Feet Swelling during Menstruation

Why do I always develop swollen feet and ankles during menstruation?

Almost 40-70 percent of women complain of swelling of their ankles and feet during menstruation. The degree of swelling is variable but most women do notice it. Fluid swelling during menstruation is common and usually starts just a few days prior to the menstrual periods. The fluid swelling usually extends just above the ankles and may occasionally affect the hands.

The fluid retention is related to the hormonal levels and is only a transient phenomenon. However, women may find it difficult to wear shoes and may feel fatigued.

Unfortunately fluid swelling can't be cured but can be reduced with some simple home remedies. Avoid eating salty foods 5-7 days prior to the beginning of your period. Moreover, limit your intake of water to no more than 4-6 glasses a day. You may also want to wear compression stockings or support hose. There are many types of elegant compression stockings that can be worn up to the knee or ankle to treat swelling during menstruation. These stockings must be put on first thing in the morning and worn all day. The stocking can be taken off at night. If you are up on your feet all day, these compression stockings will provide long lasting relief and also prevent the aching and fatigue.

Whenever you are sitting or lying down, raise your feet a few inches off the ground. At bedtime, place a pillow underneath the feet and you will notice decrease in swelling immediately.

Even though some doctors prescribe water pills or diuretics to reduce the body water, these pills are not recommended for most women with menstrual feet swelling. The water pills can dehydrate you, lower your potassium and make you more tired. In addition, there is always a chance that you may develop a side effect to the medication. These are the same ignorant doctors who prescribe water pills for swelling from varicose veins and lymphedema.

Feet swelling during the menstruation can easily be treated with home remedies and a doctor's consult is not required in most cases.

The Blue Chemical Peel

A blue Peel is a chemical peel used to treat acne scars and fine wrinkles on the face. A blue peel uses a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) as a peeling agent. Because the peeling agent has the possibility of causing permanent damage to the skin and underlying structures, a blue dye is added to the formula. This blue dye allows the physician to monitor the dept of correction and appropriate level of treatment.

The Blue Peel is done as an outpatient in the physician’s office. There are numerous concentrations of TCA available and the physician will determine what is the best concentration for your skin condition.

When the TCA is applied to the skin, it peels of the most superficial layers of the skin and replaces them with fresh new skin, which is smooth, fresh and provides a softer texture.

The light strength Blue peel does jack shit; the higher concentration blue peel can turn you into godzilla if you are not careful.

Get a Nose Job

I would like to get a nose job done but am afraid of complications. should I go ahead?

The nose appears simple to most people, but I can tell you one fact-surgery on the nose is a demanding procedure and requires great skill to achieve a good cosmetic result. For every sexy looking celeb that you see with a good nose job, there are probably 10 other people who have a real crappy job. The surgery is full of complications. So be realistic and know what you want. 

The major factor in having minimal complications is your surgeon’s skill and experience. So choose your provider well. There are no refunds in plastic surgery. A great surgeon for a nose job may charge you anywhere from $5,000-$10,000. 

If your nose bothers you too much and you do not have the money, try some Prozac, it is cheap, works well and you will learn to love your nose. If you have the money and do not like your nose, go take a vacation and think about it. People in America run into surgical problems because they often seek unnecessary cosmetic surgery- in many cases, the problem is in the head and nothing to do with breasts, lips, nose or the face.

Deviated septum

I have a deviated nasal septum. Is surgery always necessary?

No, surgery is not always necessary. Men usually tolerate nasal septum deviation better than women. Women will make up all kinds of symptoms just so that they can have surgery on the nose. The primary reason why people undergo surgery on the nose is cosmesis.

In a few cases, the deviated nasal septum will cause obstruction of the nasal passage, nosebleeds and sinus infections. Pain is rare just from a nasal septum deviation. 

My advice is that if it does not bother you and you have no symptoms, leave it alone. Surgery to correct the septum can be done but recurrence is not unheard off. Finally do remember that if you have any disease like allergic rhinitis or polyps or hay fever, you can rest assured, none of these will disappear after surgery. So be realistic. IF you are going to get the deviated septum just for cosmetic reasons, be prepared to pay several thousand dollars.

Prudoxin for acne

I was recently prescribed prudoxin for my acne. Does it work?

Prudoxin (doxepin) is actually a very old antidepressant. It was developed in the 50s for treatment of depression. However since then many better and safer drugs have become available. Sometimes doxepin is also used as a sleeping aid. The topical version of doxepin, known as prudoxin is frequently sold as a treatment of acne. It does relieve itching in some cases. 

As far as acne is concerned, you are better off washing your face with urine-that is how great this product is- f..ing useless. Any doctor who prescribes prudoxin for acne is a first rate idiot. The drug does not work for acne. Most people who use prudoxin for acne complain that it causes a severe burning sensation. If you have acne, stop going to morons who prescribe prudoxin- go and see a real skin doctor. And ask for a retinoid cream.

Refissa for Acne

I have been given a prescription of Refissa for my acne. I noticed that is has caused worsening of my acne. Is this okay?

Yes, it is ok. Mild side effects include dry lips, stinging, swelling of the face, crust dry skin, nosebleeds, upset stomach, and loss of hair. Initially when the drug is applied, the peeling actions of the drug will make your skin look worse. However, within a few days you will start to see clearing of the acne and redness.

In rare cases, Refissa can cause damage to the pancreas that may present with abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. If these side effects occur, one should seek immediate medical attention.

It is an excellent drug and you will get rid of your acne in no time. There are not many medications that deliver, but this is one of them.

 

 

Belly fat

Why does belly fat occur?

Why people develop belly fat remains a mystery. There are a lot of theories and speculations but no one really knows. Some health professionals claim that belly fat is due to age, others claim hormones, and yet others claim genes. One fact is known- as you get older, belly fat increases. This is especially true in females after menopause. There has been a lot of research which shows that gaining belly fat is not good for health. Experts claim that excess belly fat increases chances of heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, and ever some cancers. One should not be disheartened by such news. Unlike fat anywhere else on the body, belly fat can be decreased by changes in diet and lifestyle.

One of the reasons why fat occurs around the belly is due to age and slowing down of metabolism. With age, the body slows down in its ability to breakdown fat, and this eventually results in fat accumulation in the body. Women generally tend to gain more weight after menopause due to slowing of metabolism. During this time period, the fat distribution also changes, and fat starts to gather around the belly and there is less fat in the arms, legs, and hips.

When belly fat accumulates, it is not only on surface of the abdomen but deep down there is a heavy-rim laddened down with fat. This deeper layer of fat around the belly has been associated with heart problems, diabetes, and breathing problems.

Even though everyone agrees that there is a decrease in metabolism of fat with age, why does fat disproportionally deposit in the belly? No one has the answer, but most experts claim it is genes- you just have a tendency to collect fat in that part of the body. While hormones have been blamed, it is not understood why hormones would cause fat to be deposited solely around the belly. The odd observation is that some women notice a rapid gain in fat around the belly without gain in weight anywhere else on the body. Even though one may not have fat elsewhere on the body, except the belly button, this is also linked to medical problems.

A fascinating finding has been that once fat gathers around the belly, these fat cells in turn become active and produce chemicals or hormones that affect your health. Studies on fat cells from the belly have been found to produce hormones that counter insulin and cause diabetes. When these fat cells produce estrogen, the risk of breast cancer is increased. Currently there is effort being made to determine which hormones are produced and how they influence health. Individuals who have belly fat should start making changes in their diet and start to walk, if they want to avoid health problems later in life.

Vitamin K for spider veins

Can I use Vitamin K creams to get rid of my spider veins? 

Millions of women have spider veins and the majority dislike them. Spider veins commonly occur on the face, outer thigh, and lower leg. While these skin lesions do not cause symptoms, they are not aesthetically pleasing. Some women only have a few spider veins, but a few unlucky women develop multiple spider veins.

Spider veins do not cause any symptoms and if one has pain, swelling, aches or itching, then the cause is not spider veins. Spider veins are only treated for a cosmetic reason. If you have any type of symptom, then the problem will not be cured by treating spider veins.

In the last decade, hundreds of treatments for spider veins have come and gone. Almost each week there is a new cream, lotion, potion, or liquid to help one get rid of spider veins. The latest in a long line of creams is vitamin K. 

There are vitamin K based products in every type of formulation on the market. These creams are sold in beauty parlors, pharmacies, cosmetic shops and at many spas. In each case, exaggerated claims are made such as applying the cream twice a day can erase the spider vein, make the skin soft, reduce wrinkles, improve skin texture and so on. Most vendors of these products claim that vitamin K can remove spider veins in a few weeks.

Vitamin K is known as a fat-soluble vitamin and is generally taken by mouth. In the hospital setting, it is sometimes administered as an injection in individuals who have bleeding disorders. All humans have large stores of vitamin k and do not require supplementation. Vitamin k is readily available from the diet when one eats vegetables and legumes. It is very rare for a health care worker to prescribe vitamin K for healthy individuals.

So do these vitamin K creams really work?

There is zero evidence that vitamin K can erase spider veins. There is not one scientific study which shows that vitamin K has the ability to reduce, prevent or remove spider veins. There is not one individual who can honestly come forward and claim that vitamin K creams removed his or her spider veins. One can eat, drink, slurp, or even use vitamin K as a suppository- the end result is just a waste of money.

 Spider veins have no relation to vitamin K and there is no cream, herb or lotion which can be applied on the skin that will remove spider veins. Every single vitamin K cream sold on the market is simply false advertising with lots of false promises- such is the world of cosmesis

Individuals who have spider veins have three options, do nothing, try sclerotherapy or laser. Vitamin K based creams or any other creams are a waste of money, time and are best considered junk therapy. These expensive creams do little more than moisturize your skin.

If you have spider veins and are not bothered by them, leave them alone. For those who seek vanity, perhaps laser is the best option. Remember though, laser is expensive, painful and spider veins do recur.

Propecia for hair growth

Can finasteride (propecia) grow hair?

Finasteride is the generic name for the brand names proscar and propecia. Finasteride was initially marketed for treatment of enlarged prostate. However, during the clinical trials it was observed that some men complained of hair growth. The amount of hair growth during these trials was never quantified and in most cases was mild. This did not stop the drug company from turning the product around and marketing it for males going bald. There is both a 1 mg pill and a topical solution available for hair growth. The company claims that the 1 mg pill can lower levels of DHT and help minimize hair loss. A lot of numbers are given by the company on the success of this drug in restoring hair.

So what is the real evidence?

If there ever was a scam, than this is it. Finasteride at best only grows a strand of hair here and there. There is not an individual on this universe that can step forward and claim to have decent hair growth following use of finasteride. Individuals have used finasteride for more than 5-10 years, and in the majority, the drug has done nothing. The drug is expensive and in 99.9999999% of individuals, it does nothing. In the other 0.000001% of individuals, they may get some pubic hair growth.

Therefore, the best advice for those who have loss of hair or baldness, get used to the condition, or get a wig. There is no drug out there that will grow more than 1-2 hairs a year. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the drug market that works for hair growth. If you have no money and are going baldness, get used to that bald look, wear a hat or get rid of your mirror. If you have money and are going baldness get a wig. Hair transplant is an option, but it is exorbitantly expensive and often does not work great. Baldness sucks especially when it occurs in the prime of your life, but I would rather be bald and have money, then be bald and having wasted all my money on a worthless drug.

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Silicone implant leak

Can a small leak in silicone breast implant change shape of my breast?

After a silicone breast implant, if you have pain or change in the shape or size of your breast, a leak must be ruled out. When the breast implant is first inserted, a fibrous capsule or scar tissue forms around the implant. When the silicone leaks, it incites an inflammatory reaction of this scar tissue. This will present as pain and hardening of your breast. You will notice that the skin texture around the leaked site is different or firm. Many women complain of an odd ache or discomfort when a leak occurs. You need an MRI-which will cost you close to $1,500.

Breast implant rupture

I had silicone breast implants recently and think I may have a rupture. Is this dangerous?

Breast implants are sturdy and durable but they sure can rupture. When a breast implant ruptures, the silicone leaks around the breast and can cause development of a thick firm scar. This may lead to pain and asymmetry of the breast. You will definitely notice a chance in the contour of the breast. Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy if the ruptured implant can cause cancer or other collagen vascular disorders. Some people say it does and some say it does not. The best advice is to see your surgeon and let him decide the next course of action. You can rest assured- managing a ruptured implant is an expensive undertaking.

 

Treatment of phobias

How are phobias generally treated?

Once the phobia is diagnosed, there are treatments for this mental disorder. In most cases, a combination of medication and behavior therapy can help reduce the phobia. In the majority of cases, a phobia will never get better if it is left alone.  There is no cure for phobia but the therapies can help reduce the fear and anxiety. The behavior therapies can help you manage your reactions to the phobic-causing situation. The types of medications used to treat phobia range from beta-blockers to reduce the symptoms of fast heart rate and sweating, anti-depressants and sedatives. Behavior therapy can help one adjust to the phobia. The therapies emphasize learning and developing a sense of behavior control of thoughts and actions.

Feeling afraid for no reason

I sometimes feel afraid for no apparent reason. What do you think is wrong?

Phobia is defined as an intense and irrational fear of a situation or an object that in reality poses little risk. A phobia is different from anxiety and can be long lasting, cause severe physical and emotional reactions that can affect one’s ability to function normally. There are many types of phobias- some people hate closed spaces, others fear certain animals, some are afraid to get in the elevator and so on. In general, phobia does not need treatment if it does not affect you daily life.

Can Electricity improve memory!

 We know that no drugs can improve memory, and researchers have been looking at more exotic methods to stimulate the brain. Recently scientists from the famed British University, Oxford, revealed that tiny electrical current to the brain could make one better at learning maths. They observed that when the parietal lobe of the brain was shocked, the ability of volunteers to solve mathematical problems improved. They suggest that perhaps this technique may help people who struggle with numbers (dyscalculia).

There are many people who have trouble with basic numbers, and this affects their ability to perform even the most basic maths and managing money. Some neuroscientists speculate that perhaps certain chemicals within the parietal lobe play a crucial role in memory.

Previous studies have shown that when magnetic field is applied to certain parts of the brain, it can disrupt electrical activity and lead to temporary difficulties in solving math problems. Therefore, these investigators applied electrical current to stimulate the parietal lobe in a small number of students. The electrical current was minor and had no untoward effects on other brain function. As the current was employed, the students performed much better at mathematical problems than those who were given no electrical current. In addition, the direct of the current was also very important. When the current was given in the wrong direction, their ability to solve problems declined drastically.

The study also revealed that the positive benefits were long lasting and persisted beyond 6 months.

Dr Cohen Kadosh, lead investigator said, "We are not advising people to go around giving themselves electric shocks, but we are extremely excited by the potential of our findings and are now looking into the underlying brain changes. We have shown before that we can induce dyscalculia, and now it seems we might be able to make someone better at maths, so we really want to see if we can help people with dyscalculia. Electrical stimulation is unlikely to turn you into the next Einstein, but if we're lucky it might be able to help some people to cope better with maths."

Final point: While the study is exciting, one should note that electrical therapy (ECT) has been used to treat depression for several decades. So before you start lining up for electrical therapy, remember that even though the current in ECT therapy is slightly high, the majority of people have one major side effect- memory loss, which is sometimes permanent. Until further studies are done on this novel therapy, people who cannot count their money are better off asking others to shop for them.

Vagus nerve stimulation for depression

Recently my doctor recommended a vagus nerve stimulation procedure to reverse depression. Does this work? Part 1

Many people with depression struggle and are always searching for a treatment that lasts long. While drugs have been the primary therapy for depression, many people do not always respond to them. Even when they respond, the benefits are short lived and plus the drugs also have potent side effects.

 Recently vagus nerve stimulation has been introduced as a treatment for depression. Vagus nerve stimulation has been used for the treatment of certain epileptic disorders. Over time, it became obvious that these individuals started to develop an improvement in their mood. So now vagal nerve stimulation is being tried as a therapy for chronic depression.

 Vagal nerve stimulation is a small surgical procedure. A thin electrode is placed near the vagus nerve in the neck and the wire is then connected to a pulse generator, which is implanted in the upper chest. The pulse generator emits electrical signals which stimulates the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation in turn results in mood improvement- at least that is the theory.

Vagus nerve stimulation is not standard therapy and only used in people in whom the standard anti-depressant therapies have failed. In addition, vagus nerve stimulation may be an option for people who are taking multiple drugs and have failed electroconvulsive therapy. Unfortunately, vagus nerve stimulation does not work in all depressed people. The few studies have not always shown convincing results and the result are also variable. Even among psychiatrists, the therapy is not accepted and many health insurance companies do not cover the procedure. In addition, the costs of vagal nerve stimulation are not trivial- considering that it may not even work.