Posted on 12 April 2012 by
Harley Street Diagnostis Facilities
Harley Street is the epicenter of the medical community in city of London. Centrally located, this area features well over 1,000 medical facilities, physicians, hospitals, clinics, dentist’s and other medical services. Patients who visit Harley Street can find everything fro podiatry clinics, to cosmetic surgeons, to cancer treatment centers. Every medical need can be met in this area, which is why it is so popular with residents of the UK.
As for the clinics themselves, many people are interested to know if there is a single thing they specialize in or particular service they provide. While these clinics provide a wide array of health-related services, patients will likely see a running theme with most in the area: diagnostics and assessments. It’s true that many people visit Harley Street clinics for medical consultations.
Exams and consultations are important, and should be a regular part of a person’s life. Doctors recommend annual checkups and those that do so are in a better position to take charge of their health and well-being. Early detection of health problems and diseases can pit the power in the patient’s hands to better deal with them effectively. And for those looking for such diagnostic and assessment services, there are no shortage of option in Harley Street.
Clinics in Harley Street specialize in providing detailed patient exams and consultations. A full range of diagnostic investigations are included in these services, all designed to give the patient comprehensive insight into their own health matters. These diagnostics begin with a lifestyle screening, to determine how one lives, as well as a thorough physical examination.
These health screenings cover family medical history and the health screenings can be tailored to the individual in order to detect early signs of specific illness. On top of that, a full battery of assessments are also included. These include blood and urine tests, ECG, cholesterol check, visual acuity and lung capacity tests as well as body fat checks and BMI. The patient is given a full, personalized health report at the end of the consultation.
There are many diagnostic facilities on Harley Street that boast myriad modern amenities. Patients have access to clinics with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment such as MRI machines. On top of that these large clinics are fully staffed with trained health professionals, many available seven days a week. Another benefit to the patient is that many clinics offer periodic discounts for their services.
Posted on 18 December 2011 by
Anxiety is a normal part of everyday life, as everyone has things that they are worried about happening in the future or that are happening at the moment. However, these feelings usually pass and anxiety only becomes a mental health problem when you are never able to get rid of your worries. General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the name given to the condition where you feel constantly anxious about everything, even things that would not usually worry you! People with GAD often can’t remember the last time they felt relaxed, and suffer physical symptoms as well as mental health problems. This extreme anxiety affects around one in 20 people in the UK, with women slightly more likely to be affected than men.
Causes and symptoms
Although the cause of anxiety may seem obvious, there is a hidden reason why some people develop the symptoms, while others in a similar situation do not. It is thought that General Anxiety Disorder is linked to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, rather like depression. The two chemicals that are important in regulating your mood are serotonin and noradrenaline, and if their levels falls you can suffer from anxiety or other mental health problems. It is not known why some people develop this imbalance, and therefore anxiety, but some people have been known to develop their symptoms after a particularly stressful event. Symptoms will vary from person to person, and can develop over a period of time, making self diagnosis difficult. Psychological symptoms can include irritability, nervousness and difficulty concentrating, while the physical symptoms of anxiety could be heart palpitations, shortness of breath, insomnia or sleeping too much and nausea.
Diagnosis and treatment
Because the symptoms of anxiety can develop slowly, it can be difficult to diagnose. Both men and women may not realise they have mental health problems, because many of the symptoms associated with General Anxiety Disorder are those that apply to normal feelings of anxiety at stressful times of life. If you are concerned that you may be suffering from anxiety, then the best thing to do is talk to your doctor. They will ask you questions about your life and the symptoms you are suffering and decide what is the best course of treatment. There are two different types of treatment for General Anxiety Disorder, medication or therapy. Medications for anxiety are usually designed to be taken in the short term, rather than long-term treatments like anti-depressants. You can take these tablets when you feel an anxiety attack coming up in the hope that they will prevent any of the symptoms from developing. Therapy may prove more effective over time in treating anxiety, as you can talk with a therapist about the reasons that you feel anxious and the things that can trigger panic attacks and phobias, as well as using techniques like cognitive behavioural therapy to change your behaviour.
Posted on 05 December 2011 by
Snoring affects the young and old world-wide to varying degrees. People share jokes about those who snore and snorers are even classified into categories according to their snoring sounds and levels. We hear snorers being told that they sound like a “Walrus” or a broken car. The Japanese have even designed a stop snoring bear that turns the head of a snorer, to stop their disgruntled partner from giving them a silencing shove. Other snoring treatment alternatives are available, to prevent the snorer being the butt of jokes and, more importantly, to improved their health.
Snoring as a symptom needing treatment
Snoring is a symptom of an unhealthy blocked nasal passageway, which requires treatment. Causes of snoring are well documented to include anything from an obstruction in the nasal airway, a structural defect, an injury, a hereditary condition, an allergy, or being overweight or obese. Research findings suggest that snoring is often the symptom of an underlying cause, which may need of treatment. Besides essential oils, somnoplasty, nasal strips and surgery, mouthpieces may be an option to help you or a loved one stop snoring.
Stop snoring with a mouthpiece
Mouthpieces are a treatment option to stop snoring and there is more than one mouthpiece option available, ranging from snore mates to snore wizards! Visit The Private Clinic for guidance on this. In general, stop snoring mouthpieces are custom made in a laboratory to suit the size of your mouth. Specifications are provided by your medical practitioner after measuring your mouth and assessing your snoring condition. Mouthpieces act like splints, shifting the jaw slightly ahead of its usual resting position. The space then created between the upper airway and the soft palate stops the snoring.
Benefits of stop snoring mouthpieces
Not only are mouthpieces easy to fit and comfortable to wear when asleep, they improve your ability to breathe, allowing you to get the oxygen you need for better health. Having a good night’s sleep allows you to feel more energetic in body and mind. Your relationships will not be affected by snoring anymore and you can share improved health and wellbeing with others.
Posted on 26 November 2011 by
Alzheimer’s disease is a common form of dementia, which usually affects the elderly, though in rare cases it can affect younger people too. It is a progressive condition, which means that once diagnosed, the patient will only deteriorate, without any improvement. There is currently no cure for the condition, though medication can be prescribed to slow the disease and its symptoms. Statistics from the Alzheimer’s Society suggest that one in 14 people over the age of 65 is affected by Alzheimer’s, with the numbers increasing for those over the age of 80. The disease attacks the nerves, brain cells and even the cells that carry messages to the brain, the neurotransmitters, affecting memory speech and even the personality of the sufferer.
Causes and symptoms
Like many mental health problems, it is not known why some people develop Alzheimer’s disease and others don’t. There are some factors that can increase your risk of developing the disease, such as age, family history, head injuries and other medical conditions such as Down’s Syndrome. Early symptoms include minor memory issues and perhaps difficulty saying the right words. This can then progress to more significant mental health problems like confusion, behavioural changes and sometimes a complete personality change. It can be very difficult for the families and friends of sufferers, as once the patient is in the advanced stages of the disease they might no longer recognise their partner or even their children. There are three different stages to Alzheimer’s, mild, moderate and severe. During the mild stage the sufferer will display signs of confusion and minor memory loss, while the moderate stage will see the development of symptoms such as hallucinations and obsessive behaviour. Finally, the severe stage includes a number of physical symptoms, in addition to mental sypmtoms, such as difficulty swallowing or moving position and weight loss.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis can be difficult, because the symptoms can develop slowly, over a long period of time, so you may not even realise there is a problem for many months. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s are also similar to those of other conditions, like vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems and depression. There is no test for Alzheimer’s, so doctors will usually make a diagnosis by taking a detailed medical history, and then rule out the other conditions through medical tests. As there is no cure, the only medication that Alzheimer’s patients can take are tablets that will slow the deterioration of the disease and help control some of the symptoms. There is no sure fire way to prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease, but doctors suggest that there a few things you can do to reduce the risk that you will be affected by the condition, giving up smoking and only drinking in moderation, eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise and keeping your mind active by taking courses, reading or even doing crossword puzzles!
Posted on 05 October 2011 by
Stress is becoming more and more of a problem, as people struggle with financial pressures, workplace problems and even trouble at home. A little bit of stress can be useful to achieve work targets, but too much can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unhappy, and can even lead to mental health problems. It is difficult to say how common stress is in the UK, as not many people suffering with it even visit their doctor. Most people suffering from work-related stress are likely to be men, who would prefer to try and get over the problem themselves rather than asking for help. However, it is a condition that your doctor can treat, to help make both your home and work life more manageable and pleasant. Workplace stress does seem to be the most common of the two, with a recent survey estimating that 400,000 people in Britain were being made unwell by stress at the office.
Causes and diagnosis
The causes are pretty obvious when people are put under too much pressure to achieve, or put themselves under too much pressure, then they can start to feel stressed. This doesn’t just apply to people already in the workplace, teenagers studying for exams often admit to suffering from stress. If the situation at home is difficult for some reason, then this can also lead to stress and mental health problems. When you become stressed the body releases hormones, and it is these hormones, such as adrenaline, that can cause you to feel unwell. In the long-term this can have damaging effects on your blood pressure and heart rate. Stress can usually be diagnosed by a GP asking a few questions about your home and work life, though they might carry out a few tests to eliminate other possibilities.
Symptoms and treatment
Stress can cause mental and physical symptoms. The mental health problems include depression, anxiety, changes in behaviour and even anger, while the physical symptoms can be as serious as chest pains and fainting, or more minor signs, like biting your nails, nervous twitching and feeling restless. The long-term consequences for your body can be quite serious. If your stress remains unmanaged and you continue to release hormones into your system, these can cause high blood pressure, which in turn increases your risk of suffering a heart attack or a stroke. If you think your are suffering from stress, you can try treating yourself with meditation classes, taking plenty of exercise and trying to avoid or change the situation that is making you stressed. If the mental health problem is more serious, then counselling may be more appropriate. The therapist will not only be able to help you feel less stressed about your trigger situation in the safety of their office, but they will also be able to teach you techniques to manage any stress you suffer in the future.
Posted on 20 September 2011 by
Clinical depression is very different from the normal sad or depressed feelings that everyone suffers with from time to time. People with clinical depression can have these mental health problems for months or even years, with little respite. Often these feelings can be strong enough to interfere with your work life or personal relationships, though many people with the condition don’t bother to seek help. This is a mistake, as untreated depression can become a serious illness, leading to suicidal feelings. Women are more likely to suffer from depression, with one in four being diagnosed with the mental health condition at some point in their life, as compared to one in ten males. However, the condition tends to be more serious in men, as they are less likely to ask for medical help, meaning that suicide rates are higher in males. Depression can affect people of any age, including children, and any background.
Causes of depression
There can be many different triggers for depression, ranging from illness and bereavement to money worries or divorce. Often depression can begin with one incident which causes the patient to feel sad or low, and they never really recover, so that these depressed feelings continue to cause them problems in the long-term. If your life is quite stressful, or you are unfortunate enough to have had a lot of stressful events in your life, this can put you at greater risk of developing depression, as can a family history of the disease. Many women suffer depression after giving birth, while people who have been diagnosed with chronic health conditions also frequently report the symptoms of depression. People who drink a lot of alcohol or take recreational or some prescription drugs are also at a greater risk of developing mental health problems.
Symptoms and treatments
There are hundreds of different mental and physical symptoms of depression. Nobody is likely to display them all, but sufferers will probably display some of the following more common indications of a mental health problem; low mood, tearfulness, feeling irritable, lack of motivation, change in appetite and sleeping patterns, lack of energy. Depression is also indicated by social symptoms that are more difficult to define and diagnose. You might find yourself struggling at work or having more problems at home than usual. Your social life will probably suffer as you start to stay in, rather than going out and enjoying other activities. Usually depression will be managed by your GP, and it is only in serious cases that other medical professionals or hospitals would be brought in. The options for treatment are anti-depressant medications and talking therapies. Often a patient will be prescribed tablets to help them in the short term, and undergo therapy or counselling over a period of months, to help them recover to the point that they can come off the medication. Again, each case is different, and your doctor is the best person to advise you on what type of treatment is best for your mental health problem.
Posted on 10 September 2011 by
Without wishing to sound too depressing, the fact is that mental health problems can affect anyone, of any age or gender, from any background. Statistics indicate that one in four people will be affected by a mental health problem at some point in their lives, with men and women equally affected. The only difference between the sexes is in the kind of mental health problems that affect them. Women are one and a half times more likely to suffer from conditions like anxiety and depression, while men are more likely to develop mental health problems associated with substance abuse. In Britain, a staggering a one in eight men are described as dependent on alcohol, and there are many physical and mental problems that come hand in hand with this type of condition. Serious mental health problems are widespread throughout the population too, with one in 100 people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Of course, these statistics are based on those who have sought help from their doctor, the figures could be much higher if you take into consideration the people who have not yet been diagnosed.
Young and old
Even children can be affected by mental health problems, though these usually don’t manifest themselves until puberty. This is often the time when psychotic symptoms will first begin to appear if the patient is affected by schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Teens can often be affected by eating disorders or depression associated with cultural factors. As people get older, the types of mental health problems they are likely to be affected by change. In middle age, depression is most likely, as changes occur in the patient’s work and personal, life such as children leaving home, divorce and job worries. In older age, mental health problems like dementia and Alzheimer’s start to become more common, leading to memory loss and even behavioural changes.
Men and suicide
Suicide is the most serious consequence of mental health problems, with people who suffer from depression and anxiety as likely to try and kill themselves as those who suffer from serious conditions. In Britain, men, and young men in particular, are most at risk, being three times more likely to kill themselves than British women. There are even areas within the UK where young men are most likely to kill themselves, such as the Scottish Highlands, though in recent years health campaigns have been successful in reducing the rate here. However, the fact remains that in England and Wales, suicide is the second most common cause of death among men under the age of 35. There are various theories as to why this should be the case, some suggest that men in this age group are less likely to seek help if they are feeling depressed, feeling that it is weak to admit to having mental health problems. Often men will choose to drown their sorrows in the pub, rather than talk about their problems, but the alcohol is only likely to make them feel more depressed.
Posted on 14 August 2011 by
Fat grafting breast augmentation or reconstruction can produce natural-looking results for patients.
Despite widespread negativity that was associated with fat grafting to the breast did not deter surgeons who knew that all of the procedures could result in calcification and scarring. They continued performing the surgery.
Eventually, fat grafting to the breast was given a completely different benchmark from all other breast procedures. This double standard was supported by other studies which indicated that radiologists, using advanced radiologic screening techniques, have a high level of confidence when discerning between calcifications related to breast cancer and those caused by fat necrosis.
Not every patient is suitable for this type of cosmetic surgery and it may require more than one procedure to achieve the desired results however many patients are very happy with the enhancement it can provide and natural feel and look as opposed to that a silicone implant.
While it will not provide the size of increase in bust that a traditional breast enlargement surgery can provide for those that are looking for a more subtle increase can be the ideal choice.
Posted on 27 July 2011 by
Smoking has a negative effect on almost every organ and system in the body and contributes to an increased risk of serious, life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and strokes. Giving up smoking will have an almost immediate positive effect on your health, as well as saving you a large amount of money.
What are the benefits of stopping smoking?
Giving up smoking has a positive effect on many aspects of health and if you decide to give up you will dramatically reduce your risk of developing serious conditions and diseases. Research also shows that people who successfully give up smoking can look forward to a better sex life and a healthier looking complexion.
Giving up smoking has major benefits for your health and within just 12 weeks, your circulation will have improved significantly, within a year your risk of having a heart attack will be halved and within 10 years your risk of developing lung cancer will also have halved. People who give up smoking can also add years to their life expectancy and men who quit before the age of 30 can expect to add around 10 years to their life expectancy.
Help with giving up
Giving up smoking is often very difficult but it can be done, especially if you make use of the help and services available to you. The NHS runs a stop smoking service, which provides help for people who want to quit smoking. There are also community groups that meet on a regular basis, as well as packs, which contain information about giving up and advice about nicotine replacement and group therapy. Many people find it easier to give up when they do it with other people and statistics show that group sessions are very effective. Nicotine replacement therapies (including patches and gum) are available on the NHS and these can help to reduce cravings, which makes it easier for people to give up.
Self-help tips
In addition to treatments, there are also steps you can take to try and make giving up easier. These include:
- Thinking positively.
- Drawing up a plan of action.
- Avoiding socialising with friends that smoke until you feel confident that you can deal with cravings.
- Taking up exercise.
- Making a list of the reasons for giving up.
- Saving the money you would have spent on cigarettes and treat yourself.