Dr. Florian Lippl of Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, and colleagues, found that obese people who spent a couple of weeks at a high altitude mountain facility managed to lose weight without dieting. In addition, the weight loss was sustained for a minimum of 4 weeks after their return to normal altitudes.

Although prior research has shown that weight loss can be attained at high altitudes, the majority of these studies involved physically active hikers and athletes. The Munich researchers set out to determine if the same weight loss benefits could also be gained by relatively inactive individuals.

The study involved 20 obese male participants having an average weight of 230 pounds. First, the subjects were monitored for one week at low altitudes to examine what they ate, and how often they walked. Next, the participants were taken up in elevation to about 8,700 feet above sea level to an air-conditioned, mountain-based research facility where they spent two weeks.

During the stay at the mountain location, no restrictions were placed on what the participants were allowed to eat; however, they were not allowed to take part in rigorous exercise. Once the subjects were brought down to normal altitude, the researchers continued to follow them for four weeks. According to Lippl, the study findings revealed that while at high altitude, the participants lost approximately 3.3 pounds on average. The amount of weight loss, although moderate, was statistically significant when compared to the weight of the subjects at the start of the study.

The researchers theorize that at least part of the part of the weight loss can be attributed to the effects of the thin air on both appetite and metabolism. While on the mountain, the appetites of the participants were curbed, which was noted by a average decrease in calorie intake of about 734 calories per day, while an increase in metabolism caused participants to burn more calories without exercising. Another factor is that an increase in levels of the hormone leptin was observed while the subjects were at high altitudes, and this hormone can have the effect of making an individual feel full. Previous studies have shown that human cells produce more leptin when placed in a low-oxygen environment, such as that associated with thin air.

Once back in their normal environment, the study participants tended to walk more, which likely helped them to keep off the extra pounds shed at high altitudes. According to Lippl, this may be attributed to their feeling more fit since they no longer faced the stress of the low-oxygen, mountain environment.

Lippl said, “With a little humor, I tell my patients now, if they want to take holidays, they should think of mountain holidays [rather] than spending their holidays at the sea.” But, don’t run for your mountain retreat just yet. Further research will be necessary to confirm the study findings, and to determine what causes the high altitude weight loss effect.

Obesity rates continue to rise alarmingly across the globe. In the U.S. alone, rates have more than doubled among adults, while having more than tripled among children and adolescents from 1980 to 2008. The best weapon in the battle of the bulge is to develop a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and a proper amount of exercise.

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Relaxation in the Workplace

There’s one truth that holds for anywhere you might happen to work most of the time they have to pay you to be there! You might be doing work you absolutely love, and you might think yourself the luckiest person on earth nine days out of ten, but there will always be days–rainy days, hung-over mornings, days when you just want to read a good book–when going in to work seems like the last thing in the world you want to do. And even on a good day, the pace of work can become overwhelming the lunch rush at a restaurant, the first day of a new sale, the last paperwork-filled weeks of the fiscal year. Combine a general bad mood with a fast-paced, high-volume work environment, and you’ve just discovered one of the best recipes for stress imaginable.

There are a number of solutions to workplace stress out there desk toys, casual work environments, complicated therapy or company counselors. However, there’s only one truly simple, effective remedy for stress, in one word only Relax. According to the research of Herbert Benson’s Mind Body Medical Institute, anywhere from sixty to ninety percent of visits to a physician involve stress-related disorders, most of the effects of which can be substantially reduced by just learning how to relax.

If you’re stressed out enough to suffer from these complaints, chances are that advice to “just relax!” in a workplace setting may seem at best difficult, at worst outright foolhardy. But that’s just not so. According to Dr. Benson and also to Charles Moore, one of the UK’s leading advocates and practitioners of stress-management exercises and therapy, the relaxation response isn’t just a response to a relaxing environment it’s an internal process, similar to the physiological effects of stress, that can be activated any time you like. All you have to do is learn how to activate it.

You can do this in your office. Get to a point in your work when you can take a break for ten or fifteen minutes, or just make yourself take a break for ten or fifteen minutes you do your best work when you’re relaxed, so don’t worry about the work waiting for you when you get back. Find a calm place to sit down. Get away from any phones, faxes or talkative coworkers for a while–if you have to, just sit down in your car. Take a deep breath and close your eyes.

The two keys to effective relaxation are physical response and mental calmness. Luckily, the two of them go hand in hand. Start out your workplace relaxation by taking long, deep breaths from the bottom of your lungs up to the diaphragm. Try, as best you can, to empty your head of all thoughts, plans, and worries right now, all you need to do is relax. To help you with this, try saying something simple to yourself while you breathe count up to four and back down again, think of the name of a favorite pet, child, or friend, repeat a mantra, prayer, or even a line from a favorite song. That’s all there is to it. Just breathe in, repeat your mantra, breathe out, and repeat.

Don’t worry if you find it difficult at first to clear your head you can’t force relaxation, you can only guide it. Just keep breathing and doing your best to let go. It may help to visualize something simple imagine a hand grasping all of your worries, and imagine each finger slowly relaxing its grip and opening to its full length until the hand is open, and all of your worries are slipping away.

Keep going for as long as you feel the stress. Once you feel relaxed and ready to go back to work, slowly return your breathing to normal and let go of whatever you’ve been repeating. Leave your eyes closed for a minute before opening them, and remain in whatever comfortable place you’re in for as long as you need to, slowly allowing your workplace thoughts and concerns to return.

You’ll find, when you get back to work, that what seemed unmanageable just fifteen short minutes ago suddenly seems fresh, new, and able to be dealt with. You’ll find, in fact, that what you may have thought of as an indulgent extra break is one of the best assets you have in the workplace, both for yourself and for your employer, allowing you freedom from the sometimes crippling thoughts and bodily pains that prevented you from concentrating before.

Whenever you find the pressures of work getting too much for you, keep this exercise in mind. Work can be stressful, but there’s no reason to let it get the better of you. We sometimes believe that tight control and strict attention to all of the little details is the only way to be effective in a work environment, but in that, we’re wrong. The only way to truly be effective is to stay healthy, calm–and relaxed.

The 4th R is a resource and training center for learning how to relax based in South West London. It was founded by Charles Moore, whose health flourished under his own innovative application of principles that are becoming universally recognised as the benchmark for permanently eliminating stress and anxiety.

For more articles or information visit

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CYCLING The practice of using steroid cycles is known as . It is the pattern of taking steroids in which multiple doses of a particular steroid are scheduled over a specific period of time, stopping thereafter for some time and then resuming the same routine again. Steroid cycles are very popular among the bodybuilders, and other professional jocks.

STACKING It is also a popular way of taking steroids. While steroid cycles are associated with taking one type of steroid, steroid stacking involves two or more different anabolic steroids, mixing oral andor injectable types, and sometimes even including compounds that are meant for veterinary use. Stacking is resorted to in the belief that two or more steroids will produce more pronounced effect than each drug taken individually. This theory has not however been tested scientifically.

PYRAMIDING in steroid pyramiding, the steroid users start at a low base, slowly stepping up the dosage with time by either increasing the number and frequency of a single drug or doing so with multiple drugs till the pinnacle is reached half way, whereupon the dosage is progressively reduced to ultimately bring it to zero. Generally, steroid pyramiding is an offshoot of either cycling or stacking though the usage pattern differs from both. Users typically pyramid their doses in cycles of 6 to 12 weeks.

However, the steroid usurers are generally aware of its steroids. They usually prefer anabolic steroid cycles spaced out and planned in such a way that danger to overall health can be minimized. Often, they increase cardiovascular exercises or go for post-cycle therapy PCT to combat side effects.

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Does your child use steroids?

Of course not.

That’s what concerned parents want to believe.

Yet scores of young people are consuming a toxic stew, drugs they believe will enhance physical strength, performance and stamina, and build confidence.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows steroid use among male high school students rose 65 percent from 3.7 to 6.1 percent between 1999 and 2003; among female students it jumped from 2.2 to 5.3 percent, or a whopping 140 percent.

Many of these young people have as their unfortunate role models certain high-profile athletes who have been implicated in steroid use.

So, parents, be wary. Steroids are stealthy predators. Watch for warning signs rapidly bulked-up muscles, preoccupation with getting big, unusual acne, major mood swings, muscle magazines, pills or powders promising muscle development, and vials and syringes.

If you suspect a problem, get between the drugs and your child, impressing upon him or her the fact that what they’re doing is illegal and very dangerous.

You may be what saves your child from devastating health problems or from death.

What Are They

So-called anabolic-androgenic steroids are man-made substances related to male sex hormones.

Anabolic refers to muscle-building, and androgenic refers to increased masculine characteristics, as defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Steroids refers to the class of drugs, often legally prescribed for people with wasting diseases such as AIDS.

But illegal use, which can add body size, is just as likely to destroy or impair the liver, heart and kidneys, emotional stability and normal sexual development of kids.

I know all this because I abused steroids for three and a half years in the mid – 80′s — and they almost killed me. They also ruined relationships and hurt my parents, parents who had raised me lovingly.

As a user, I learned to lie to my father and steal from my mother’s purse.

I had no conscience.

I had good reasons for steroid use — or so I thought.

Steroids primarily appeal to young people who are looking for an athletic edge or those who want a quick fix to a better body. All want to supersize themselves, to create a new and improved version. I had suffered in school due to my short stature and a stutter, both of which attracted bullies and teasing. Steroids looked like the perfect remedy. My heroes, after all, included The Incredible Hulk and a giant of a man named Arnold Schwarzenegger — who eventually admitted to using steroids.

Finally Broken

Eventually steroid use broke me, literally. My body and mind were in shambles. A long, long road back included physical and mental evaluations, addiction support group meetings, and exercise — workouts not meant to bulk up but to help my battered body and mind reacquaint themselves.
I am now the father of two boys.

My life has been resurrected from the disaster known as steroids. That is why I am here to caution other parents It doesn’t just happen to someone else’s kids.

When young people look at the hard, muscles bodies presented by smiling, oversized human beings, they see a tempting portrait.

Potential users are seduced by this fake picture of health and vitality and virility. The picture doesn’t show the strain on the arteries, the wear and tear on the heart and the psyche.

It doesn’t show the caskets.

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According to dermatology experts, if you’re worried about wrinkles you need to get serious about skincare, use the right creams for you and, crucially, give them time to work. A slapdash approach means you’re wasting you’re time. Lines and wrinkles can only be lessened by consciencious care and daily ritual. Another classic mistake is slathering skin care products on thickly. Don’t over do it.
A pea-size blob of cream may be enough for your face without clogging pores. Be prepared to experiment with new formulas as your skin changes.

What makes the skin wrinkle?

Our skin is devided into three layers. The deepest is a layer of subcutaneous tissue, to which the whole skin structure is attached. The middle layer is the dermis, where cells called fibroblasts produce collagen fibres – supporting proteins that help to keep skin plump and elastic. Above this lies the top layer, or epidermis. Here, mast cells divide gradually and migrate upwards towards the skin’s surface. These are surrounded by natural compounds called epidermal lipids or fats, including ceramide, which forms a ‘glue’ that hold cells tightly in place, like cement in brick wall.

The collagen bundles in the dermis work like springs in a mattress to support the skin’s surface. But when collagen is damaged , troughs open up between the bundles, the upper layers of tissue collapse into these troughs, and lines, wrinkles or folds can develop. By the time you see a wrinkle, underlying skin has already lost collagen and elastin – its ‘snap-back’ factor. Collagen is damaged, by various factors. Some are inevitable such as ageing, and some can be lessened, if not prevented.
What are the main culprits, and what can you do about it?

CAUSE The enviroment
EFFECTBrow and eye creases, fine lines fanning over cheekbones, rings and criss-crosses at the back of the neck

New research by The British Skin Fundation found that 80 per cent of us don’t always use a sunscreen abroad, let alone on a sunny day in UK. Sun damages DNA so cells can’t replicate properly. If that cell blueprint is changed in any way, it can lead to blotchy skin, lines and wrinkles. At the same time, UV boosts enzymes known as MMPs, which help to tidy up old collagen, but can become so agreessive that they destroy fresh collagen, too.

Smoking in the sun is especially bad news. Even second-hand smoke is harmful to skin. Exhaled smoke contains significant levels of nicotine, tar, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, which disrupt and weaken the skin’s barrier, leading to collagen breakdown. Smoking causes blood vessels to constrict, which limits the amount of oxygen reaching the skin. This lack of oxygen reduces collagen and elastin production. Smoking stimulates the MMPs to degrade collagen – just like the sun does.

CAUSE Facial expressions, stress
EFFECT Frown lines, crows feet, smile lines

Expression lines equal character. Even Hollywood directors have started to complain that Botox has robbed some star’s faces of real emotion. While channelling the angst may help divas to win an Oscar, it doesn’t do their skin any real-life favours. Stress triggers corrosive hormones including ‘killer’ cortisols that not only hamper immunity, but also increase moisture loss, leaving skin drier and more line-prone. Clenched muscles in the neck, shoulders and jaw – where so many of us hold our stress- limits blood and oxygen supply to the skin on our faces. But a furrowed brow is the most obvious sign of stress. Constantly pleating the skin through frowning causes micro-tears minute stress tears. The knock-on effect is inflammation, which damages collagen, making skin appear less plump.
Not only expression lines are stress-driven, however. Where skin is constantly mobile – such as round the eyes and mouth – creases are inevitable. So what about damage limitation? Invest in sunglasses. Wrap-around frames with wide sides provide excellent UV protection, and can save a fortune in Botox!

CAUSE Ageing
EFFECT Crepey skin, deeper eye creases, nose-to-mouth lines, marionette mouth to chin lines,lip lines, neck rings

Great skin is in your genes but even if you are one of the lucky ones, don’t take it for granted. After all, hereditary ageing may only account for 20 per cent of total skin ageing. This intensifies from our mid-thirties, when protein levels in our skin begin to decline by a steady one per cent each year. Later, the oestrogen slump after the menopause more than doubles the rate at which protein declines – we lose a staggering 30 per cent of collagen proteins in the first five years, resulting in a two per cent loss of skin thickness.

As well losing collagen, skin also loses plumpness because cell division slows with age. This is because stem cells are no longer able to divide and replicate accurately, and become dormant. New research shows that one of the latest hi-tech ingredients in skin creams – poly-peptides – mimic growth factors in skin to wake up dormant stem cells and encourage fibroblasts to make more collagen. Although results look promising in the test tube, the use of growth factor peptides in anti-ageing creams remains controversial.

In the meantime, retinoid-derived from vitamin A is still the only ingredient clinically proven to boost both collagen and moisturising hyaluronic acid. This was confirmed by research at the University of Michigan Medical School earlier this year. Some peptides can help smooth fine surface lines within a couple of weeks. But you need retinoids for long-term cell growth and real anti-ageing benefits. Like vitamin C, you also need to use them round the clock for up to two months before you see results, but it’s worth the wait.

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Pneumonia is the baffling disease that has continually plagued American soldiers. Moreover, mysterious pneumonia-like illnesses and breathing problems appear to be striking US troops in greater numbers than the military has identified in an investigation, which also include more deaths, according to survivors and their families.

Pneumonia is simply defined as an infection of the lungs. Many different organisms can cause it, including bacteria, virus, and fungi. Pneumonia can range from mild to severe, and can even be deadly. The severity depends on the type of organism causing pneumonia, as well as age and underlying health. It is a common illness that affects millions of people each year in the United States. Bacterial pneumonias tend to be the most serious and, in adults, the most common cause of pneumonia. The most common pneumonia-causing bacterium in adults is Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumococcus.

Most people who develop pneumonia initially have symptoms of a cold which are then followed by a high fever sometimes as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking chills, and a cough with sputum production. The sputum is usually discolored and sometimes bloody. Patients may become short of breath. Chest pain may develop if the outer aspects of the lung are involved. This pain is usually sharp and worsens when taking a deep breath, known as pleuritic pain. Additional symptoms such as headache, excessive sweating and clammy skin, loss of appetite, excessive fatigue, confusion, especially in older people may also occur.

The viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia are contagious and are usually found in fluid from the mouth or nose of an infected person. Illness can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes on a person, by sharing drinking glasses and eating utensils, and when a person touches the used tissues or handkerchiefs of an infected person.

There is a vaccine for pneumococcal pneumonia, a bacterial infection which accounts for up to a quarter of all pneumonias. Certain groups of people are considered to be at particularly high risk for the development of pneumonia, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommend vaccination for these groups. Those recommended groups include

People age 65 or older

People over age two years of age who have problems with their lungs, heart, liver, or kidneys

People over age two years of age with health problems like diabetes, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, or HIVAIDS

Persons over two years of age who are taking any treatments that weaken the body’s immune system

Alaskan natives and some Native American populations

The vaccination is also recommended for persons who have had their spleens removed. Unlike vaccination with the flu shot, the pneumococcal vaccine does not need to be given each year. One dosage of the vaccine is usually sufficient, but sometimes doctors recommend a second dose of the vaccine. People over age 65 who received the vaccine prior to age 65 are generally given a second dose along with people with certain serious medical conditions.

Preventing pneumonia is always better than treating it. The best preventive measures include washing hands frequently, not smoking, and wearing a mask when cleaning dusty or moldy areas.

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In order to meet the federal MA qualifications, the child with disabilities must meet the U.S. citizenalien requirements for MA, fit into one of the categories that MA establishes, and meet income and resource requirements Pennsylvania Health Law Project, 2003. In order to be MA eligible in Pennsylvania, one must be a resident of the state or a covered immigrant Pennsylvania Health Law Project, 2003. There are several categories within MA that cover persons with disabilities and they often have different requirements Pennsylvania Health Law Project, 2003. Children with disabilities that are eligible for Social Security Income SSI are automatically eligible for MA.

Children with disabilities that are categorized as severely disabled and are not on SSI are also eligible for MA, regardless of their parents income and assets and if their own personal income is less than the poverty level in 2003 was 749month. The Department of Welfare calls this category the loophole category Pennsylvania Health Law Project, 2003. In this category, if a childs income exceeds the poverty level, the child is still possibly eligible for CHIP Childrens Health Insurance Program or may be eligible for a Waiver program if the child requires a higher level of care Pennsylvania Health Law Project, 2003. Most children in Pennsylvania with severe physical, mental, or behavioral disabilities qualify for MA services Education Law Center, n.d..

Although a child with disabilities may be receiving special education services and have a particular diagnosis, it does not mean that the child meets the disability standards for Medical Assistance Parents Involved Network of Pennsylvania, n.d.. The eligibility standards for special education are different from the MA disability standards. However, a childs Evaluation Report ER can be an excellent source that documents factors that are considered in the Medical Assistance disability standard Parents Involved Network of Pennsylvania, n.d..

Children with disabilities that qualify for MA receive what is called an ACCESS card, which they can utilize for the purchase of a variety of prevention and treatment services. Anything that is medically necessary must be provided and children that are eligible are entitled to these services. Except through a Waiver program, MA does not cover any educational or rehabilitation services. MA services are free and there are no co-pays or additional charges. If a family has private medical insurance, this must be used first for the child with disabilities Education Law Center, n.d.

Examples of behavioral health services covered by MA include residential treatment facilities, behavioral services wrap-around services, therapeutic support staff, medication for behavioral problems, and partial hospitalization programs Education Law Center, n.d.. Examples of health services that are covered by MA include nursing care at home or at school, therapies, communication devices, medical equipment, and personal care services for children who need assistance with self-care skills, such as eating or dressing Education Law Center, n.d.. MA must also provide eligible children with any services that are necessary to meet the childs physical or behavioral needs during the day, such as a nurse, a specialized hearing aid, or a therapeutic support staff person. Many of these services, however, are also considered related services based on IDEA regulations, and school districts are responsible for listing these services on the childs IEP even if the services are being covered by MA Education Law Center, n.d..

MA recipients have certain rights in Pennsylvania. The following list of rights is an excerpt from the Pennsylvania Law Projects website

1. The right to receive and file an application on the same day that you ask for it.

2. The right to bring someone with you to help you with the MA application.

3. The right to have an application completed by a friend, relative, or official of a hospital, agency, etc. if you are ill or physically or mentally unable to do so.

4. The right to translation services and translated written material.

5. The right to receive coverage beginning with the 3rd month before the application, if you qualify for retroactive MA.

6. The right to have DPW quickly issue a MA card if you have an immediate need for medical services.

7. The right to receive medically necessary treatment and services without discrimination based on national origin, race, color, sex, or disability.

8. The right to free choice of MA enrolled health care providers unless you are enrolled in the Health Choices Program.

9. The right to be treated with dignity and respect.

10. If you are homeless, the right to apply for MA even if you have no address.

11. The right to have the MA programs explained to you and to receive help in determining the best possible coverage for which you qualify.

12. The right to prior notice of, and a fair hearing to contest, any decision by the MA agency or an MA HMO to deny, terminate, or reduce benefits.
Pennsylvania Law Project, n.d.

All decisions regarding the rejection of MA or the reduction or termination of MA must be provided to recipients in writing and with instructions on how to appeal. Recipients have 30 days to file appeals, but if the appeal is filed within 10 days of the date of termination or reduction notice, MA benefits must continue until there is an outcome to the appeal Parents Involved Network of Pennsylvania, n.d.

Medical Assistance provides valuable health and treatment services to children with disabilities in order to help them to make meaningful progress and to achieve greater independence. As educators, it is important that we provide families with resources about Medical Assistance so that they can pursue the potential benefits and services that the program provides.

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One of the factors that can change the effectiveness of birth control can be timing. Birth control pills are best taken on a regular schedule, as if they were prescribed medication. Sticking to a certain rhythm with your birth control pills can help in maintaining their ability to prevent pregnancy, particularly if the pill only works on progestin. Most people don’t realize this and will take the pill during different times of the day, which can result in a decrease in how effective they are. Maintaining a regularly scheduled intake of one’s medication should work to maximize the effectiveness of birth control pills. It should be noted that they are not an absolute guarantee that pregnancy will not happen, but it will minimize the chances of such an occurrence.

Some antibiotics can also have an effect on how effective one’s birth control medication can be. Rifampin, an antibiotic medication usually used to combat conditions like tuberculosis, is known to interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Most other antibiotics should be fine, though demeclocyclene and doxycyclene should be mentioned. While not as rampant in side effects as Rifampin, the two medications can also have conflicts with birth control medication. In this particular case, it is best you consult your doctor about what antibiotics would not interfere with your current contraception plan.

Grapefruits, oddly enough, can also have an effect on how effective a contraceptive is. There is a compound within the grapefruits that absorbs estrogen. Since most birth control medications rely on manipulating or altering the estrogen levels of the body, along with a few other changes to hormone levels, this can disrupt the effectiveness of your pills. It should be noted that grapefruit juice also has the same compound and has an effect that is roughly on-par with eating the grapefruit itself. It should also be noted that progestin-only pills are not hampered by this, though as stated above, timing could be an issue for them.

Antifungal medications, antihistamines, and anticonvulsant drugs can also have effects on how effective a birth control pill would be in the body. In the case of antihistamines, there is still a debate going on, because there is no direct evidence pointing one way or another. Antifungal medications that are introduced to the body orally, rather than applied topically, can disrupt some of the biochemical changes that contraceptive pills make. Finally, not all anticonvulsants can lessen the chances of a birth control pill working, so it is best to consult a medical professional to see which ones might have such an effect.

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Hair drug testing costs much more than sweat, saliva or urine tests. However, the benefits often far outweigh the costs. Employers find hair follicle drug testing to be less invasive and it can often detect drugs as much as twice as far back as other testing methods. Hair follicle testing can also reveal if an employee has recently stopped using drugs in order to hide their usage. Another advantage is the fact that its usually harder to mask drugs in the system with this form of testing.

The hair follicle drug test requires taking a small sample of the employees hair. An official within the company can often collect the hair on-site which is less embarrassing than the collection of urine. The sample is sent to the lab where it is first washed before being tested. This is done to minimize the chance of drug chemicals that may have originated from external sources affecting the test.

Urine testing is still commonly used by employers to screen existing or prospective employees for drug use. However, many are beginning to turn to hair follicle drug testing. Although many people use different methods such as purchasing urine from a clean individual to beat a urine test, they are unable to beat the current masking procedures currently used in hair drug testing. Some products claim to be able to mask drugs in hair samples, but these are usually inaccurate or completely false claims. Hair follicle drug testing is a less invasive and more effective method than other choices.

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The technical term for ultrasound testing and recording is “sonography.” Ultrasound testing is painless and harmless. Ultrasound tests involve no radiation and studies have not revealed any adverse effects.

For what purposes are ultrasounds performed?

Ultrasound examinations can be used in various areas of the body for a variety of purposes. These purposes include examination of the chest, abdomen, blood vessels such as to detect blood clots in leg veins and the evaluation of pregnancy. In the chest, ultrasound can be used to obtain detailed images of the size and function of the heart. Ultrasound can detect abnormalities of the heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse, aortic stenosis, and infection endocarditis. Ultrasound is commonly used to guide fluid withdrawal aspiration from the chest, lungs, or around the heart. Ultrasound is also commonly used to examine internal structures of the abdomen. Gallstones in the gallbladder are easily detected, as are kidney stones. The size and structure of the kidneys, the ureters, liver, spleen, pancreas, and aorta within the abdomen can be examined. Ultrasound can detect fluid, cysts, tumors or abscess in the abdomen or liver. Impaired blood flow from clots or arteriosclerosis in the legs can be detected by ultrasound. Aneurysms of the aorta can also be seen. Ultrasound is also commonly used to evaluate the structure of the thyroid gland in the neck.

During pregnancy, an ultrasound can be used to evaluate the size, gender, movement, and position of the growing baby. The baby’s heart is usually visible early, and as the baby ages, body motion becomes more apparent. The baby can often be visualized by the mother during the ultrasound, and the gender of the baby is sometimes detectable.

How do patients prepare for an ultrasound?

Preparation for ultrasound is minimal. Generally, if internal organs such as the gallbladder are to be examined, patients are requested to avoid eating and drinking with the exception of water for six to eight hours prior to the examination. This is because food causes gallbladder contraction, minimizing the size, which would be visible during the ultrasound. In preparation for examination of the baby and womb during pregnancy, it is recommended that mothers drink at least four to six glasses of water approximately one to two hours prior to the examination for the purpose of filling the bladder. The extra fluid in the bladder moves air-filled bowel loops away from the womb so that the baby and womb are more visible during the ultrasound test.

How are results transmitted to the patient and doctor?

The ultrasound is generally performed by a technician. The technician will notice preliminary structures and may point out several of these structures during the examination. The official reading of the ultrasound is given by a radiologist, a physician who is an expert at interpreting ultrasound images. The radiologist records the interpretation and transmits it to the practitioner requesting the test. Occasionally, during the ultrasound test the radiologist will ask questions of the patient andor perform an examination in order to further define the purpose for which the test is ordered or to clarify preliminary findings. Plain x-rays might be ordered to further evaluate early findings. A summary of results of all of the above is reported to the practitioner who requested the ultrasound. They then are discussed with the patient in the context of overall health status.

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