Health Resources

Achieving a whiter smile is possible for anyone today. The list of teeth whitening options available to consumers continues to grow and improve with each passing year. But with so many choices, choosing the option that best suits your budget and lifestyle can be a daunting task. And what about over-the-counter whitening products? What function do they serve and do they actually whiten teeth?

This article will look at one of the most common over-the-counter products, whitening toothpastes, and help you better understand what part, if any, it should play in your goal to obtain and maintain a whiter smile.

Most people brush their teeth twice each day. It is a habit yielding immediate positive results and provides long lasting benefits in overall oral hygiene. It is not to be taken lightly. Today’s modern toothpastes, meeting the American Dental Association’s Seal of Approval, contain ingredients specially formulated to help keep our teeth and gums healthy and strong. Some of the basic ingredients found in today’s modern toothpaste are:

* Abrasives: aid in the removal of tartar and plaque.
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Hypertension is extremely common in people with type 2 diabetes, affecting approximately 20-60% of all patients, depending on age, ethnicity, and body weight. The causes of this type of high-blood pressure are unknown, but are likely to be a complex combination of genetic, environmental, and other factors.  A number of genetic factors or interactions between genes play a major role in essential hypertension and many experts believe that specific chromosomes house the genes responsible for blood pressure regulation.

Whereas kidney damage is generally the cause of high blood pressure in type 1 diabetes, obesity and insulin resistance are the factors associated with hypertension in type 2 diabetes.  Obesity is common in both type 2 diabetes and hypertension and clinical testing indicates that obesity is the one common element linking insulin, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. However, studies have found a stronger association between hypertension and insulin resistance in thin patients as well as overweight people with type 2 diabetes.

The development of hypertension in patients with diabetes is particularly harmful, as it is responsible for up to 75% of diabetic cardiovascular complications, including coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. Hypertension is also thought to play a significant role in the development of retinopathy (eye damage), nephropathy (kidney disease), and possibly neuropathy (nerve damage).  Read more...

Dating back more than 4,000 years, Chinese green tea diet has been long revered as a tasty drink that can ward off diseases and improve one’s well-being. There are only a few herbs that can surpass its impressive history.

Since its first recorded use during the time of Emperor Shen Nung, the link between Chinese green tea diet and good health has never been severed. Today, further studies are made to test the benefits of the remarkable health elixir.

Traditional Health Benefits of the Diet

According to tradition, this diet could cure anything from headaches, body aches, and pains to constipation and depression. Over the centuries, more health claims are made on account of the Chinese green tea diet.

It detoxifies the body. The presence of polyphenols, a naturally occurring antioxidant in this particular tea, is said to combat harmful free radicals and help keep the body free from diseases. In this regard, Chinese green tea helps maintain the overall well-being of the body. It fights against the anti-aging process because the antioxidants can boost immunity, preserve young-looking skin, and brighten the eyes.  Read more...

It’s been 20 years since I completed the Ironman Triathlon. Now my Olympic dreams have given way to the nightmare of paying for my kids education. Still, I workout regularly, eat well and almost fit into the jeans I wore in the ’80s. So…

How Could I Possibly Have A Cholesterol Problem?

Since I’m your doctor, I’m a little embarrassed to reveal my cholesterol numbers. But if we’re going to beat it together-here they are:

•My total cholesterol is 213 (not terrible, since the goal for total cholesterol is below 200).
•My LDL (low density aka bad cholesterol) is 155. The ideal for bad cholesterol is below 130 (100 if you have heart problems). LDL, cholesterol’s evil step brother, got its bad reputation by filling your arteries with fat causing high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and dementia. The LDL may be the single most important number we measure.
•My HDL (good cholesterol) is 55. HDL should stay over 45 for men and 55 for women. The higher the better since HDLs remove the fatty plaques from your arteries and brings them to the liver for elimination  Read more...

If you are expecting pregnancy, you might be undergoing some body changes and experience early pregnancy symptoms. Many women tend to ignore some of the symptoms that they come across after conceiving and fail to detect their pregnancy. Therefore, it is essential to take a note of every single body change you observe in order to confirm pregnancy. Many symptoms are even experienced before conceiving, but then check out the intensity of arrival of those symptoms. Observe carefully and inform your physician in detail. The early stage of pregnancy brings a number of symptoms to every woman.

However, not every pregnant woman experiences the same group of symptoms in their early stage at the same propensity. Your symptoms may not resemble with those experienced by one of your acquaintances. Therefore, if you have missed one of the pregnancy symptoms one of your close acquaintances has felt, it does not mean you have some complications. It is our endeavor to impart you knowledge on the pregnancy symptoms that are most likely to appear in the early trimesters, signaling that you are pregnant. Check out below what possible signs you may expect during the early stage of your pregnancy.  Read more...

Tooth decay is a condition of the teeth in which an infection like disease begins to damage the structure of the tooth or teeth. The condition is one that can spread and can be made worse if no treatment is sought. If left untreated, this breaking down of the teeth can lead to painful situations as well as the loss of the tooth. In addition, if the infection spreads and is not treated, it can cause death in some patients after a period of time. They are often referred to as dental caries as well.

Believe it or not, tooth decay is one of the largest diseases that are found in humans throughout the world. Worst of all, many times this type of situation can be prevented. The best way to overcome the problems with your teeth in this type of infectious situation is to care for them properly. This starts with proper brushing and flossing habits. You should also seek out the help of a dentist or dental specialist to help remove built up plaque from your teeth. You can do this by visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups. Plaque is mostly made up of bacteria, giving your teeth even more exposure to the conditions that cause this type of disease.  Read more...

When it comes to the matter of eye surgery, the first thing that comes to our mind is Lasik surgery. For corrective vision procedures, Lasik surgery is all what we think about. There are various alternatives to Lasik surgery today. You can choose the option that rests upon your eye condition, the surgeon who is going to operate and the budget you are comfortable in paying. Hence it is important for you to know the different types of Lasik surgery available so that you make the right click.

LASEK SURGERY: This type of surgery is a refractive procedure that uses alcohol to separate the outer layer of the cornea. The recovery time with Lasek surgery is longer as compared to Lasik surgery. It is useful for people with thin cornea.

PRK: It removes the epithelium with a metal surgical tool. The tissue is removed from the cornea under this treatment. It is a longer recovery process and is suitable for people with thin cornea and large pupils. It is effective for treatments including near-sightedness and far-sightedness. As compared to other forms of refractive surgery, ‘dry eyes’ is the most common complication of this surgery.  Read more...