Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Radiology For Health Prevention is a Great Lifesaver

There are four main types of radiology: diagnostic, interventional, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy. The diagnostic radiological procedure includes common preventative medicine practices like MRIs, mammograms, ultrasounds, X-rays and angiography. Doctors check the various systems of the body to determine if anything is wrong. This is the best health prevention method, aside from the standard healthy diet and exercise.

The interventional radiological method is an alternative to surgery that includes biopsies, cancer treatments, angioplasty, embolization, vertebroplasty, nerve blocks and varicose vein treatments. Nuclear medicine is a way of assessing damage done to the heart, lungs, thyroid, liver, gallbladder and bones.

The physiological damage and progression of tumors can be monitored using this method. Lastly, radiation therapy is used to treat brain tumors and cancers, such as breast, colorectal, head, neck, lung and prostate.

Radiological methods can be used within three hours of a person's stroke symptoms. Strokes are typically caused by blood clots to the brain, so the standard procedure dissolves blood clots through an intravenously injected tissue plasminogen activator. If it has been more than three hours, but less than six, then an intra-arterial thrombolysis treatment may be performed, which places the clot-busting drug right at the site and will mechanically break up the clot.

With this amazing minimally invasive procedure, most stroke patients can regain full functionality and return to every day life. Health experts say the main challenge with stroke radiology is having enough stroke teams ready to handle patients within the three-hour timeframe.

One of the most common uses of radiology is for angioplasty, or the opening of clogged arteries, which benefits patients who are at risk for heart attacks or strokes. In this procedure, inflated balloons are passed through catheters to the trouble spots to increase blood flow to the brain, kidneys and legs.

Often, chemicals are placed in clogged locations to dissolve the plaque or the clots, which are then mechanically broken up. Another related radiological technique is stent grafting, where a synthetic tube is placed in large blood vessels to prevent an aneurysm or fatal bleeding.

Those concerned with senior health favor the non-invasive methods especially. Many people are in and out during the same day and continue to live productive lives afterward.

The use of radiology for health prevention and testing is one of the biggest lifesavers, health experts say. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and mammograms have the ability to help patients who would have otherwise died to live an extra 20+ years.

As for interventional radiological procedures, the benefits are numerous. It requires less anesthesia, less trauma to the body, shortens the hospital stay and recovery period, as well as causing minimal discomfort.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Using-Radiology-For-Health-Prevention-is-a-Great-Lifesaver&id=1557475

Monday, May 25, 2009

Prostate Cancer Fighting Foods

According to numerous studies and researches, there are many foods that are reported to prevent cancer, or reduce the possibility of the disease. Here is some useful information on foods that fight prostate cancer.

Veggies: There are particular vegetables, the so called cruciferous veggies, such as broccoli, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, that if eaten regularly can eliminate the chances of prostate cancer. According to some studies, they can reduce them to half.

Flax seeds: Flax seeds are also known to be anti toxic foods and can reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Green Tea: Green tea is known to reduce risk of many types of cancer, among which prostate cancer as well. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant drink.

Pomegranate Juice: according to studies, the seeds of pomegranate and their juice can slow down cancer.

Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts contain a great amount of selenium which is a mineral that protects against cancer. According to the experts, if someone consumes 200mg of selenium per day he can reduce the possibility of cancer significantly almost to the half. 200mg of selenium refer to a handful of these nuts.

Garlic: It is already known that garlic is a super food. It is also known to cut the risk of cancer almost to the half. Garlic also contains a lot of selenium.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are powerful antioxidant foods. There have been several studies that prove that tomatoes can actually protect men from prostate cancer. Lycopene is their main ingredient; it is believed that this ingredient fights prostate cancer successfully.

Scallions: it is considered that just one tenth of an ounce per day, can reduce the chances of prostate cancer more than 60%.

Turmeric : turmeric is one of those foods that can perform miracles especially when combined with the cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower and broccoli. Both cancer prevention and slow down can be achieved eating turmeric.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Alan_Jenks