For the last 10 years cosmetic foot surgery as a trend has been growing among a rising number of patients. For some, it’s a way to relieve pain while getting a “foot lift.” For others, it’s a way to complete the surgical enhancement that began with their face, chest, and legs. With regards to public and professional opinion about cosmetic foot surgery, there are two camps: those who discourage this type of surgery and those who find it beneficial, each side’s reasoning based on the perceived need for such procedures. Going in to see a foot doctor for any foot-related medical procedure is usually done for one of three reasons: medical, reconstructive, and cosmetic.

Often when the patient is suffering from the pain and discomfort of bunions, spurs, corns, excess bone tissue, broken bones, mallet or hammertoes, or fungus, specific surgical treatments such as bunion surgery can alleviate the issue and get patients back on their feet again in no time.

When work needs to be done to restore function, or create function where it was previously lacking, your podiatrist may recommend reconstructive foot surgery. Previous surgeries, accidents, birth defects, or complications from cosmetic surgery may be the cause of the debilitation. And lastly, a patient may want to be rid of unsightly scars or dark areas on the skin. They may have disfigured toes or complain about feet not fitting into tight-fitting shoes; in these cases, cosmetic foot surgery may be advised to address the foot correction.

The benefits of performing cosmetic foot surgery, which differs from hammertoe surgery in that the latter serves a purely practical function, include advantages commonly associated with traditional plastic surgery for the face and body: improved self-esteem and self-image, higher quality of life. For more information about how orthopedic surgeons are combining the best of both worlds - corrective and cosmetic surgery ??” contact your local podiatry specialists to learn more.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT DRUGS: MARIJUANA What is Marijuana? Call it pot, grass, weed, or any one of nearly 200 other names, marijuana is, by far, the world’s most commonly used illicit drug??”and far more dangerous than most users realize. So, there is just cause for alarm when adolescent marijuana use increases, as it did in the mid-1990’s, and the age at which youngsters first experiment with pot starts to drops. Marijuana has been around for a long while. Its source, the hemp plant (cannabis sativa), was being cultivated for psychoactive properties more than 2,000 years ago. Although cannabis contains at least 400 different chemicals, its main mind-altering ingredient is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).The amount of THC in marijuana determines the drug’s strength, and THC levels are affected by a great many factors, including plant type, weather, soil, and time of harvest. Sophisticated cannabis cultivation of today produces high levels of THC and marijuana that is far more potent than pot of the past. THC content of marijuana, which averaged less than 1 percent in 1974, rose to an average 4 percent by 1994. For the highly popular form of marijuana called Sinsemilla (from the Spanish “without seeds”), made from just the buds and flowering tops of female plants, THC content averages 7.5 percent and ranges as high as 24 percent. As for hashish, a resin made from flowers of the female plant, THC levels may be five to ten times higher than crude marijuana’s. How is it Used? Marijuana and other cannabis products are usually smoked, sometimes in a pipe or water pipe, but most often in loosely rolled cigarettes known as “joints.” Some users will slice open and hollow out cigars, replacing the tobacco with marijuana, to make what are called “blunts.” Joints and blunts may be laced with other substances, including crack cocaine and the potent hallucinogen phencyclidine (PCP), substantially altering effects of the drug. Smoking, however, is not the sole route of administration. Marijuana can be brewed into tea or mixed in baked products (cookies or brownies). How Does it Affect You? A mild hallucinogen, marijuana has some of alcohol’s depressant and disinhibiting properties. User reaction, however, is heavily influenced by expectations and past experience, and many first-time users feel nothing at all. Effects of smoking are generally felt within a few minutes and peak in 10 to 30 minutes. They include dry mouth and throat, increased heart rate, impaired coordination and balance, delayed reaction time, and diminished short-term memory. Moderate doses tend to induce a sense of well-being and a dreamy state of relaxation that encourages fantasies, renders some users highly suggestible, and distorts perception (making it dangerous to operate machinery, drive a car or boat, or ride a bicycle). Stronger doses prompt more intense and often disturbing reactions including paranoia and hallucinations. Most of marijuana’s short-term effects wear off within two or three hours. The drug itself, however, tends to linger on. THC is a fat-soluble substance and will accumulate in fatty tissues in the liver, lungs, testes, and other organs. Two days after smoking marijuana, one-quarter of the THC content may still be retained. It will show up in urine tests three days after use, and traces may be picked up by sensitive blood tests two to four weeks later. The Impact on the Mind Marijuana use reduces learning ability. Research has been piling up of late demonstrating clearly that marijuana limits the capacity to absorb and retain information. A 1995 study of college students discovered that the inability of heavy marijuana users to focus, sustain attention, and organize data persists for as long as 24 hours after their last use of the drug. Earlier research, comparing cognitive abilities of adult marijuana users with non-using adults, found that users fall short on memory as well as math and verbal skills. Although it has yet to be proven conclusively that heavy marijuana use can cause irreversible loss of intellectual capacity, animal studies have shown marijuana-induced structural damage to portions of the brain essential to memory and learning. The Impact on the Body Chronic marijuana smokers are prey to chest colds, bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma. Persistent use will damage lungs and airways and raise the risk of cancer. There is just as much exposure to cancer-causing chemicals from smoking one marijuana joint as smoking five tobacco cigarettes. And there is evidence that marijuana may limit the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Marijuana also affects hormones. Regular use can delay the onset of puberty in young men and reduce sperm production. For women, regular use may disrupt normal monthly menstrual cycles and inhibit ovulation. When pregnant women use marijuana, they run the risk of having smaller babies with lower birth weights, who are more likely than other babies to develop health problems. Some studies have also found indications of developmental delays in children exposed to marijuana before birth. Marijuana as Medicine Although U.S. law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance (which means it has no acceptable medical use), a number of patients claim that smoking pot has helped them deal with pain or relieved the symptoms of glaucoma, the loss of appetite that accompanies AIDS, or nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy. There is, however, no solid evidence that smoking marijuana creates any greater benefits than approved medications (including oral THC) now used to treat these patients, relieve their suffering, or mitigate the side effects of their treatment. Anecdotal assertions of beneficial effects have yet to be confirmed by controlled scientific research. Teens and Marijuana Although dangers exist for marijuana users of all ages, risk is greatest for the young. For them, the impact of marijuana on learning is critical, and pot often proves pivotal in the failure to master vital interpersonal coping skills or make appropriate life-style choices. Thus, marijuana can inhibit maturity. Another concern is marijuana’s role as a “gateway drug,” which makes subsequent use of more potent and disabling substances more likely. The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found adolescents who smoke pot 85 times more likely to use cocaine than their non??”pot smoking peers. And 60 percent of youngsters who use marijuana before they turn 15 later go on to use cocaine. But many teens encounter serious trouble well short of the “gateway.” Marijuana is, by itself, a high-risk substance for adolescents. More than adults, they are likely to be victims of automobile accidents caused by marijuana’s impact on judgment and perception. Casual sex, prompted by compromised judgment or marijuana’s disinhibiting effects, leaves them vulnerable not only to unwanted pregnancy but also to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Marijuana Dangers Impaired perception Diminished short-term memory Loss of concentration and coordination Impaired judgement Increased risk of accidents Loss of motivation Diminished inhibitions Increased heart rate Anxiety, panic attacks, and paranoia Hallucinations Damage to the respiratory, reproductive, and immune systems Increased risk of cancer Psychological dependency

 

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Arthritis is a very common disease.  It is causes a lot of pain in the joints like ankle, knee, elbow, etc.  It is caused by inflammation in the joints which is followed by redness and swelling. Another cause can also be if the joint tissue is damaged.  When there is a pain due to joint tissue damage, you feel as if there is a muscle pull. This condition can be caused due to stress on a joint or injury, etc.

Arthritis can affect any person from any age group, any gender or race. Even six months old babies have been known to have arthritis. But people above the age of 40 are more prone to it.

There are many factors which increase the risk of arthritis.

One of the factors could be sports injury. It is necessary to continue the treatment throughout your life to prevent more serious conditions.

Another most important and common factor is overweight or obesity.  If you are more than 30 pounds overweight then you are more prone to arthritis. The extra weight of your body can cause strain to your joints which can cause inflammation or damage to your joints. This can lead to arthritis.  You can prevent it by keeping your weight under control. This can be achieved by having a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

The third important factor is genetics. There is not much you can do about it but you can still lower the risk of arthritis by regularly visiting the doctor and also leading a healthy lifestyle by having a good healthy diet and exercising.

 Women are more prone to this disease as they undergo a lot of hormonal changes in their body in different stages of their lives. They can lower the risk by visiting the doctor and keeping their hormones under control.

If you are at a risk for arthritis, you can lower it by leading a healthy lifestyle by having healthy diet and exercising. Taking medication will also help. Massage may also help to reduce the pain. It is very important to stay optimistic and take the challenge of pain when it comes. Arthritis is difficult to deal with you can overcome it and you can lead a normal life.