Considering Lap Band Surgery - Get The Facts First

Lap band surgery is an adjustable gastric band type of weight-loss procedure. A prosthetic band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, which creates a small pouch that limits the amount of food the patient eats. If a lap band surgeon approves you for lap band surgery after an extensive consultation, you'll be required to undergo pre-op exams and lab tests before you're medically cleared for surgery. There are approximately seven to eight types of adjustable gastric bands on the market today.

If a person has a dependency on alcohol or drugs, then they won't be eligible for adjustable band surgery. And in general, gastric banding, including the Lap Band procedure and weight loss system is indicated for people for whom the Body Mass Index is above 40 or are 100 pounds (45 kg) or more over their estimated ideal weight (according to the 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tables) or between 30 and 40 with co-morbidities (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and arthritis), which may improve with weight loss. In order to be considered one must have total comprehension of the risks and the benefits of the gastric band procedure and a willingness to comply with the substantial lifelong dietary restrictions that are required for long term success.

Those people who are eligible are between ages 18 and 55 years, although there are doctors who will work outside these ages, some may be as young as 12. The lap band surgery is usually not performed if one has an untreated glandular disease like hypothyroidism, where other measures may bring about a resolution.

How it works: the adjustable gastric band or Lap Band is an inflatable silicone prosthetic device which is placed around the top portion of the stomach using keyhole laparoscopic surgery. The gastric band is inflated and adjusted by way of a small access port placed just beneath the skin subcutaneously. Then radiopaque isotonic solution or saline is introduced into the band via a port. The bariatric surgeon uses a specialized needle to avoid damage to the port membrane. If the adjustable gastric band post-surgical patient is thinking about having a baby, the deflation of the band may be required prior to the planned conception.

The gastric dumping syndrome problems cannot happen in lap band surgeries because none of the intestines are removed or re-routed. Calcium supplements and Vitamin B12 injections are not usually required following gastric banding as they are with Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery and other weight loss surgeries. After surgery the patient should consider eating less, eating more slowly and chewing food more thoroughly. And during pregnancy, deflation should be considered if one is experiencing morning sickness. The lap band may remain deflated during pregnancy and once breast feeding or bottle-feeding is completed the band may gradually be re-inflated to help with postpartum weight loss if it's found to be necessary.

Some patients may find that before their first 'fill' they are still able to eat fairly large portions of food. The World Health Organization recommendation for monthly weight loss is approximately 1.1 to 2.2 pounds per week and the average gastric banded patient may possibly lose this amount, it varies from patient to patient.

One post-surgical complication that is a common occurrence for lap band patients is regurgitation of non-acidic swallowed food from the upper pouch, which is commonly known as productive burping. This is not normal. Some mechanical malfunctions that can occur are leakage from the port, cracking of the kink-resistant tubing or disruption of the tubing connection from the port to the band, port site pain and displacement of the port.

Occasionally, the narrow passage into the lower part of the stomach may become blocked by a large portion of food that hasn't been chewed. Some of the adjustable gastric band post-surgery digestive complications include nausea, vomiting, gastro-esophageal reflux, stoma obstruction, constipation, diarrhea, and abnormal stools.

Many factors can affect your total cost of the surgery, including which gastric or bariatric surgeon you decide on, where you choose to have the surgery performed, and what fees are included or not included. And please remember that lap band surgery or adjustable band surgery can have serious adverse effects and complications. Make sure if you're traveling out of the country for your surgery that you consider the travel time and related travel expenses for both the surgery and any necessary follow-up appointments.

Fertility Vitamins That Help You Get Pregnant

While trying to conceive, there are many options to make it happen. There are actually fertility vitamins that can be taken to help speed up conception. Using these vitamins and herbs will cause you no side effects and be non-invasive as compared to other techniques of conception. These vitamins are also less expensive.

Studies have proved that using vitamins, herbs or other natural means are safer and much more effective in helping the pregnancy happen. If necessary, they can also be used in addition to any medical treatments that may have already been started.

There are several supplements for women to try. A good multivitamin is a good start. Iron is important to prevent anemia. Anemia can prevent fertility. However, a low dose should be used, such as 10-20mg per day. Vitamin C, 500-1500mg per day will protect the cells and boost the immune system. Vitamin E in 400-800i.u. per day is possible to increase the quality of the egg. It can definitely increase fertility. Co-enzyme-Q10 is also known to increase egg quality, and it belongs in the important list of fertility vitamins. Folic Acid may not contribute to fertility, however, can prevent birth defects and will protect the heart. Paba at 400mg per day can increase the estrogen to induce fertility.

Women not only need supplements to become pregnant. Men should be taking them, too. One of these is Vitamin C, which helps protect against damage to the sperm, and can actually increase the sperm count. Vitamin E increases sperm potency. Zinc, 15-60mg per day could not only raise the sperm count, but help the sexual function, also. A zinc deficiency can actually lower the sperm count. This supplement is very important. Other supplements for the man to consider is Vitamin B-12 and B-complex supplement, selenium, co-enzyme-Q10, L-Carnitine, a good multi-vitamin, especially with Vitamin A, and L-Arginine.

Before taking any vitamin supplements or herbs, it is still best to consult with your doctor first to be sure that they are safe for your individual needs.

How to Deal With Unplanned Pregnancy

You are eager to pursue the things you always wanted to do while you are growing up. You want to own a home, have your own career, marry a good man, raise a family, or manage your own business. Then a bomb dropped in front of you. You are pregnant.

Unplanned pregnancies are no longer uncommon. A lot of women are currently in a dilemma, wondering how they would manage the situation they are in.

Know, though, that the world does not end and that there are plenty of things you can do to go through it. Here are some of them:

Come up with a decision. What do you want to do? Do you want to keep the baby after birth or give him or her up for adoption? Both are actually very hard to do, as each carries its own benefits and disadvantages. It would help if you can imagine how your life would be if you choose each of the options you have. Which one of them you would feel happier?

Seek professional help. You are young, and the pregnancy is unplanned. It is normal for you to be very confused on what to do. The problem is confusion can lead to very bad decisions later-things you may only regret later on. That is why it is always recommended to talk to a professional such as therapist or a counselor, especially someone who specializes in unplanned pregnancies.

Join support groups. There are hundreds of girls out there who are going through what you are experiencing today. By participating in support groups, both offline and online, you will find that you are not alone in your issues and challenges. You can also get plenty of pointers from those who have raised great families despite their young age.

Tell yourself that things are not over. Unplanned pregnancy does not have to spell the end of your dreams, though you may place some of them on hold. You may want to utilize the various subliminal messages or affirmations to remind you of that. When you are feeling really down and so alone, remind yourself that

The pregnancy is not the end of my dreams.
I can still continue dreaming even if I am pregnant.
I can still be my own person despite the pregnancy.

See it as a blessing. When it feels like you are throwing so many things out of your life, it is hard to consider pregnancy as a blessing. However, in the long run, you'll realize that it is. Moreover, by rewiring the way your mind thinks, by being more positive, any unplanned pregnancy becomes a more beautiful journey.

Every day as soon as you wake up or whenever you want to remember, tell yourself that "This baby is a blessing to me" or "I have to cherish this precious gift in my life."

Take things one step at a time. You'll be less stressed, depressed, and anxious if you don't think a lot about what the future holds. Instead, live every moment of your life.

Pregnancy And Diabetes - What You Should Expect From Conception To Birth

Pregnancy is a very special experience in any woman's life. It's normally believed that pregnancy is risky for women with diabetes. In this article, we will discuss a preconception planning for the woman with diabetes and we will refer to some best quality resources on managing gestational diabetes.

If you have diabetes, how you should plan for your pregnancy

a. You should first discuss with your family physician, dietician and obstetrician who is familiar with the special challenges of a diabetic pregnancy.

b. You need to manage excellent blood glucose control before conception because hyperglycemia increases the risk of a miscarriage or of birth defects in the baby.

c. Do a thorough medical check up because high and prolonged blood sugar might have impacted your eyes, kidneys and possibly other body parts. This thorough physical examination will help medical professionals to assess your body's readiness to take on the demands of pregnancy.

You have to be particular for followings:

o Diabetic retinopathy may get worsen during pregnancy for a diabetic patient. You should have a dilated eye examination before you become pregnant, and have regular check up with an ophthalmologist during the course of your pregnancy.

o Pregnant Women with hypertension need to avoid ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, or diuretics as anti-hypertensive drugs and hence need to follow her doctor's advice, dietary and exercise plan to keep her healthy.

o Kidney disease of would be mother can negatively impact the baby's growth and development. This might be critical for a pregnant lady.

o Autonomic neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy damage the internal organs, which can complicate the management of diabetes during pregnancy.

You need to aim for near-normal glucose levels

Bring down blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible -- ideally for three months before you become pregnant. Maintain this level for 1st three months because baby is rapidly developing this time. If you able to manage HbA1c level within 1% of normal, the rates of congenital deformities and spontaneous abortion are no different from those in women without diabetes.

What should be your blood glucose level?

Test your blood glucose level before meal and 70-100 mg/dl (3.9 - 5.6 mmol/l) should be your whole blood glucose reading.

Test your blood glucose level 2 hours after meals and whole blood glucose reading should be under 140 mg/dl (

Cameroon: Modernization of Social Security With Greater Solidarity Between Cameroonians

Despite several efforts and considerable discussions made to introduce and effect modernization of the social security in Cameroon, this issue remains one of the few items in the current regime that has not been attended to.

Nevertheless, Cameroonians have experienced some positive change recently with the improvement of the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) services. Unlike the previous system of remitting retirement pensions, the payments can now be made at various offices in Cameroon and further, this can be done monthly and also via bank deposits for those who already have bank accounts. This is a positive move in contrast to the quarterly payments which thousands of people had to queue for at the main CNPS office in Yaound矇.

However, these arrangements might not be as helpful to many people because of a few hitches here and there. Most retirees who are subject to receiving pensions are unable to do so for the reasons that they cannot be able to provide all the relevant documentation required of them or could be that their employers never submitted their share of money to the relevant CNPS offices while they were in employment.

For many Cameroonians, retirement is a social security mystery. Despite social security being the main legal body that should guarantee protection to everyone against social risks such as old age, diseases and disability, it remains a working progress whose fruits are yet to be experienced by Cameroonians. A few percentage of the country's population remain as the beneficiaries of ones enjoying it according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

A system under working progress.

As the government unveiled its financial, economic, social and cultural plans in parliament two years ago, the Prime Minister Yang Philemon acknowledged that the government was working towards maintaining the country's social peace by ensuring that everyone would benefit from social security measures which were going to be put in place. A month later, President Paul Biya confirmed the same by informing the public that the social security issue was being looked at.

The unit put in place to modernize social security in Cameroon conducted the relevant studies and has submitted the report to Mr. Philemon. The report deals with the changes that will take place during the upgrading of the CNPS and it also has recommendations on how best this whole procedure can be carried out. The report further deals with reforms that should take place in terms of management to ensure that the extension put in place will also work towards benefitting the population which is not covered as well as improving the current benefits.

In the new structure of social security in Cameroon, both public and private sectors have a role to play as social security involves the solidarity of all Cameroonians whether working or not, sick or well, fully functional or disabled.

While the private organizations include insurance companies, social micro insurance enterprises, fraternal benefit societies, the public groups include the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) and the National Fund for State Employees (CNPE)

How it works is that the CNSS takes from CNPS coverage for people who have insured themselves voluntarily while the CNPE offers coverage for civil servants and those who are in dispersed communities. Like the CNPE and CNSS, the CNAM offers four cover types to the insured; old age and disability, family, maternity and work related accidents.

This reform should modernize the social security in Cameroon and also ensure the national legislation of social insurance is in harmony with the requirements of Inter-African Conference on Social Insurance (CIPRES).

To read more News in any topics related to Cameroon, visit cameroon-report.com

Coronary Heart Disease And Pregnancy - Preparing For Pregnancy

Coronary heart disease, is a narrowing of the coronary artery: a large blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart. This narrowing is caused by fatty deposits in the artery itself and is the leading cause of heart attacks in the developed world. Cardiac disease of all types is, indirectly, the leading cause of maternal death in the UK. The risk of developing coronary heart disease increases significantly with age beyond 35 years and more significantly still in those over 50 years.

Large scale social changes have led to the increase in the number of pregnant women who suffer with coronary heart disease. The age at which women are able to conceive and sustain a pregnancy has, on average, increased with many factors driving this, not least, increases in health care and fertility medicine. Career and financial pressures also mean women are delaying having their first child and fluidity of family structures also have contributed to older women wishing to conceive with their second or third partners/spouse.

Lifestyle changes have, without doubt, contributed to the rise in younger women developing coronary heart disease. The huge rise in obesity is an obvious starting point and, according to current statistics, the number of young women who smoke far exceeds the number of young men who partake in this unhealthy habit.

Working and leisure patterns have also played their part with more and more jobs being sedentary and desk based in their nature and women far less likely than men to take part in organised sports but increasingly likely to drink more alcohol than is recommended on a regular basis.

Should women with coronary heart disease risk pregnancy at all?
This is a rather vexing question. It is only in recent times that the number of women with coronary heart disease has reached any significant level. The greatest risk posed by embarking upon a pregnancy with coronary heart disease is the risk of heart attack particularly during labour. Other diseases and conditions associated with coronary heart disease such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes serve only to increase the risk to mother and child. It is also possible that some medications you are taking to control your heart condition may not be suitable for use during pregnancy. Stopping or changing them may further increase the risk of heart attack.

Pregnancy itself may worsen symptoms of coronary heart disease. This exacerbated form of the disease is known as acute coronary syndrome and is three to four times more common in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women of the same age. It is estimated that acute coronary syndrome affects one in every ten thousand pregnancies in the USA. The rates are assumed to be lower in the UK but large scale studies have yet to be conducted. This is likely the result of a host of factors common in pregnancy: mobility may become restricted in later stages, drug absorption may be affected particularly in mothers who suffer morning sickness and blood pressure may increase to dangerous levels.

Choosing to conceive if you have coronary heart disease is not a decision that should be taken lightly and certainly not without consultation with your doctor and cardiologist.

Risks of coronary heart disease during pregnancy
As already indicated, the greatest risk is that of heart attack. This could, of course be fatal or leave your baby starved of oxygen (hypoxia) which, in turn, can lead to permanent brain damage. The risk of heart attack is increased during labour and you may be advised to have a caesarian delivery.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a predisposing factor for coronary heart disease and a condition that develops in the last twenty weeks of pregnancy, pre-eclampsia can increase the risk of heart attack many-fold. Indeed, pre-eclampsia alone has the potential to be fatal. Pre-eclampsia superimposed on (chronic) hypertension has been seen to develop in as many as one quarter of women with pre-existing hypertension. Early detection is important to ensure a good outcome in this scenario so frequent and regular blood pressure monitoring is essential for pregnant women with hypertension and coronary heart disease.

Reducing the risks
Should you choose, on balance of risk, to try to conceive then you should prepare for pregnancy by taking folic acid supplements for at least three months before conception and throughout pregnancy, try to keep weight within a healthy range, eat a healthy and balanced diet, take exercise and avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco products - these are sensible steps for any woman wishing to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy but are especially important for women with coronary heart disease.

Consult with your cardiologist to establish which drugs will be safest for you during pregnancy. For those who are prescribed it Aspirin is, generally safe to use. It may be that your doctor will not change your medication so it is important to discuss the risk and rates of potential side effects for your baby if these drugs are generally not recommended during pregnancy. Discuss whether or not you should attempt to breast feed your baby. Do not stop taking medication you have been prescribed without consulting your cardiologist.

Birth choices for women with coronary heart disease are limited in the extreme and you should be under the care of a consultant obstetrician led (as opposed to midwife led) team. You should plan to give birth in a maternity unit within a hospital. Under no circumstances should you attempt a home birth or even birth at a birthing centre though, for most women with coronary heart disease vaginal delivery is possible. Wear medical alert jewellery and carry a medical alert card in case of an emergency and ensure those who you spend most time with are educated in how to properly conduct CPR.

A note to all women
Certain heart conditions, including but not limited to coronary heart disease, have symptoms not unlike those many women experience in pregnancy such as nausea, chest pain, indigestion like symptoms and breathlessness. For this reason, cardiac conditions in pregnant women often go undetected. If you are struck by a sudden breathlessness, pain in the centre of the chest especially pain radiating to the arm or jaw seek medical attention immediately.

Is the Anthem Blue Cross Smart Sense Health Insurance Plan Right For You?

There is a plan by Anthem Blue Cross, that I would recommend to almost anyone, this is the "Smart Sense Plan." The Smart Sense plan is a newer PPO plan to Blue Cross that gives you a lot of different options to choose from. The plan is great for anyone at any age and the rates are very competitive with great coverages and lower Co-Pay limits then most PPO plans.

There are 8 different ways you can get the Smart Sense Plan. There are 4 different deductibles available from $5,000 to as low as $500 deductibles. Then, you can also choice if you want to have Full Drug coverage which includes both Brand and Generic Drugs or you can put just Generic drugs on your plan which usually saves you at least $20 a month.

Before you meet your deductible with the Smart Sense Plan you can have up to 3 off visits at $30. After you reach your 3 visits you will be paying 30% of the negotiated rate for the office visits. All other services you will pay 30% after your deductible is met. Services include Hospitalization, ER, Lab Work and X-Rays.

The coverage that I feel is the most important is the CO-Pay Limit or sometimes called the Stop-Loss. The Co-Pay limit is the most you spend in one year on all medical bills, every Health Insurance Policy has one. Once you reach your CO-Pay limit Anthem Blue Cross will pay 100% of your medical bills. Your CO-Pay limit restarts each calendar year.

Your CO-Pay limit with the Anthem Blue Cross Smart Sense Plans is $2,500 plus your deductible. You typically do not see a PPO plan with a Stop-Loss as low as $3,000 on other PPO Medical Plans. You usually see them more with HMO plans, which is a huge advantage. However, it is very important to know that the Smart Sense Plan does not have maternity coverage, so if you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant within the next few years, this plan is not for you.