans and the most common form is Low Back Pain. Because you rely on your back for almost every move you make, it is vulnerable to injury. Back pain can even be disabling. It is one of the most common problems prompting a visit to your doctor and for missing work. In fact, it is the second highest cause of disability in persons under the age of 45.

Although people complain of back pain, it is not a diagnosis but rather a symptom of an underlying disorder. There are two types of back pain, acute and chronic. Acute back pain is pain with a new onset. It comes on suddenly, usually due to injury. This is the most common type of back pain. It is usually resolved in less than one month but no more than 6 weeks duration. Chronic pain is pain that can have a quick or slow onset, but it lingers for long periods of time. Although it may last three months or longer, some people experience a lifetime of chronic back pain. Chronic pain is the least common type of pain.


What Causes Back Pain?


To begin to understand the causes of back pain, we need to understand the spine. The back is made up of 33 vertebrae or bones. It is divided into 5 groups: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacrum and Coccyx. The cervical spine (upper back or neck) consists of 7 vertebrae. The thoracic(middle back) has 12, and the lumbar spine(low back) has 5 vertebrae. The sacrum consists of 5 fused vertebrae, and the coccyx(tail bone) has 4 vertebrae fused together.

The vertebrae are held together by ligaments and muscles with discs between the vertebrae. The discs are filled with a jellylike center, allowing them to act like a shock absorber. The vertebrae link together to provide stability and support. They protect the spinal cord and spinal nerves that run through the spinal canal.

Because the neurological system is complex, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of back pain. The causes of back pain are divided into categories: Mechanical, Injuries, Acquired disorders or diseases, Infections or tumors.

Mechanical causes: These are problems with how the spine works. For example, Spondylolistesis(deterioration of the disc one vertebrae to slip forward over another, causing the vertebrae to rub together, therefore causing pain). Other mechanical problems are fractures, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spinal degeneration and sciatica.

Injuries- This category includes common forms of back pain due to injury to the spine or the ligaments and muscles involved with the spine. Sprains, for example, result if a ligament that supports the spine is pulled or torn due to improper lifting or body mechanics, even twisting the wrong way, Fractures can occur from osteoarthritis which causes the bones to become brittle and weak. Sever injuries can result from an accident or fall.

Acquired disorders- These are medical problems that you might have been born with such as scoliosis(an abnormal curvature of the spine) to other problems that you acquired, such as arthritis(osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) which can lead to fractures; musculoskeletal pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis (Narrowing of the spinal canal putting pressure on spine or nerves); and even pregnancy.

Infection/Tumors- Infection, although not common, can cause pain if it involves the vertebrae. Two examples of this are Osteomyelitis(infection and inflammation of the vertebrae) and Discitis(infection in the discs).Tumors, although rare, can also cause back pain. These can be benign or cancerous, but usually result from a tumor that has spread from another area of the body.


How is back pain diagnosed?


In order for your physician to discuss the proper treatment for your back pain, he will need to do a thorough medical history and physical exam. You will need to give a clear concise description of your pain. Your physician will need to know how the pain started, what you were doing when it started, how severe it is, does it come and go or is it constant, and what makes the pain better or worse. You will need to undergo some diagnostic tests. Common tests done to diagnose back pain are x-rays, bone scans, and MRI’s. These diagnose problems due to bone or soft tissue injuries. Your doctor may order blood and urine tests to look for infection. If your physician feels the pain might be caused by a nerve problem, then you will have an EMG(electromyography) or nerve study. An EMG is an assessment of the electrical impulses of nerves and the response of the muscles.


How is Back Pain Treated?


The common goals of treatment are to relieve back pain and to restore mobility. Treatment varies depending on the severity and type of injury. The most common and basic treatment used for strains or minor injury is Rest. Heat can be used to promote circulation to the area and relieve spasms. Cold packs can be used to decrease the swelling in the affected area of the back. Common OTC (over the counter) medications such as Aspirin, Motrin, Tylenol, and Aleve are prescribed to help the pain and inflammation.

Long term bed rest is not usually recommended because it can make recovery slower and can ultimately cause other problems. Usually the doctor will have you gradually resume normal activities after 24-72 hours of rest. He may start you on a physical therapy program which should include heat, massage, ultrasound and an individualized exercise regimen. If the pain does not subside and it is interfering with your normal daily activities, your doctor may order prescription pain medications such as Darvocet, Vicodin, or Percocet and anti-inflammatory agents to relieve muscle spasm.

If your pain becomes chronic and all other treatments have failed, your doctor may refer you to a Back or Pain specialist. Because the back is a complex entity, specialists are more up to date on new advances in the treatment of back pain. Some treatments you might encounter are epidural nerve block (injection of anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, or steroid into the epidural space of the back for long term pain relief)and trigger point injections(injection of steroids and anesthetic into the muscle that is triggering pain.)This should also provide long term pain relief. Other medications such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants have been found to help relieve pain caused by nerve injuries.

Other types of treatment include:

Use of TENS(transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit. Electrodes are placed on 2-3 painful areas of the back and attached to a unit that provides mild electrical stimulus to the area in order to relieve pain.

Chiropractic adjustments of the back.

Acupressure or acupuncture treatments.

Relaxation and breathing techniques and stress management instruction.

Massage and basic stretching exercises to promote mobility and relieve spasm.

Yoga-and Pilates- This can help relieve pain and stress. Some Yoga postures may help relieve low back pain and help improve strength, flexibility and balance. Yoga is good for stress reduction and can help with the psychological aspects of pain.

Aquatic or water therapy- This can be very beneficial in relieving pain and improving mobility in those with chronic low back pain. There is no resistance to movement in the water, and water is soothing, comforting, and relaxing for the body.


How can Back Pain be Prevented?


Although some people say that you can’t avoid injuring your back, most doctors are in agreement that the common causes of back pain can be prevented by following a few lifestyle changes:

Exercise: You will need to consult your physician prior to starting an exercise program because there are some exercises, such as high impact aerobics and weight lifting that can make back pain worse. Other exercise, such as swimming, walking and biking can help overall health and strengthen the back. Nonetheless, exercise should not be avoided as it helps to improve overall health.
Lumbar support belts: Some people that work jobs that do heavy lifting on a daily basis are required to wear lumbar support and undergo back training on the job to learn how to prevent lifting injuries.
Do not wear high heels.
Keep head up and stomach in when standing. If standing for prolonged periods of time, place one foot up on a stool and alternate your weight frequently.
Sit in a chair with good lumbar support. Maintain good posture, sit up straight and keep both feet flat on the floor. Make a lumbar roll out of a rolled towel to place behind the low back when you drive or sit for prolonged periods of time.
Use proper body posture when lifting. Keep objects close to your body. Keep your back straight and your head up with stomach tucked in. Don’t lift objects that are too heavy. Get help when lifting awkward or heavy objects. Don’t bend forward to pick something up, rather bend at the knees and lift straight up from the knees.

In conclusion, back pain can be difficult to treat but there are many options out there for you. Specialists are finding new research every day. You can take care of your back by making good lifestyle changes and eliminating or reducing the amount of stress in your life. By maintaining good posture, using proper lifting techniques, and educating yourself on how to avoid back pain, you can prevent more back injury.

Once upon a time, there was a wife preparing to go on holiday, but she feared for her husband’s fidelity when left with the temptation of their Swedish au pair, so she left an apple on the au pair’s bed. Her husband was, after all, a doctor. Ever since apples were given a bad rep in the Garden of Eden, marketing gurus have been trying to recover the brand image and sell the fruit. The Beatles probably did more than anyone to put things back on the straight and narrow. For an all-too-brief moment, the record label was the fountainhead of some great music. Then it lived on in mothballs as the Fab Four fought over ownership of their back catalog.

After a few years, by some unknown means, the mantle of greatness was passed to Steve Jobs who, if you believe his fans’ blogs, walks on water every Tuesday just because he can. This candle of leadership has flickered in the wind, but Apple has now decided to confirm its status as a shaper of culture. Gone are the days when it just focused on the hardware. Now it’s all about the content. The numbers never lie. There have been more than 2 billions apps downloaded for the iPhone and iPod in the last eighteen months. That’s 6.3 million downloads a day. One of the more exciting is “Fire Up Your Sex Drive”. The developer is nothing if not inventive. He claims the app generates some powerful alpha waves. Exposing male users will enhance their sexual performance by up to 85% in less than two weeks. Presumably, the app broadcasts alpha male waves. What’s interesting is Apple’s willingness to allow its distribution. It used to have a reputation of being a little prudish. It seems some of the faux puritanism is rubbing off.

Fans also liked to think of their sport as being pure. This was athleticism elevated to art, and performance was endlessly analyzed to prove who were the best. In MLB, for example, people used to think Roger Clemens was just pleased to see his female fans. Now it turns out he was stuffing little blue pills into his locker. Indeed, the combination of steroids and Viagra seems to have been not uncommon among sportsmen. The theory is that, with the blood vessels dilated, the steroids reach the muscles faster and are taken up more efficiently. Whether you want to develop the top-heavy look favored by some football and baseball players, there’s no doubt of Viagra‘s real power to dilate arteries to good effect. Almost all men not suffering from physical incapacity or serious depression find Viagra works the first time they take it and produces consistently hard erections on all subsequent occasions. It’s a shame the manufacturers came along just a little too late to take over the “apple” brand. That image of a bite taken out of a green apple could have been the image to really launch the brand. As it is, customers have had to struggle with a foreign-sounding name. Fortunately, men have proved fast learners when it comes to passing on word of this drug’s power. It could probably have been called Xlzwp (Eden in the Serbo-Croatian language) and still have become the world’s most popular drug.