Although it’s not my favorite thing to be in the world, I am a mouth ulcer. My street name is most commonly: canker sore. I’ve got a fancy name, and that involves painful open sores that will exist in your mouth when the mucous membrane breaks. You might also choose to call me one of these other names: aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcer. Now that we have that out of the way… I will often being with a tingling or burning sensation in your mouth. This ‘tingling’ or ‘burning’ will exist in the place where the future mouth ulcer, canker sore, aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcer will exist. It won’t take me longer than a few days to turn into the state of a red bump or spot inside your mouth, which will then be followed by an open ulcer. Once at the open ulcer state I will appear as a white or yellow oval with an inflamed red border. Modestly I will be approximately 3 mm wide, however, for quick bragging rights, I can reach up to and beyond 1 cm wide in extreme cases. If I’ve done my job really well, you will be able to see a white circle or halo around the lesion. My main body, the ulcer, is often times very painful when agitated. This can also be accompanied by sore swelling of the lymph node. If your unsure of where your lymph nodes are, they exist below your jaw. For this locational reason I can often times be mistaken for a toothache at first. Open your mouth, look inside, I’m not! Your lucky with me, that normally I will go away without any treatment. The best start is to make sure you have good oral hygiene and avoid spicy/acidic/salty foods and drinks. The best and widely known ‘home remedy’ for dealing with me is to pour salt directly onto my main ulcer. This works but note – can be painful.

What is alcoholism? Alcoholism is a disease that affects the part of the brain that controls your feelings, the way you make decisions, and the way you act. People with alcoholism cannot control how much they drink. What causes alcoholism? Nobody knows what causes alcoholism. People with parents who have alcoholism have a greater chance of getting the disease. Alcoholism may be related to the things we learn when we are growing up. Alcoholism is not caused by a lack of will power or moral values. How can I tell if I have alcoholism? It is not easy to tell if you have alcoholism. You might drink socially at first, but over time the drinking can get out of control. Your family, friends, or doctor might notice it before you do. You might drink to help yourself go to sleep or deal with stress and anxiety. Over time, you need to drink more to feel the same way. As the drinking gets worse, you may have some of the following:  Stomach ulcers  Liver disease  Mood problems, such as depression and irritability  Trouble sleeping  Problems with family and friends  Problems at work. You might have alcoholism if you have tried to quit drinking but were not able to stop. Alcoholism can make you do things you wouldn’t do if you were sober. Some of these things can hurt other people, even the people you love. Where can I get help for alcoholism? Your doctor can help you find the right treatment program. You also can check with your health insurance company. Some insurance plans cover alcohol treatment only at certain places. If you have been a heavy drinker for a long time, do not stop drinking suddenly. This can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms. What is withdrawal? When you stop drinking, your body might find it hard with no alcohol. You might have some uncomfortable feelings. That is called withdrawal. You might feel anxious and confused or have trouble sleeping. If you get «the shakes» when you don’t drink, or if you feel like you need to have a drink early in the day, you might need to take medicine when you stop drinking to help with the withdrawal. This is called detoxification (say:dee-tox-uh-fuh-kay-shun, or «detox,» for short). How can my doctor tell if I need detoxification? Your doctor will ask you questions to see if you need to take medicine to stop drinking. It is important to be honest with your doctor about how much you drink and the kinds of drugs you take. Can detoxification be done at home? Yes, but only with close supervision from your doctor. You will need to have another person at home to help you take your medicine. If you have serious withdrawal symptoms or other medical problems, you might have to go to a hospital for detoxification. Tell your doctor if you had a seizure or got delirious when you tried to stop drinking before. What happens after detoxification? Detoxification is not enough to treat alcoholism. You should have counseling before and after detoxification. Counseling will help keep you from drinking again. What about Alcoholics Anonymous? Alcoholics Anonymous, or «A.A.,» is a free support group for people with alcoholism. The people in A.A. help each other stay sober. Most communities have A.A. meetings, and most alcohol treatment programs tell their patients to go to these meetings. Where can I get more information? Your doctor This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

MSD’s can range from general aches and pains to more serious problems. Medical practitioners do recommend that all the users who use computers regularly should report signs and symptoms as early as possible to prevent serious injury or permanent damage. The most commonly noticed signs and symptoms of MSD associated with computer use are as follows: Signs and Symptoms 1) Numbness or a burning sensation in the hand 2) Reduced grip strength in the hand 3) Swelling or stiffness in the joints 4) Pain in wrists, forearms, elbows, neck, or back followed by discomfort 5) Reduced range of motion in the shoulder, neck, or back 6) Dry, itchy, or sore eyes 7) Blurred or double vision
Aching or tingling 9) Cramping 10) Loss of color in affected regions 11) Weakness 12) Tension stress headaches and related ailments These types of problem can be caused by any of the following factors: 1. If the user maintains an unnatural or unhealthy posture while using the computer 2. If the lower back support is inadequate for the user 3. If the user continues to sit in the same position for an extended period of time 4. If the workstation set up is ergonomically poor. It should be noticed that all these symptoms might not necessarily lead to an MSD. However, if the user experiences any of the above symptoms, he/she should make an evaluation of their working positions as well as the layout of their workstation. It is always better to take precautions to avoid musculoskeletal disorders than to treat them after you get affected. Some general precautions include: · Taking regular breaks from working at your computer – a few minutes at least once an hour · Alternating work tasks like mixing computer tasks with non computer tasks alternately to avoid strain · Regular stretching to relax your body · Using comfort equipment such as footrests, wrist/palm rests, and document holders if required · Keeping the mouse and keyboard at the same level · Avoiding gripping your mouse too tightly – it is always recommended to hold the mouse lightly and click gently The monitor should possess the following features: · Your monitor should swivel, tilt and elevate – if not use an adjustable stand, books, or blocks to adjust the height · It should be positioned so the top line of the monitor is not higher than your eyes or not lower than 20° below the horizon of your eyes or field of vision · Ensure that it is at the same level and near the document holder if you use one · It should be between 18 to 24 inches away from your face The keyboard should possess the following features: · It should be detachable and adjustable (with legs to adjust angle) · It should allow your forearms to be parallel to the floor without having to raise your elbows · It should allow your wrists to be in line with your forearms so your wrists need not be flexed up or down · It should include enough space to rest your wrists or should include a padded detachable wrist rest (or you can use a separate gel wrist rest which should be at least 50 mm deep) · It should be placed directly in front of the monitor and at the same height as the mouse, track ball, touch pad, or any other pointing device. The chair should possess the following features: · It should support the back, and have a vertically adjustable independent back rest that returns to its original position and should have tilt adjustment to support the lower back · It should allow the user to adjust its height to be adjusted from a sitting position · It should be adjusted so the back crease of the knee is slightly higher than the pan of the chair (use a suitable footrest, if required) · It should be supported by a five prong caster base · Ensure that it has removable and adjustable armrests · It should also have a contoured seat with breathable fabric and rounded edges to distribute the weight and should be adjustable to allow the seat pan to tilt forward or back The table/desk should possess the following features: · Ensure that your table/desk provides ample leg room and is height adjustable (preferably) · It should have enough room to support the computer equipment and space for documents · It should be at least 900 mm deep · It should have rounded and blunt corners and edges As discussed earlier, ensure that your workstation is set up correctly. Normally, it includes the monitor, keyboard, mouse, seating, desk, and where appropriate, footrest, wrist rest, and document holder.

Tuberculosis Treatment Tuberculosis, commonly referred to as TB, is an infection that affects the lungs and may also affect bones, joints, the circulatory system and central nervous system. This disease can be highly contagious if left untreated. In 1993, the World Health Organization declared TB to be a world health emergency because of the frequency of infection and the ease in which it spreads. It is estimated that nine billion new cases are reported each year. As with any disease, it is better to ensure prevention. TB vaccinations are common and highly effective, especially in children. TB vaccinations are very common in the United States as well as other countries. Although a higher percent of children are successfully protected, if adults have not received a TB vaccination it is recommended they get one. Symptoms of TB include chest pain, coughing, inability to breathe and pneumonia-like symptoms. However, it is also common to be infected and show no outward signs. Diagnosis of the disease will occur with a complete examination including a TB skin test. It is important to minimize the damages by early detection and prompt treatment. This can mean the difference between full recovery and possible death. Treatment of this disease can be complicated, especially if there are other factors such as HIV. It is recommended that quarantined hospitalization occur to monitor progress and reduce the risk of spreading. Common drug therapies include antibiotics specifically designed for TB treatment such as Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, Streptomycin and Ethambutol. Unfortunately, there are many strains of tuberculosis that have become resistant to the medications. It is very important for continued monitoring to ensure effectiveness of a drug or combination of drugs. In the instance where the body is resisting drugs, surgery may be necessary. The portion of the lungs affected may be removed. Also, chest tube drainage may be required. In these cases, recovery percentages are very low. In order to reduce this risk, treatment as early as possible is advised. Patients who have an early diagnosis or are not immune to the drug treatments have a high success rate of complete recovery. Relapses are extremely rare with proper treatment. With over two billion people affected with tuberculosis in the world, the seriousness of this disease can not be denied. Prevention of the disease is the best way to keep the spreading of it in check. This includes ensuring children are properly vaccinated and all shots are kept up to date. Early detection and treatment are also key factors in guaranteeing complete recovery and minimizing risk of relapse.