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Showing posts from May, 2017

The United States Nursing Shortage Crisis

In The Desperate United States Nursing Shortage, we examined the statistics that define the nursing shortage in the U.S., particularly in California. Here, we will go deeper into the issues and offer possible suggestions. There are so few spots available in academic nursing programs because there are just not enough educators. To be a nurse educator, you must possess a bachelor's degree, at the very minimum. A master's prepared educator is ideal. Additionally, all nurse administrators in hospital settings must be bachelor's prepared or higher as well. Hospital administration pays more than education, so the candidates that are qualified for both, often pursue administration. As hospitals become more expansive and service-oriented - which they must do to survive in this precarious industry - they will have to increase salaries to draw highly qualified administrators. This, in turn, increases the salary gap between hospital administrators and nurse educators even more.

The Symptoms of Piles and How To Deal With Them Effectively

Piles (also called hemorrhoids) can make life quite uncomfortable for those who need to deal with them. Even simple things like sitting, lying, or standing can become a hardship; people dealing with the symptoms of piles may find it almost impossible to find a comfortable position. This condition is caused by enlarged veins in the anal area. It can be triggered by a number of different events such as straining too hard when trying to pass a stool, spending too much time sitting or standing, or as a result of pregnancy. The Symptoms of Piles Sometimes the symptoms of piles can pass quickly with minor inconvenience and only mild discomfort. Other people may have a much harder time of it, and these hemorrhoids can really interfere with life. The usual pile symptoms include; Itching in the anal/rectal area Fresh blood on toilet paper (if the blood is a darker color then this could indicate a problem higher up in the bowel). People might also notice stained underwear or even blood dripp

Pupil Anomalies

Taking a set of vitals is standard procedure for all medically trained caregivers and while patients rarely give it a second thought, health professionals love vital signs. The importance of these signs is self-evident to the medical world; they are the clues to a condition, an attribute of life and once in decline, a harbinger of death. Vitals are not just numbers; they reflect a patient's well-being and show changes in circumstances, often particularly important ones. The eyes may be the windows to the soul, but just the pupils can reveal plenty of information for diagnosis purposes. The Pupil The pupil of the eye resembles a black hole that can constrict (close), or dilate (open), in response to various factors. Essentially the role of the pupil is to adapt and change size to allow the maximum amount of light into the retina without causing damage. The retina converts the light into nerve impulses which travel to the optic nerve and then directly to the brain, allowing a per

The Role of Flossing in Teeth Cleaning

Teeth cleaning is a daily chore, with some people cleaning their teeth up to two or three times per day. Not only is it required for fresh breath, but cleaning teeth is necessary if one wants to avoid plaque stains and tooth decay. Another desired benefit of teeth cleaning that most people wish to attain is whiter teeth. It may appear to sound obvious that whitening one’s teeth comes with brushing, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Dentists recommend the use of floss to reach in places that the normal toothbrush cannot. Dental Floss and Flossing Teeth When people clean their teeth, they often don’t realise that there are places that standard and electric toothbrushes miss. It might not matter how many times per day individuals clean their teeth, but failure to reach certain areas around the teeth may facilitate the build up of plaque and subsequent tooth decay. That is why the use of floss to supplement the teeth cleaning process is necessary. Dental floss itself is a c

The Safety of Dental Amalgam Fillings

Mercury is now regarded as the most common cause of heavy metal toxicity and can get into the bloodstream in various ways from injected vaccines, eating fish and by amalgam dental fillings by chewing. The World Health Organization estimates that between three to 17 micrograms of mercury are released daily into the body by chewing alone. History of Mercury Mercury is the second most toxic metal in the world after plutonium. Mercury has a history of being known as quicksilver due to it being a silver liquid. The symbol, Hg, is Latin for hydrargyrum , meaning watery silver. Mercury does not readily react with oxygen in the air but does reacts with some acids when they are hot. Mercury toxicity has been reported since the first century when Roman prisoners were sentenced to work in cinnabar mines where they usually died due to the lethal levels of mercury. In the 1800s felt hat workers exposed to mercuric nitrate exhibited symptoms such as memory loss, angry outbursts, depression, in

Laropiprant Side Effects

Laropiprant becomes an adjunct drug with the administration of nicotinic acid that helps lower the cholesterol levels of the body. Its potent action in managing the flushing effects of nicotinic acid makes Laropiprant an essential drug to administer together with nicotinic acid. Side effects are often evident on the use of laropriprant that every patient must be cautioned upon. Lapopiprant together with niacin is indicated for the treatment of dyslipidemia, a condition characterized by high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also an indicated treatment for hypercholesterolemia. Side Effects of Laropiprant Just as with any drug, the administration of laropiprant may induce side effects. Common ones are diarrhea and loose bowel movements, abdominal discomfort, rashes and allergy, itching and hives. Indigestion, stomachache, vomiting, headache and tingling of the hands and feet are also common. More serious side effects induced by the drug include allergic reaction, bl

The Coral Calcium Controversy

Coral calcium , a dietary supplement made of calcium carbonate and a wealth of trace minerals, is harvested off the shores of Okinawa, Japan. This much acclaimed mineral is best known for its proclaimed ability to change the alkalinity of water-based solutions. Many individuals, inspired by the teachings of Robert Barefoot, hold to the belief that coral calcium is a cure-all for a number of diseases. The Robert Barefoot Theory Concerning Coral Calcium Robert Barefoot is a bio-chemist and promoter of coral calcium. His theory advocates that while a healthy person has a high pH or alkaline reading and high oxygen levels, a person that is ill has a low pH reading and low oxygen levels. If the the pH levels of the sick can be raised or changed to alkaline, that person can overthrow any illness in question. Barefoot believes that the alkalinity of coral calcium can cure some 200 degenerative diseases caused by calcium deficiency. Controversial Issues Concerning Coral Calcium Laborator

Stretching Exercises Keep Your Muscles Healthy

Humans are made up of different types of muscles. The two main groups are phasic and postural. The phasic muscles are made up of fast twitch fibers (type 2), examples are: quadriceps (the muscles in the front of the upper thigh), rectus abdominis (abdominal muscles). These muscles are activated in short explosive activities, such as sprinting to the bus, and are prone to getting weak. The postural muscles are made up of slow twitch fibers (type 1), some examples are: gastrocnemius and soleus (muscles in the back of the lower leg) pectoralis major and minor ( chest muscles ). These muscles are activated in long duration sustained positions and movements, and overtime are prone towards getting tight and restricted. What Stretching Does The physiological effect of stretching is that it reduces increased tone of a muscle. The ability to stretch is influenced by: age, gender, body type, temperature, psychological and physical stress, and muscle imbalances. Stretching after exercise

Tips to Reduce Swelling in Hands, Ankles and Feet

Swelling of the hands, ankles and feet is caused by many different things and can occur in people of all ages. The causes can be as simple as high heat, standing too much or eating too much sodium, or it could be a sign of another health issue. For most people, however, swelling in the hands, feet and ankles is not life-threatening and can be treated easily by taking a few precautions or making small lifestyle changes. Causes of Swelling of the Hands, Ankles and Feet There are many different reasons why hands, feet and ankles swell. These reasons include: pregnancy pre-menstrual syndrome medications sitting too long in one position standing too long in one position not drinking enough water too much sodium (salt) in the diet allergies being overweight eating an unhealthy diet too little exercise drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages In most cases, a person who experiences swelling occasionally can reduce it with home remedies. However, if swelling persists on a regu

Toradol Pain Medicine

Toradol is commonly prescribed after surgery. It is also sold under the generic name of Ketorolac. It helps reduce hormones in your body that cause inflammation and pain. It is available as an IV additive, injection, and as a tablet form. Tablets should only be used if you have already received the injectable form first. Toradol is not indicated for mild or ongoing pain. Important Facts Regarding Toradol Toradol is used short-term (five days or less) due to the increased risk of serious side effects on your stomach and intestines. Serious life threatening gastrointestinal effects can occur while taking Toradol. Toradol can also increase your risk of life-threatening circulation and heart problems, such as stroke and heart attack. Risks increase with longer use of Toradol. Seek medical care immediately if you experience chest pain, weakness, slurred speech, shortness of breath, vision or balance problems, black or bloody stools, tarry stools, or if you are coughing up blood or vomit