“Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, and lip balms.” (Source)

How Do You Know If You Have Celiac Disease ?

The tricky thing about food allergies is that they can present such a wide spectrum of symptoms that can vary greatly from person to person. Doctors office visits for skin rashes and stomach problems often end with a prescription treating the symptoms rather than the source of the problem.

Most people never even consider that food allergies may be the cause of their health problems because they usually haven’t made any recent changes in their diet. They think ” I can’t be allergic to wheat or diary, I’ve been eating it all my life.”  This is precisely the point though. Many of the people suffering from from food allergies have had symptoms for years. While at times these symptoms are prominent other times they made be hardly noticeable.

Something else to keep in mind is that people who have food allergies are not always born with them. My girlfriend suffers from celiac disease, but didn’t notice any symptoms until she was in her mid twenties. The same was the case with her brother, who was also diagnosed with celiac disease.

After visiting with several doctors and doing her own research on the subject, she came to the conclusion that she was born with the celiac disease trait, but that it was dormant until she was in her twenties. Until then she was misdiagnosed many times as having acid reflux disease. Her Dermatitis Herpatiformis was also misdiagnosed as being herpes.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease ?

My girlfriend suffered from a lengthy list of symptoms which included:

• Headaches
• Dermatitis
• Herpatiformis (skin rash from gluten)
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Acid reflux
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Indigestion
• Shortness of breath

After going off gluten, her symptoms began to clear up. She is still in the healing process though, due to the fact that the villi in her intestinal tract were damaged by gluten. This makes it much harder for her to absorb the nutrients in her food. According to her doctor and the online gluten free community, it could take over a year for the body to fully recover. While she is still recovering, it is clear that gluten was causing the symptoms she was experiencing.

In the vein of sharing her experiences so that others may benefit – she has created her own personal blog at MyGlutenFreeQuest.com.  It is is something that she’s put a lot of her time and herself into. If you have celiac disease, food allergies or gluten intolerance there’s a good chance that you can learn some really valuable things from her blog. It covers things such as symptoms, gluten free recipes, vitamins and supplements, workouts and much more. Her goal is to help as many people as she can and give everybody who is suffering someone to relate to and identify with. The mental aspect is so import in taking the right steps toward healing.

She probably wouldn’t have been diagnosed until much later on if it hadn’t been for her older brother who already discovered that he had celiac disease. Recognizing celiac disease can be difficult because some of its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. Celiac symptoms can include the ones listed above as well as the follow symptoms listed on the NIDDK website:

• Abdominal bloating and pain
• Chronic diarrhea
• Vomiting Constipation
• Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
• Weight loss

Food allergies are more common than most people think. If you’re someone with a long and mysterious list of health problems that just wont seem to go away, you may want to get tested for food allergies. Getting a blood or skin test can tell you whether your symptoms are food allergies or something else.

John McKiernan is a health and fitness writer who blogs at SupplementHelper.com

Without question, testosterone plays a huge part in a transformation like his. Interestingly, this hormone plays a huge part for people who gain muscle AND for people who lose fat. If your testosterone is low, it’s hard to make your body change either way.

How to Increase Testosterone Levels Naturally and Fight Like Hartebeests? Taken by Filip Lachowski.

Low-T is a Huge Problem

About 20% of adult men have sub-optimal levels of testosterone. Surprisingly this problem is affecting more and more young people. One of my best friends, who was once the most ripped person I’ve ever seen in real life, gained 50 pounds of fat in eight months after killing his testosterone production with a bad diet. He was 28 years old.

Many others have testosterone that’s in normal range, but at the lower end of the normal range.

If you’re trying to change your body, having low but normal levels of testosterone isn’t always enough. You want to be at the high end of normal. It will help you to burn fat more easily and/or add muscle more easily. If Regev’s testosterone had been low it would be very unlikely that he could have achieved a 62 pound transformation. I help people to learn how to lose fat at The Skinny School and they can’t make significant transformations if their hormones are out of whack either.

Supplementation is a Last Resort

Taking testosterone supplements should only be used as a last resort. Once you do it, your body will produce less T naturally. Unless you really want to have to take it for the rest of your life, this isn’t the best idea. So, the question is, how do you increase T naturally?

How to Increase Testosterone Naturally

The body needs a lot of different nutrients to make testosterone and failing to provide them through diet will mess up the production.

In the case of my friend, he stopped eating fat. He was also eating little carbohydrate and a ton of protein. The result? He got really lean and ripped for a while. But, his body didn’t have the cholesterol it needed to produce testosterone. Without testosterone, his ripped body wasn’t sustainable. He lost muscle and gained fat. He then lost motivation, stopped working out, and that led to even less testosterone and more fat and less muscle. It’s a bad cycle.

Chemical Structure of Testosterone

Follow these steps to keep T high:

1. Lift Heavy

Regev contributed nicely to an increase in testosterone by doing compound lifts with heavy weights. You should be doing squats, dead lifts, bench press, shoulder press, and bent rows or pullups with weight. Isolated lifting will contribute a lot less to healthy testosterone release.

Regev’s weight lifting advice applies perfectly to this principle.

2. Eat Cholesterol

Low fat diets will eventually kill any effort to have significant levels of testosterone. You need to make sure that your diet is balanced with healthy fats. Some of those fats need to be saturated fats because sex hormones are made from cholesterol. Omega-3 enriched whole eggs are a great example and for this reason, I eat them daily.

Peak testosterone production time is in the middle of the night, while you’re asleep. Try to get some fat in your system late in the day.

3. Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods provide our bodies with little actual nutrition and nutrition is crucial to having healthy hormones. On top of that, processed food contains preservatives and a lot of other weird stuff that can mess with our hormones. For example, many processed foods contain soy which elevates estradiol, nullifying the effect of testosterone in cells.

4. Get Plenty of the Right Vitamins

• Vitamin-D: Quite a few studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation helps to raise testosterone. On top of that, this little vitamin helps to increase fast-twitch muscle fibers which can help with top-end strength. You can supplement with vitamin D or you can just get more sun. The results will be the same.
• Vitamin-E: This vitamin counters the oxidative stress that lowers testosterone.
• Vitamin-A: Has a direct positive effect on the production of testosterone.

Other Factors to Consider

• Estrogen competes with testosterone for uptake into the cells. If your estrogen is high, your testosterone probably isn’t working as well as it should be. Since soy products raise estrogen, they should be avoided.
• Cortisol also competes with testosterone for the uptake into cells. People with high cortisol often feel like they have low-T, even though they don’t. I had elevated cortisol for a while and I got a lot weaker and softer. Once I figured out why, the problems reversed themselves. Getting enough sleep and de-stressing can help to lower cortisol levels. For me, an allergy to wheat was causing my issues.

Rising Cost of Healthcare in America

Many people don’t realize just how much of a problem healthcare has become, but if the price of gas had kept up with healthcare costs, a gallon of gas would now cost $13.50 a gallon, which would most likely be another hot button issue.

The rise in the price of healthcare cannot be blamed on just one issue, but a slew of bad choices on the individual and corporate level. In today’s political world, it’s become obvious that a solution must be found. Most people do not understand the full extent of the healthcare problem America faces, so the real numbers may astound them.

Source: Top Masters in Healthcare

How to Lose Weight After Having a Baby ?

Get Rid of Guilt

You can’t slim down without taking time out for yourself. Although most moms feel guilty about spending any time on themselves when there is a new little one in the house, it is the most essential part of being a happy mom! Remember, when you feel good about yourself, your attitude will improve and the whole family benefits…including your little one. A happy baby absolutely begins with happy parents.

If you feel like you have no time to give yourself, clear some up. Remember, we set our priorities! Borrow 10 minutes from your schedule here and there and use it just for you. It’s also a good idea right now to explain to your other significant that you need some alone time each day to stay sane and happy. Most dads are happy to accommodate and pitch in for a bit if they know it’s important to you.

Once you get this time though, it’s vital you keep your thoughts focused on your own goals during it. The biggest mistake I made with my first baby was wondering what was going on at home or in the other room if I wasn’t there. Stay focused and remember that everyone deserves a little time for themselves…new moms especially!

Success Starts With a Plan

When you finally get time to yourself, make your first order of business charting out a plan to get active again. This isn’t the time to set a goal of running a marathon. Remember, new moms already feel like they are running a marathon just by taking care of a new baby. I know that in order for me to succeed at my plan, baby steps are the best way. Start with walking 10 minutes a day. Then bump it up as you feel you are ready.

The secret to my goal planning is to check things off as I accomplish them! I also never show my goal charts to anyone, even my husband. They are my own private victories and sharing them makes me feel like it’s something I have to do rather than something I personally want to do. If getting back into your pre-pregnancy jeans is a goal of yours, no one can get you there but yourself. My favorite quote talks about how life isn’t a television remote. If we want something, we need to get up and change the channel ourselves.

Think Healthy

Although I might indulge a little too much in pregnancy, I know that it’s essential for me to think healthy afterwards. New moms need all the energy they can get! Your best bet for energy comes from a diet high in protein, fiber and low on the sugar and bad carbohydrates. This is an especially important time to eat healthy if you are nursing. Knowing I’m passing on all the good nutrients I get during the day to my little one is incentive to go for the carrot sticks instead of the potato chips.

Another secret of mine during this time is to clear out my environment. If my husband or other little ones want junk food, they will have to head to the store and eat it before they get home. I also make sure I’m stocked up on all my favorite fruits, veggies, smoothie ingredients, and even low-calorie ice cream treats. Make your eating fun and something to look forward.

These are just a few of my favorite tips for slimming down in the easiest manner I’ve found possible after giving birth. If you do feel ready to take on a hard core diet or exercise program during this time, go for it. Doing whatever it takes to keep you happy and healthy as a mom is most important.

Note from Regev: You might also be interested to read about the relation between pregnancy and nutrition, or tips on how to conceive.

Written by Tim’s wife.

So, what are the possible causes or risk factors for pancreatic cancer?

Non-Modifiable Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors

In essence, these are the factors that cannot be changed or avoided in order to prevent pancreatic cancer.

Age

It is highly unlikely for pancreatic cancer to be found in people younger than 60 years of age, increasing age thus being directly proportional to the risk associated with the development of pancreatic cancer. The reason behind that is the fact that as we age, the cells in our body grow old and lose the capacity to repair damaged genes (certain enzymes are present in the cells to aid repair of damaged genes and these generally decrease in quantity with age).

These damaged genes lose their true function and their ‘mutated’ or altered forms take up the function of cancer genes, forcing the cells to escape all forms of control by the body, something that results in their massive growth and spread within the body.

Geography and Ethnicity

According to numerous studies,black people are at a greater risk as compared to white people, Asians and Hispanics. The exact cause of this is not well-known but it has been associated with the living conditions, socio-economic status and  smoking habits of various ethnicities, with no particular proven theory about any of the underlying causes.

Another proven observation is that pancreatic cancer is more common in Jews due to the fact that some of their families harbour forms of certain mutated genes which are consequently passed to their children, thus imparting a risk of developing carcinoma. The names of those particular genes and the causes of mutation are far beyond the scope of this article. However, speaking of practicality, one should always get genetic counselling done before deciding to have children since not only pancreatic cancer but  other diseases too (such as Thalassemias, etc) seem to cluster in certain families.

Smoking

Smoking causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, gastric cancer and numerous other types of diseases. It also promotes pancreatic cancer since cigarette smoke contains a number of substances which act as carcinogens (chemicals that cause cancer) by altering cellular metabolism and damaging cellular genes, mainly due to their harmful effect on anti-oxidants (these protect against cancer by shielding the cells from oxidative injury). When anti-oxidants (such as Vitamin E, etc) are decreased or absent, injured cells can turn into cancer cells. Those who smoke have almost a 3 times higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than non-smokers.

Chronic Pancreatitis 

Inflammation and constant injury anywhere in the body causes those cells to grow fast in order to compensate for the loss. However, if the injury remains constant or exceeds the ‘re-building’ capacity of the body, the remaining cells begin to try ‘too hard’ to accomplish successful regeneration, something which puts them at a risk of developing mutated genes which transform them into cancer cells.

Chronic pancreatitis serves to put constant stress on the pancreas and is a proven risk factor for the development of carcinoma. The most common causes of pancreatitis are stones in the pancreatic duct and alcohol intake, the former can be cured by surgery and the latter should always be taken carefully if one cannot avoid it completely. The hereditary type of pancreatitis (where the individual is genetically prone to developing recurrent pancreatitis) also puts an individual at a much higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Diabetes

Diabetes is itself a disease of the pancreas. The pancreatic cells either get destroyed by the body’s own immune system (type I diabetes) or the body becomes resistant to insulin (type 2 Diabetes) due to which the pancreas is forced to produce more and more insulin in order to achieve the same effect.

This puts the pancreatic cells in stress and thus, they are at a greater risk of turning into cancerous cells (just like they are in cases of chronic inflammation). Numerous studies have shown that pancreatic cancer appears in almost 1% of the patients who develop Diabetes. (Check out diabetes management guidelines if interested)

Dietary Habits

Foods rich in anti-oxidants (such as fresh fruits and vegetables) lower the risk of developing many types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer since anti-oxidants protect the cells from injury and keep the genes from getting mutated. On the contrary, diets that contain nitrosamines (commonly found in frozen, preserved food) directly increase the chances of the development of cancer since these promote formation of oxidants (oxidants injure the body’s cells and result in deformation of the proteins within the body, thus resulting in their destruction. Your DNA or genes are also proteins, which is why oxidants are extremely harmful for them.

Surgery for Peptic Ulcer

Numerous studies have linked peptic ulcer surgery to a greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer. In this surgery, a part of the stomach is removed. There are two theories linked with this particular observation. Firstly, peptic ulcers are seen in smokers and smoking also promotes pancreatic cancer.

Secondly, peptic ulcer surgery reduces the amount of hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach (this acid kills bacteria ingested with food along with aiding digestion) due to which there are greater chances of the patient acquiring H.Pylori (a bacterium that causes a common form of gastritis, or inflammation in the stomach, which frequently results in ulcers).

Chemicals

Many chemicals have been associated with pancreatic cancer. These include benzene, dyes commonly found in paints, pesticides, petrochemicals, etc. All of these put an individual at a greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer only when he or she is exposed for a long time (say 5-10 years) since they directly injure cells via the generation of oxidants.

Any Other Possible Pancreatic Cancer Causes ?

In addition to the above mentioned risk factors, some have not been proven or studied well enough. An example of such a factor is Hepatitis B infection. Pancreatic cancer has been noted in many individuals with this infection, however, complete data analysis and reliable reports are yet to be made.

Needless to say, as long as one knows the possible risk factors, numerous diseases can be avoided. What’s even better is that avoidance of just one risk factor can protect from numerous diseases – the prime example being of smoking cessation and diet control.

Although I do remember my parents (and local hospitals) using a bottle of orange iodine disinfectant on my boo-boos, and have found myself wondering why they add iodine to our table salt, it wasn’t until recently that I discovered just how important iodine is. It turns out that iodized salt came about in the 1920’s when iodine deficiency was recognized as a public health concern for the first time.

And actually it was added to our flour first (doubling as an anticaking agent) then 1/5 of the salt companies added it to our salt, and the problem was considered solved. But because of how vital it is to our thyroid (without iodine present we cannot produce the thyroid hormones that control our metabolism ) and to our overall health (it’s in nearly every cell in our bodies) I now think that being absolutely sure that we are getting enough of it, is very important.

Some More Health Benefits of Iodine

It is vital to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers that they get a double or even triple dose of it, for the development of their babies, as well as because a womans breast require iodine to stay healthy (recent studies are showing connections between iodine deficiency and fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer.) Yet it is not just breast cancer we need to worry about. Iodine health benefits are vast.

Electron shell diagram for Iodine, the 53rd element in the periodic table of elements. Photo credit: Greg Robson.

Iodine molecules also attach to a number of halogens such as fluoride, chloride, bromide, and mercury, to remove them from the body. These halogens, or goitrogens are using up most of the iodine that we consume in their battle for placement in our bodies. Then if there is any iodine left over after the endless barrage of toxins has been removed, that’s when our precious thyroid gets its share.

Too Much Iodine In Your Diet? How Much Do I Need?

Even with the adding of iodine to our salt, American consumption of iodine has dropped over 50%, combined with an exponential increase of the halogens that iodine has to combat/compete with, causing 90% of Americans to be iodine deficient, and 75% to have a health related issue.

This is most likely a result of a number of bad big business decisions, for example; iodine used to be put into our flour, but then the acknowledgement of Thyroid Iodine Toxicosis (excessive iodine levels causing hyperthyroidism and the overproduction of thyroid hormones) scared the iodine out of our flour and made them replace it with bromide! So instead of being on the very short list of food sources for iodine, now our flour is on the very long list of toxins that iodine has to combat.

Fluoride is another great example of these decisions that our thyroid is paying dearly for. Flouride is a toxic by-product of aluminum production and is now sold as a way to prevent cavities, and thus found in large quantities in most tap water, leeching out our iodine every time we take a drink or a shower.

Not to mention that most of us are not even getting the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA=150-290mcg/day) of iodine, that recent studies have revealed is way too low anyway. But even if we do get the RDA, or even the Upper Limit (UL=1,100 mcg/day) with as many toxins as we are fighting on a daily basis, I would argue that most people are not getting nearly enough, (people who live in some coastal regions in Japan consume around 50,000–80,000 mcg of iodine regulary on a daily basis, yet they do not have more thyroid iodine toxicosis.)

What is Iodine Good For In Other Areas: Iodine as an Antidepressant

Now I’m not recommending you start consuming exorbanant amounts of iodine. On the contrary, studies also show that abrupt changes in iodine intake cause imbalances in the Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH) created by our pituitary gland (which controls our thyroid) causing hypo- and hyper-thyroidism.

However, a slow increase in iodine could solve a number of health problems such as; depression, weight gain, low energy levels and fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, brain fog, insomnia, cold or tingly hands and feet, muscle pains, edema (swelling of ankles) and elevated LDL (bad cholesterol) levels.

What I am saying, is if your doctor is about to recommend a prescription antidepressant or energy enhancer that will most likely have a bunch of side effects, make sure your iodine levels are optimal, and you might save yourself a lot of hassle!

Health and Safety at the Gym: The Invisible Chair

A Little Bit About Me..

Let’s start with a bit about myself. I’m a 22 year old male who has been going to the gym sporadically since the age of 15, and regularly since 18. Over the last few years, I’ve made the transition from purely cardio to a more free weight-orientated training schedule. Having picked up a lower back injury about two years ago playing five-a-side football, I’ve noticed just how much strain weight training and, more importantly, poor form can put on the body.

As a result of this, I found it particularly hard to get back into a routine of training my back, legs and abs as these are the workouts that tend to put the most strain on my back. I’ve finally built up the confidence again to start squats with the help of a lumbar support belt, but I’ve actually noticed that when they aren’t done properly, these can cause a common knee injury. Having asked a gym instructor to watch my form and give me tips, he told me that my feet were too far back, meaning that my knees were coming too far forward. He gave me some great advice and told me to imagine there’s an invisible chair that you’re trying to sit on, and position yourself like that.h

Another thing I found after suffering my back injury was an urge to make up for lost time. As a result, I ended up trying to lift heavier weights than my body allowed for. This was purely because I was of the mindset: “I’ve done it before, I can do it now!” – Something I found to be incorrect. This can cause inevitable strain on your muscles and joints, and can actually have the opposite effect to the one desired.

It’s more likely to slow down both your strength gains and recovery time. It’s important to realise that getting back up to your old levels of strength or fitness, or setting new levels, takes time and patience. No matter how frustrating it can be in the short term, the long term health benefits make it worthwhile.

Gym Safety Tips Embraced: The ‘Stop’ Button

We all know that no one wants to stand out as “the new guy” in the gym. I, like many others, have been guilty of this and I’ve tried to get going on a machine without actually knowing how it works. Even the simplest of machines such as a treadmill can be the cause of ankle sprains or, perhaps more embarrassingly, head injuries from falls.

These can all be avoided if you take a few minutes to read instructions, familiarise yourself with the surroundings and probably more importantly – the “stop” buttons! As mentioned earlier, the same applies for resistance machines. We all expect to ache after a good session at the gym, but there’s no point making yourself ache more than you need to.

One thing I found particularly useful when I joined my latest gym (I’ve switched gyms three times in the last 12 months – long story) was to have a proper induction from a personal trainer. Although you may think you know how to work everything (I certainly did), you will definitely find that each machine has different little intricacies and little features you weren’t aware of.

What’s more, you can pick up training tips from the instructors, as I’ve already mentioned I did with my squat exercises. Another benefit is that you can find out more about them in terms of qualifications and certificates. An hour-long induction could help prevent weeks or months of pain and damage to your body. Think about it, which would you prefer?

Final Words

Finally, as I’ve mentioned in the last paragraph, it’s a great idea to get to know your fitness instructors and, more importantly, know their background. This doesn’t mean interrogating them about where they studied, how long for, and the names of their qualifications and so on. But it’s worth dropping into conversation questions about what they used to do and so on.

This way, you’ll be able to tell if they are properly qualified personal trainers or just regular gym-goers who happened to get a job at their local establishment. At the end of the day, it’s your body and training that is potentially at risk if they aren’t fully qualified, and you have a right to know.

What is Pancreatic Cancer ?

But here’s a daunting fact about pancreatic cancer you might not find anywhere stated in similar terms: It’s stealthy and it kills slowly, so by the time you go the doctor with symptoms as vague and trivial as epigastric discomfort, you might be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which will not be curable owing to the advanced stage it has reached.

I’m not exagerrating at all! Read on if you have your doubts, since it’s always better to get rid of them when it comes to your health. Like the head of Surgery at my college says, ’Leave no stone unturned when you’re looking for even the most trivial information related to what keeps you healthy and what doesn’t – you never know what minor mistakes could lead to irreversible damage!’

The Stats: Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate and Life Expectancy

Pancreatic Cancer is the fourth most common cause of mortality as a result of malignancy. What is the survival rate of pancreatic cancer, you’re asking? once diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, patients have a negligible 5-year survival rate of only 4 percent. This means that once their doctors tell them they have pancreatic cancer, they will not live for long and most die within the first two years of the diagnosis, an alarmingly small amount surviving till 5 years.

Why Is The Mortality So High ?

Why is that patients with breast cancer or cervical cancer survive and live perfectly normal lives and those with pancreatic cancer or cancer of the bile ducts have to face such a sad ending? That’s because by the time symptoms appear and patients consult their doctors, these cancer has spread too much and is literally incurable. What’s offered at this stage is palliative treatment – measures aimed at making the patient feel comfortable and preventing any further complications due to the malignancy.

The Pancreas – An Overview

The pancreas is a part of the upper gastrointestinal tract embryologically. It contains two types of glands, endocrine and exocrine. The endocrine cells secrete insulin and glucagon which act together to closely monitor your blood glucose levels. The exocrine glands on the other hand secrete a set of digestive enzymes which help in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in your diet. However, the exact location of the pancreas is much more important than its functions in understanding pancreatic cancer.

The pancreas is located deep inside the abdomen, a part of it rests against a curve of the duodenum (a part of your small intestine). Some organs inside the abdomen are located within the peritoneum and some aren’t. The peritoneum is a protective, thin sheet of tissue that covers the organs inside the abdominal cavity and provides a source of attachment, thus instilling stability to the organs rather than letting them ‘float around.’

The pancreas, part of the colon and the urinary system are not located inside this cavity formed by the peritoneum. Sounds like boring medical anatomy, doesn’t it? The thing is, whenever something happens to abdominal organs, they irritate the peritoneum which causes pain. The pancreas does not have this feature. Moreover, it lies deep within the abdominal cavity and cannot be felt by the patient, unless it is grossly enlarged (about 5-10 times its normal size). Thus, a lump in the breast due to carcinoma (in its earliest stages) is much easier to feel as compared to a swelling in the pancreas!

To sum up, the pancreas cannot irritate the peritoneum and small cancers (at their earliest stages) would go unnoticed. Moreover, its location makes it inaccessible which is why the patients won’t feel it growing.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer ?

Pancreatic cancer can be present in any of the parts of the pancreas. Different parts produce different symptoms. The head of the pancreas surrounds the duct through which bile is emptied into your small intestine to aid the digestion of fat. The rest of the pancreas lies behind the stomach. About 60 % pancreatic carcinomas arise in the head, 15-20 percent in the body and tail of the pancreas and 20% are spread diffusely. In order to beware of this deadly cancer, you need to keep the following symptoms in mind:

Symptoms of Early Disease: Vague Abdominal Discomfort

This symptom is so vague that it is dismissed by both both the physician and the patient. It might be prominent after meals or be present almost all the time. This symptom is present at both early and late stages, increasing in severity as the cancer progresses.

Last Stage Signs of Pancreatic Cancer: Pain, Fatigue,Weight Loss and Jaundice

Pain is a result of the involvement of adjacent structures and nerves in the abdomen by the malignancy and sadly, it is the most common feature that patients present with. The time of presentation is such that they cannot be saved.

Cancer cells use up the energy in your body and change your metabolism in a way that eventually makes you lose your appetite. The decrease in food intake and increased metabolism result in weight loss. However, you should be warned that this is a very late symptom and most cancers are not curable at the stage this symptom appears, even more so for pancreatic cancer since it is one of the fastest spreading cancers in humans.

The Jaundice is characteristically seen in most patients who have a cancer in the head of the pancreas since a tumor there will block the duct that delivers bile to your intestines. Once that happens, bile will be broken up and its constituents will rise in your blood, one of them is called ‘Bilirubin,’ which is yellowish in color, thus making your skin and the whites of your eyes, yellow. In the early stages, this jaundice is mild and is not readily noticed by the patients. When it becomes noticeable, the cancer has spread too far.

Rare Symptoms

About 8-10 percent of the patients experience a rise in calcium in their blood along with thrombosis of the veins that comes and goes, jumping from one limb to another. The former is seen in most cancers and results in nausea and vomiting, confusion, muscular aches, joint problems, constipation, abdominal pain,etc. The latter is due to substances produced by the tumor that pro-coagulants and result in the formation of clots in the body. These clots dissolve in some time and then form somewhere else. Although rare, these symptoms should also be kept in mind.

Celebrities or Important Figures Who Had Pancreatic Cancer: 

The famous actor Patrick Swayze from the films ‘Dirty Dancing’ and ‘Ghost’ was diagnosed in 2008 and passed away in 2009. Numerous other celebrities shared similar fates but one very important figure deserves to be mentioned here – Steve Jobs. The founder and CEO of Apple, Jobs was diagnosed with a rare type of pancreatic cancer (neuroendocrine tumor) and lived for seven years after being diagnosed with it.

Wait..seven years? Doesn’t pancreatic cancer prove fatal within 1-2 years? Yes it does, but that depends on the type. Most carcinomas in the pancreas are adenocarcinomas, the highly aggressive and fatal type. A rare type is neuroendocrine tumors, the ones that don’t spread too fast and can be treated to some degree. That’s why Jobs lived to invent the iPhone 3 years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer!

Note from Regev: Here’s some more types of cancer, in case you’re interested. You can also read about pancreatic cancer risk factors, an article which Aqsa just added.

They are ideal for people with stained or discolored teeth (due to use of excessive use of fluoride, tetracycline, smoking, coffee stains etc), yellow teeth, worn out, broken and misaligned teeth.Such people are often hesitant to smile and may suffer from low self esteem. So, in order to have pearly white, shining teeth – people are resorting to porcelain veneers.

The procedure of getting a porcelain veneer involves three basic steps. The attending dentist checks to see whether you are an ideal candidate for the procedure or not and educates you about the pros, cons, costs and complications of the procedure. Then, the process of preparation (‘prepping’) or removal of a part of the tooth enamel with the help of local anesthesia starts.

Next, an impression of your tooth is taken for getting the porcelain veneers made and lastly, the veneer is bonded or permanently cemented to your teeth. Usually the person is asked to come for a follow-up after a couple of weeks.

Average Costs of Porcelain Veneers

As with other dental treatments, the costs of porcelain veneers depend on a many factors like the number of teeth that require veneers, the choice of the dentist, the particular demographic region where you want to have a the procedure done and so on. A comprehensive list of the various factors influencing the cost of porcelain veneers and the comparative cost study is given below.

Where you reside is very important in this respect. The costs vary in different countries and also in different states in the same country. In places like UK and USA the cost of porcelain veneers are quite significant.

Porcelain Veneers Cost in the U.S

A single tooth implant costs on average somewhere between 900-3000$ in the US. In densely populates states like California, Los Angels, Illinois – it is about 1,500 to 2,500$ per tooth but in states with low per-capita income (law fee states) like Kentucky, Tennessee, Arizona, Alabama, Oklahoma and Nebraska – the costs are quite low, thus a porcelain veneer costs about 900$ per tooth over there .

Let’s Compare That to UK, Australia, Greece and Italy

In UK, the porcelain veneers are quite expensive and the price for a single tooth implant in the hands of a good and trained dentist may cost somewhere between 800 to 1200 pounds. In Australia the cost of a porcelain veneer for a single tooth falls in the range of $900 to $2000.

In Italy its approximately $800 a tooth while in Greece its about $600, but the price tag differs from dentist to dentist even within the same city. If the treatment is performed by a trained cosmetic dentist, the costs steep up as cosmetic dental surgeons charge a premium price for their skills that is reflected in the supreme quality of their work.

Porcelain Veneers Number Performed

The number of porcelain veneers performed depends on the number of teeth requiring a veneer, bascially. The resin veneers are much cheaper than the porcelain veneers but the porcelain ones are more durable .If you happen to have a problem in one or two teeth, as they may be chipped, worn out or tainted, for example, then porcelain veneers can be used only for those teeth.

But, in the vast majority of cases, a full smile makeover is needed. In such a case, most of the cosmetic dentists recommend the application of porcelain veneers on the front six teeth of each jaw. In case you have a typically wide smile, then the total cost goes up as in such a case more than 12 front teeth need to be covered by the veneers.

How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

Each  porcelain veneer should typically last for 10-15 yrs or so.

Always Check The Credentials of the Dentist

In order to avoid becoming a victim of touts, you should always check the credentials of the dentist before opting for the procedure. As we already said, the average cost of the porcelain veneers in the hands of a general dentist in US is about $900 – $1500 US per veneer, but if the same procedure is performed by a cosmetic dentist, the price soars up and in such cases the cost per veneer is about $ 1000 -$3000.

Credit to Dr. Mihail Cos, Hannover.

What Types of Dental Veneers Are There Except Porcelain?

Before and after a tummy tuck surgery. (Credit: Wikipedia)

As we age, it gets harder to lose weight and somehow, it always seems easier to gain it even though we might not be consuming too much food, or unhealthy food for that matter.

This is obviously pretty frustrating but thanks to plastic surgery, we have a cure for that unpleasant fat that adds up on our belly with age (or due to lose abdominal skin and muscles secondary to multiple pregnancies in case of women).

Once you have decided that you need a tummy tuck surgery, obviously what you need to know next is how much it costs. But as you’ll see, the cost of a tummy tuck (or any surgery for that matter) isn’t a single amount – it’s the sum of many sub-divisions of the procedure you have opted for.

What Is The Abdominoplasty Cost Made of?

Let’s consider the U.S.A first. The cost of abdominoplasty or a tummy tuck surgery is basically composed of the following entities whose average costs are listed below:

What Factors Influence The Final Cost of Tummy Tuck?

As you can see in the table above, the costs are distributed over a wide range. So what factors really decide how much the final cost will be? Here’s an overview of the most crucial factors that will decide how much money is eventually spent on your tummy tuck surgery:

• The Geographical Factor:

Where you chose to get your surgical procedure done is probably the most important factor with regard to the final costs. That is because various surgeons have different levels of experience as well as expertise. Moreover, those areas where the cost of living is higher and surgeons are in greater demand tend to have higher surgical costs.

• The extent of your surgical procedure:

The more extensive your surgery, the higher the costs. If you’re getting the ‘mommy-makeover,’ you will be given breast augmentation along with the abdominoplasty. If you are opting for only an abdominoplasty, the operation will definitely cost higher if it is to be more complicated owing to large amounts of fat in the area of your abdomen or if it requires excessive skin remodelling, etc.

How to Reach Your Final Decision

In addition to the above mentioned factors, keep in mind that surgeons who live in areas where there is a high demand for abdominoplasty tend to be more skilled than others since they have taken up a larger number of surgeries. Thus, don’t make the mistake of opting for an in-expensive clinic since that will put your health at risk. Make your decision carefully. A ‘yes’ to all of the following questions is a necessity if you want a safe and successful surgery:

• First of all, is the surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? (you can do this by either calling the American Board of Medical Specialties at 1-866-275-2267 and asking them about the name of your surgeon or visiting the Board Certification Verification website and entering your surgeon’s complete name).
• Did he or she explain the surgical procedure in reasonable detail to you?
• Does he/she have enough experience in his speciality (a minimum of 5 years is good enough. However, make sure that he/she has at least 2-3 years of experience in abdominoplasty within his 5 year experience of abdominal surgery).
• Do they have an M.D. Anaesthesiologist and a recognized anaesthesia facility?
• Will your surgeon carry out the procedure? (This is important to ask since some units appoint residents to carry out certain surgeries, something that is supposed to be much cheaper than the experienced surgeon carrying out the procedure himself. In addition, it’s not completely safe since residents do not have much experience).
• Are all drugs/equipments/implants used in your surgery approved by the FDA?

It is preferable if all the answer to all the above questions is ‘yes,’ since you might be at considerable risk of surgical complications or a completely unsuccessful surgery if even one of the above requirements is not met.

Different Types of Tummy Tuck Surgeries and Their Cost

Apart from the regular tummy tuck surgery, there are three other types of surgeries that are now offered in order to remodel the abdominal area whose outlines are as following:

Although not too extensive, the above details give you a general outline and will be helpful in guiding you towards further research regarding what type of surgery you should eventually opt for.

How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in the U.S ?

So, what’s next?

With the basics covered, let’s get down to the main point: how much does a tummy tuck surgery cost anyway? As you already know, it varies from country to country and state to state. For simplicity, we’re going to cover the average cost of tummy tuck traditional surgery in various states of the U.S.A:

Note: The above values are averages costs which means you might find surgeons who charge less or more than the stated values. The deviation from these average values is $2000, either more or less than the observed average values.

Are There Any Alternatives?

Finally – Do I Think It’s Worth It?

A completely sutured area where close to a hundred square centimeters of skin were carried off during a lipo-tuck procedure (a mix of liposuction and abdominoplasty). Note the "neo"-umbilicus (belly button) that was reattached to a new hole that was created just for that. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tummy tuck is not the alternative to exercise and is not a means of drastic weight loss. It is characteristically for those people who have lose abdominal musculature, extra skin and excessive fat around the abdomen which is hard to lose after a pregnancy or weight loss.

If you’re looking for something to modify your figure without exercising or eating a healthy diet, do not waste you time and money on this surgery. Provided that you maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can definitely opt for this procedure.

You do not have to chose the most expensive surgeon, all you need to do is to make sure that the doctor you choose satisfies the requirements that I listed earlier. When all those are met, you can choose just about any surgeon no matter what he charges. With all these steps carried out well, your abdominoplasty procedure is definitely going to be worth it! My advice: Choose your surgeon carefully and go for it!