Posted on

When You Should Consider a Medical Malpractice Suit

Every year there’re countless numbers of people that are filing medical malpractice lawsuits due to misdiagnosis, negligence, medical errors, delayed diagnosis & surgery errors, & many other things that were needless delays or errors that resulted in the injury or even death of a patient.

No doctor can assure you that the outcome of every surgery will be ok. There are always risks involved when taking medical treatments. People react differently to different medications & different procedures. Doctors make decisions based closely on the best evidence they can see at the time, & occasionally those decisions need to be made quickly or without a complete picture.

Nevertheless, due to the mistakes of doctors & other medical personnel, many people have suffered needlessly & some have even died. The hardship of the grieving family that is left behind & the loss of life of a person that still could be enjoying life & contributing to others is often overlooked.

If a person remains permanently disabled due to such mistakes, the hardship both of the family & the surviving person is great & often a medical lawsuit should be filed in order to keep up with expenses & to help with the damage that a person is experiencing for the rest of her or his life. This is a primary reason for malpractice lawsuits – the financial expense that the family or care-givers will need to provide for the patient due to the error, which many times will not actually be covered by standard health insurance.

Most people may think that medical malpractice lawsuits are made because of mistakes by surgeons. While it is true that surgeons have made some terrible mistakes, the majority of lawsuits filed actually stems from mistakes from wrong or delayed diagnosis, which can reflect poorly on various departments within the hospital, such as the readings of a radiologist or the attending nurse or others. When the doctor or surgeon is given wrong information, mistakes can & will happen, occasionally with disastrous results.

At the top of the list are colon caner, lung cancer, breast cancer rectal cancer & other various forms of cancer as well as heart attacks. A misdiagnosis in any of these diseases can be life threatening & very dangerous, & often results in very unfortunate circumstances.

A recent study released by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine says that up to 98,000 people are killed yearly due to medical errors in hospitals. There is more. The number of inflicted injuries & long-term unfortunate & unnecessary pain is much higher. There are also an increasing number of cases of negligence in nursing homes.

Yet some studies have shown that only a small number of people (between 2% – 5%) that have experienced wrongful injuries file medical malpractice lawsuits. The common misperception that many people have is that the doctor is human & therefore allowed to make mistakes. While that is true to an extent, it is the job of the medical malpractice lawsuit to determine why the error occurred & could it have been prevented, since when human life is involved, the allowance for errors is much less tolerant. It certainly has a much greater impact than making an error when balancing your checkbook.

Sometimes patients may go for a settlement instead of a medical malpractice lawsuit. When it is obvious that a doctor or any other medical staff has made a mistake that could have been avoided, you want to talk to a professional lawyer who is experienced in medical malpractice lawsuits. It is only fair for the injured person that has now needlessly to suffer to get some financial help.

Pain & suffering damages make up about fifty percent of all the money that is awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.

If you think your family has been a victim of medical errors, misdiagnosis or surgical errors you want to seek some help & financial relief for physical & emotional damages that can notbe undone. A lawyer who is experienced in the area of medical malpractice should be easily able to tell you about your chances of winning the lawsuit based closely on the circumstances, & also based closely on the malpractice laws in your state.

To get more insights & more information about Medical Malpractice please visit our web site at http://www.malpracticeinfonow.com

Posted on

Commit To Care – Critical Insights into Caring for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s

Deciding to be a caregiver for a loved one battling Alzheimer’s disease can be one of the most challenging tasks you can undertake. But with strength, commitment & love, you can make a tremendous difference in the life of your loved one as they go through the stages of this complex disease.

Bonnie McGovern took on the role of caring for her sister Barbara when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As a child, she watched her mother care for her father who had been stricken with polio. As an adult, she emulated her mother’s love & compassion when she took on the role of caregiver to her sister. Now, as an author, Bonnie is able to share many of the lessons she has learned with others.

If you’re thinking about being a caregiver for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s there’re a number of things you can do to make the journey better for your loved one & for yourself:

Life does not end with the diagnosis: Do not treat your loved on as if their life is over. Be sure to find ways to enjoy the time you have & help them to make their days joyful despite their illness.

Adjust your behavior as circumstances arise: Many illnesses, specifically Alzheimer’s have many stages. Be prepared for changes & deterioration in the health of your loved one. While it can be very difficult, accept that it is part of the process & make your best effort to adjust & adapt.

Be positive: A positive attitude goes a long way. Not only will your positivism have a beneficial affect on your loved one but it will make the journey better for you as well.

Put yourself in their shoes: Alzheimer’s is a debilitating disease. People who were once very independent suddenly can not handle some of life’s most simple day-to-day tasks. As a caregiver, take this into consideration. By considering what it would be like to have the disease & no longer be easily able to lead your life as you are accustomed to can help you be more patient. It will also make the day-to-day roadblocks that you face less frustrating.

Be a friend: Many patients are in denial. Sometimes one of the best things you can do for a loved one is to be a friend & assist them without making their disabilities so apparent.

Do your homework: If you face a roadblock, research ways to overcome the hurdles. Right. Whether it is by attending support groups, scouring the internet, or reading books & magazines, look for ways to make your journey & the journey of your loved one easier & less stressful.

Maintain a safe environment: As the disease progresses, even every day activities such as boiling water can be dangerous. Look for ways to make certain that the home is a safe environment to stop accidents. Also make the environment simple so that your loved one does not become easily confused in the environment.

Make them happy: At times you will simply have to do what makes your loved one happy 🙂 – even if it does not make sense. Being a caregiver is often a lesson in tolerance.

Remain calm: Often bouts of paranoia, especially in public, can be quite taxing. Do you follow? The erratic behavior of your loved one can be frantic & frightening. Do you follow? Try to remain calm & in control of the situation.

Take walks: Taking long walks with Alzheimer’s patients has been very help-fulin decreasing the chance that they will wander away.

Exert your power: Be sure to have a power of attorney & a medical power of attorney so that you can make decisions affecting the health of your loved one & manage their affairs when they become unable to do so.

Take time for yourself: If you are taking care of your loved one in your home, enlist help so that you can have time for yourself. It is important that you preserve yourself & your health so that you can be there for your loved one when it really matters most.

Let go of your guilt: If there comes a time when you can no longer be the primary caregiver for your loved one, do not beat yourself up or become overwrought with guilt. It is okay to admit that you need help, or that you are simply not capable of providing 24 hour care for your loved one.

Choosing to be a caregiver for a loved with Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest tributes to their lives you can make. By utilizing these tips & tools, you can make a tremendous difference & ease the stresses & challenges you face on this hard journey.

Dr. Proactive (Randy Gilbert) discussed with Bonnie McGovern(bonniemcgovern.com) tips from her book “Taking Care of Barbara: A Journey Through Life & Alzheimer’s & 29 Insights for Caregivers”.Listen free at: http://www.insidesuccessradio.com/GuestPage1.php/Bonnie-McGovern

Posted on

Birth-Injury-Related Cerebral Palsy

For most parents, the birth of a child is an exciting & joyous experience. But nowadays, 3 to 4 percent of newborns suffer from birth-related injuries. In the United States, cerebral palsy has become a serious birth-related injury which affects 5,000 to 10,000 infants each year.

There are different types of birth-related injuries that may happen before, during, or after the birth of a child. Even though there’re many types of birth injuries, one of the most popular & common type of birth injury is cerebral palsy.

Rather than a disease, cerebral palsy in newborn babies is a physical condition that is caused by brain damage before, during, or after birth. There are four different types of cerebral palsy: spastic cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy, athetoid cerebral palsy, & mixed cerebral palsy. Each type of cerebral palsy has its own characteristics. Of the four types of cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type. It accounts for eighty percent of all cases today in the United States.

Birth injury-related cerebral palsy is usually caused by birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen during the birth process), a complex condition which is hard to predict or prevent.

Premature birth, low birth weight, hemorrhage in the child’s brain, an infection or illness in the mother like rubella, toxoplasmosis; intrauterine exposure to drugs or alcohol are other reasons for birth injury related cerebral palsy.

Even though doctors & nurses are trained to identify symptoms of cerebral palsy, in most cases they fail to recognize the problem of brain injury in newborn babies. There is more. This failure may lead to birth injury related cerebral palsy. When cerebral palsy is caused due to birth injury (negligence), it becomes a case of medical malpractice .The parents of victims can claim for compensation for life long care. With the help of a cerebral palsy lawyer, victims can easily win compensation for medical malpractice.

Cerebral Palsy Lawyers gives detailed information on cerebral palsy lawyers, ataxic cerebral palsy lawyer, athetoid cerebral palsy lawyer, spastic cerebral palsy lawyer & more. Cerebral Palsy Lawyers is affiliated with Medical Power Of Attorney.

Posted on

Aspergers and Autism – What is Asperger’s?

Asperger’s Autism is a type of Autism that affects the neuro development of the individual. It is named after a children’s doctor by the name of Hans Asperger. He completed many studies in 1944 relating to abnormalities found in some children. His published material helped build the foundation for the concepts of Autism. Many of the concepts he implemented in 1944 are still being used to uncover the mysteries of Austim today.

The technical term for this disorder is Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PPD). It is similar to Classic Autism when you compare it to all other types under the spectrum of Autism. There are five different PPD’s that are classified differently than other types of Autism. The sooner a child with Austim starts interventions & therapies, they less likely they will suffer from Autism as they get older.

In 1932 Apserger was assigned to the position of director of the Vienna University Children’s Clinic. He observed four children with very similar traits. There is more. They were all unable to interact on a social level with their peers even though they had the same levels of intelligence as any average child. They were not able to show empathy or other emotions to others. There is more. They lacked non verbal communication skills & they were very accident prone.

The group of children did speak, but it was in a different context than other children. He also observed that whatever they were talking about at any given moment became the most important topic to them. He coined their behaviors as Autistic Pyschopathy due to the characteristics of social isolation & poor communication skills. He would eventually observe more than 400 children with similar traits to base his writings upon.

Some people continue to debate the classification of Asperger’s Autism. There are clinicians who called it High Functioning Autism (HFA). These individual persons feel it is only a mild form of Classic Autism. Many individual persons who show signs of Asperger’s Autism have learning problems but they also seem to excel in their mental abilities as they get older. Helping children with Asperger’s Autism will help them be easily able to use their skills to the fullest.

Asperger wrote many articles about the concept of teaching individual persons with Asperger’s Autism in a specific type of learning environment so that their development would be benefited. He believed that since they are often obsessed with a particular topic, this gives them the chance to achieve in those areas that capture their attention. The two most common areas that they excel in are art & science. Many individual persons are surprised 😮 to find that Albert Einstein was diagnosed with Asperger’s Autism.
About the Author
If you found this information on aspergers autism useful, you will want to read this article about autism statistics.

Posted on

How Much Money Can I Get For My Personal Injury Case?

In order to determine how much money can I get for My Los Angeles personal injury case, there’re many factors to look at. One major factor is whether or not the person who caused your serious injuries in Los Angeles even had insurance.

This is true whether it is a premises liability case, car accident, or airplane crash mishap. You must first consult the below checklist to secure your rights & build the value of your Los Angeles personal injury attorney’s ability to recover money damages.

1. What Should I Do If I Am Hurt in a Car Accident?
You must take pictures with your cell phone camera, make a diary about your injuries. There is more. The law requires you make a report of the accident to the DMV. Never give a recorded statement to anyone, never admit responsibility. Only talk to your attorneys & only if you are in a confidential relationship with no conflict of interest (i.e., if you were a car passenger, make certain the car driver is represented by another lawyer, as he is potentially conflicted with your interests.)

2. How Long Will it Take to Get Money in My Case?
Before your Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys can get you money, or send the insurance company a settlement demand, make certain you have completed all necessary medical treatments. Normally, your attorney will get the property damage portion of your claim settled within a few months after your accident.

3. Does Failing to See a Doctor Immediately Hurt Your Insurance Claim?
Even if you are not feeling pain right away, you must take an ambulance to the hospital. The human body produces adrenaline, a natural pain killer, when it is under the trauma of a serious auto accident, or other injury caused by negligence or willful neglect. Make sure to document when the pain started in your diary, & all your doctor visits. Failure to do the above gives the defendant an argument you are committing insurance fraud!!

4. Do I really need Experienced Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys, or Should I Hire that Guy on the Back of the Bus or 12:00 Midnight TV?
It is always in your best interest to consult an experienced attorney. But remember, the defendant’s insurance company has a very experienced adjuster, law school graduate who never took the Bar, or full blown lawyer negotiating for them. Many TV attorneys & face men on the back of busses actually do not even practice law. Instead, they simply have a phone bank sign you up & then get a referral fee for sending you to an inexperienced attorney. Alternatively, they have so many cases, you do not get the personal attention you deserve. It is better to retain a boutique law firm who learned law in a law office on the California State Bar Law Office Study Program

5. The Guy Who Hit Me Didn’t have Auto Insurance; How Do I Get Paid Now?
If the Defendant was uninsured (“UM”) or underinsured (“UIM”) in a California car accident, you will need to seek recover from their personal assets. However – if you were smart, you already purchased UM, or UIM motorist coverage on your own insurance policy. Your attorneys can seek recovery against that insurance policy in that case

6. Who Will Pay for My Medical Bills While I Wait to Get a Verdict or Settlement?
Sometimes your own insurance will pay right away. But usually they will seek reimbursement from your award. Experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorneys will review your medical coverage & discuss that option when appropriate.

7. How Do I get Around When My Car is Being Repaired?
Look at the declaration of coverages & exclusions in your insurance policy. Your policy may contain a rental car clause. Sometimes you will end up with a crappy car unless you pay extra. Make sure to track the expenses that went over. You may be easily able to get loss of use coverages for a similar car as you lost in the auto accident case.

8. I Can’t Return To Work; Are Unemployment Benefits Also Available?
Normally no, unless it was a work related injury. But often you may be easily able to seek state disability benefits in California.

9. Who Pays me for Dangers in the Roadway Like Potholes?
Sometimes defects in the roadway cases damages to your car due to improper maintenance or repair. Often you will need to file a government claim. There is a statute that requires you to file a claim within six months of the damages. Good luck!!

10. How Much Money Will I Get if I do the Above Things?
There are many considerations to determine the amount of an award or settlement. You are usually entitled to seek lost of wages, pain & suffering, property loss, like your car. Assuming it is not a Prop 213 case, all damages will be considered. Your attorneys review the case & do a work up in order to give you an estimated amount of reasonable jury verdict or settlement in your accident claims.

11. Is It Better to Settle Instead of a Jury Trial?
Not usually. A jury trial in California courts can take months & occasionally you will get less than the insurance company was willing to settle the case for. Plus the attorney’s contingency fee will normally go up & you could even end up paying the defendant’s costs & attorney’s fees even if you win!! (See Code Civ. Pro. Sec. 998.) You must weigh the risks & benefits.

12. What if The Defendant’s insurance company offered me money… Should I Accept the Settlement & Cut Out a Lawyer? Only if you want to get ripped off. Insurance companies know you have no idea 💡 what your case is worth. They will offer you a fraction of what an experienced personal injury attorney in Los Angeles would get you… Contact & retain an attorney & watch insurance company’s offer increase. Never take money from an insurance company unless you consult with a lawyer first.

13. But What If I Can’t Afford an Experienced Attorney?
Los Angeles personal injury attorneys usually work on a contingency fee basis. Normally, in cases like that, you pay nothing unless there is a recovery. If your lawyer wins your case, you get a percentage less the contingency fee. You & your attorneys agree on this in advance with consent after consultation. How much money can I get for my Los Angeles personal injury case depends upon the above factors, so it is imperative that you get a lawyer before the statute of limitation expires in your civil cases.

Personal Injury Lawyers in Los Angeles represent injured victims in California.

Posted on

Botox Injection Treatments for Migraines

Migraines are serious medical conditions for many people & even though there’re a variety of treatments for migraine pain, few are considered desirable treatments by patients. Botox injections are a relatively new treatment available, & migraine sufferers are reporting positive results with less after effects than with more traditional treatments. There is more. The discovery of Botox as a headache pain reducer happened purely by accident, yet it is now one of the more promising techniques for dealing with migraines.

Migraine attacks are painful episodes where sufferers have debilitating discomfort in the head. The pain associated with migraines is very intense. Researchers have suggested that migraine conditions are associated with a pre-disposition to strokes. Dealing with migraines proactively rather than just living with them, as people have done in the past is very important. The quality of the migraine sufferer is often not even a consideration of many traditional therapies. There is more. They were focused on relieving the pain somehow. The patient was left to do what they could to deal with the personal consequences of these attacks which could last for long periods of time.

The source or cause of migraines is not understood well enough, howevera variety of approaches are recommended by doctors & other health care professionals to deal with the disorder. The two main approaches to managing migraines are (a) preventive & (b) abortive. Abortive therapy for migraine attacks seeks to control the factors that lead to an attack.

Preventative treatments are used when a sufferer has few attacks. Doctors may prescribe drugs used to lower blood pressure, anti-depressants, anti-seizure medications, & anti-histamines. Here it the issue may be an inflammatory tissue problem that generates the pain.

Each individual patient may have different symptoms & underlying medical conditions that result in the migraines, so each will need a different treatment. Pain medications such as Advil, Aspirin & Tylenol are old reliables when it comes to treating headache pain, howevermigraines are not a typical form of headache. Many sufferers took pain medications for years only to find they would not work any longer. That’s lead to the search for new solutions & treatments for sufferers.

Some research has suggested muscle tension may be a causative factor. Certainly, as a migraine sufferer endures years of pain & is missing work & not enjoying their social & family life, they will begin to tense up. This is where blood pressure can rise & anxiety & depression can result. Muscle tension can occur in the patient’s scalp & head region.

Botox injections are treatments where a trained health professional injects small amounts of a substance called Botox into specific muscles in the individual persons face & scalp areas. Botox is a trademarked substance manufactured exclusively by Allergan Inc. of Irvine California. Allergan distributes the product to a variety of doctors, clinics & qualified health care professionals for administering to patients who need them. Botox is well known as a beauty treatment, but through clinical use, it was discovered that it could be used in the treatment of headaches & even chronic sweating conditions.

Botox is made from a naturally occurring & common poison called Clostridium botulinum. In large doses it is toxic, but in small injectable doses, it can stop muscle nerves from sending & receiving impulses. Right. When injected into a muscle, the muscle relaxes. In beauty treatments, it causes unattractive facial wrinkles & skin folds to soften. The presence of deep lines & folds on skin gives you an idea 💡 of how prolonged muscle tension can affect bodily tissues. In the case of muscles on the scalp, the tension in them can put pressure on parts of the skull & create aches. Right. With the inhibiting effect on neuroligical transmission, certain neurological pain transmitters are also inhibited. The collective result is the diminishment of headache.

Use of Botox injections for migraines does not mean the underlying condition is resolved, howeverfor many sufferers, relief from painful, debilitating migraines is all they want.

Pure Med Spa has trained professionals who administer Botox injections for migraines. Learn more about Botox for headaches at www.puremedspa.com.

Posted on

Medical Malpractice – What is It?

To put it simply, Medical Malpractice is negligence on the part of a healthcare provider that resulted in injury. Medical Malpractice cases may result from misdiagnosis of a disease, failure to provide appropriate treatment for a known disease, or unreasonable delay in treating a condition. The parties involved in a Medical Malpractice case are the Plaintiff, the Medical Malpractice Attorney, the Defense, & Expert Witnesses.

The Plaintiff is often the patient, even though an administrator or executor of the estate may also act as Plaintiff if the patient died as a result of the injury. Before a patient may file a Medical Malpractice case they must be easily able to prove that the physician or care provider failed to provide adequate care & this failure was the direct cause of the injury. The Plaintiff must also present proof of damages such as whether there’re physical or emotional damages.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY MUST AVOID FILING FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT

It is the responsibility of the Malpractice Attorney to review all of the facts presented by the Plaintiff to avoid filing a frivolous lawsuit. If a judge determines that there is no legal merit to claims made by the Plaintiff then the court may impose fines for both the Malpractice Attorney & the Plaintiff for tying up the court. If the Defendant feels he/she is the victim of a frivolous lawsuit they may counter sue the Plaintiff to recuperate their court costs & may also seek punitive damages.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY PROCESS IN A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Usually the Defense consists of a physician, but in some instances a nurse may also be named as a defendant depending on his/her involvement with the patient. The Defense is also allowed to call expert witnesses to support their case & the Attorney is usually assigned by the hospital or facility that employs the practitioner. Both Attorneys for the Plaintiff & Defense are required to share information prior to the court date, & the parties may select to settle out of court through negotiations.

EXPERT WITNESSES IN A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE

Expert witnesses must be carefully screened prior to trial. Usually a judge will call a hearing prior to the trial to determine if the “expert’s” testimony is reliable & relevant to the case. Some questions the judge will consider are if the theory and/or technique proposed by the witness can be tested, & if it has been tested what the rate of error was for the results. A person can notbe considered an Expert in a Medical Malpractice case just because they have a college degree. All Expert witnesses must prove they have sufficient knowledge or experience with the specific area in question before the court considers them reliable.

AWARDS AND FEES FROM MEDICAL MALPRACTICE AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

Every state has established Medical Malpractice statutes & it is vital to become familiar with these laws prior to filing a Medical Malpractice case. With respect to Florida Medical Malpractice cases, the damages awarded to the Plaintiff will be somewhat reduced depending on how much of the injury was the Plaintiff’s fault. If a Plaintiff is determined twenty-five percent responsible for their injury, than the damages awarded to them will only be seventy-five percent the original amount.

A Florida Medical Malpractice Attorney may only collect thirty percent in fees on the first $250,000 awarded to the Plaintiff & only ten percent on amounts greater than this. In contrast, a Massachusetts Medical Malpractice Attorney fees are limited to forty percent of the first $150,000 awarded & only twenty five percent of damages awarded over $500,000. There is usually a statute of limitations that requires Medical Malpractice claims to be filed within two years from the date the injury occurred, or within two years from when the injury should have been detected.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE BACKGROUND CHECKS ON PHYSICIAN

Prior to committing your care to a particular physician you can check the physician’s background for prior Medical Malpractice cases. There is more. This information can be easily obtained from the Doctor’s office, the local hospital where the physician is employed, or an HMO the physician participates with. You can also check with the American Medical Association to verify physicians training & certification status.

Some agencies will charge a fee to view their database. Depending on which state you reside in, there’re statutes in place to protect your well being. By example, in Florida a physician will be unable to receive their state license if they have been implicated & found guilty in three Medical Malpractice cases.

author bio – Rocco Beatrice, CPA, MST, MBA
award-winning estate planning, trust expert
MS – Taxation, Master of Science Taxation
MBA – Management / Taxation
BSBA – Management / Accounting
CPA – Certified Public Accountant
—–
Asset Protection Irrevocable Trust, Estate Planning
DUI – Driving Under the Influence
71 Commercial Street #150, Boston, MA 02109
tel: 1.508.429.0011 fax: 1.508.429.3034

Posted on

Botox Injection as a treatment for Migraine headaches

Migraines are serious medical conditions for many people & even though there’re a variety of treatments for migraine pain, few are considered desirable treatments by patients. Botox injections are a relatively new treatment available, & migraine sufferers are reporting positive results with less after effects than with more traditional treatments. There is more. The discovery of Botox as a headache pain reducer happened purely by accident, yet it is now one of the more promising techniques for dealing with migraines.

Migraine attacks are painful episodes where sufferers have debilitating discomfort in the head. The pain associated with migraines is very intense. Researchers have suggested that migraine conditions are associated with a pre-disposition to strokes. Dealing with migraines proactively rather than just living with them, as people have done in the past is very important. The quality of the migraine sufferer is often not even a consideration of many traditional therapies. There is more. They were focused on relieving the pain somehow. The patient was left to do what they could to deal with the personal consequences of these attacks which could last for long periods of time.

The source or cause of migraines is not understood well enough, howevera variety of approaches are recommended by doctors & other health care professionals to deal with the disorder. The two main approaches to managing migraines are (a) preventive & (b) abortive. Abortive therapy for migraine attacks seeks to control the factors that lead to an attack.

Preventative treatments are used when a sufferer has few attacks. Doctors may prescribe drugs used to lower blood pressure, anti-depressants, anti-seizure medications, & anti-histamines. Here it the issue may be an inflammatory tissue problem that generates the pain.

Each individual patient may have different symptoms & underlying medical conditions that result in the migraines, so each will need a different treatment. Pain medications such as Advil, Aspirin & Tylenol are old reliables when it comes to treating headache pain, howevermigraines are not a typical form of headache. Many sufferers took pain medications for years only to find they would not work any longer. That’s lead to the search for new solutions & treatments for sufferers.

Some research has suggested muscle tension may be a causative factor. Certainly, as a migraine sufferer endures years of pain & is missing work & not enjoying their social & family life, they will begin to tense up. This is where blood pressure can rise & anxiety & depression can result. Muscle tension can occur in the patient’s scalp & head region.

Botox injections are treatments where a trained health professional injects small amounts of a substance called Botox into specific muscles in the individual persons face & scalp areas. Botox is a trademarked substance manufactured exclusively by Allergan Inc. of Irvine California. Allergan distributes the product to a variety of doctors, clinics & qualified health care professionals for administering to patients who need them. Botox is well known as a beauty treatment, but through clinical use, it was discovered that it could be used in the treatment of headaches & even chronic sweating conditions.

Botox is made from a naturally occurring & common poison called Clostridium botulinum. In large doses it is toxic, but in small injectable doses, it can stop muscle nerves from sending & receiving impulses. Right. When injected into a muscle, the muscle relaxes. In beauty treatments, it causes unattractive facial wrinkles & skin folds to soften. The presence of deep lines & folds on skin gives you an idea 💡 of how prolonged muscle tension can affect bodily tissues. In the case of muscles on the scalp, the tension in them can put pressure on parts of the skull & create aches. Right. With the inhibiting effect on neuroligical transmission, certain neurological pain transmitters are also inhibited. The collective result is the diminishment of headache.

Use of Botox injections for migraines does not mean the underlying condition is resolved, howeverfor many sufferers, relief from painful, debilitating migraines is all they want.

Pure Med Spa has trained professionals who administer Botox injections for migraines. Learn more about Botox for headaches at www.puremedspa.com.

Posted on

Beware of Brain Injury

Perhaps one of the worst things that can happen to a survivor of an accident, aside from becoming paralyzed, is sustaining a brain injury. Sustaining traumatic brain injuries is very hard since the injury is not visible to the ordinary people.

Moreover, even though there’re machines & computers designed to examine the brain, there is always room for doubt regarding the extent of the injury. Sometimes, the actual physical damage does not show up on the CT scans or MRI’s. In these cases, a victim may look normal, but this appearance is deceptive & when the symptoms finally manifest, brings terrible suffering.

With all the modern & sophisticated medical technology nowadays, there is no tool to fix a damaged brain. Waiting out for the injuries to heal naturally is the only thing one can do. More often than not, relatives & friends of the sufferer feel more devastated & frustrated with this fact.

Sustaining brain injuries is a result of different kind of accidents or incidents. Penetration of a bullet or some other object to the skull results to open head injuries. There is more. This is the only case of brain injury, where the wound or damage is visible to others.

Motor vehicle accidents & bad 😥 falls can result to closed head injuries. There is more. This can happen when an outside force collides with the head & causes the brain to move & bump into the skull.

Meanwhile, accidents involving chemicals & toxins, like for example insecticides, carbon monoxide & lead poisoning may cause chemical brain injuries. There is more. This is a dangerous type of brain injury because it may ultimately result to permanent brain damage.

Some infections not treated immediately & allowed to grow within the body can severely affect the brain. Swelling of the brain may result to more damage when it is pressed against inside of the skull.

The brain needs oxygen to stay alive & well. In a case like hypoxia, once the body becomes deprived of oxygen for long intervals the brain no longer receives the oxygen it needs to continue functioning. Do you follow? This could lead to serious brain damage.

People suffering from severe stroke may also acquire brain damage. Once the flow of blood is blocked to & from the brain, it may cause irreparable damage to the brain cells. Sometimes, its effect is long lasting & the person becomes disabled or paralyzed.

Even mild brain injury or common traumatic brain injury can have numerous & long lasting effects to the victims & their family. Often the symptoms of having this mild brain injury are recurrent headaches, loss of memory, seizure attacks, & feelings of fatigue, dizziness or depression.

Friends & relatives of mild brain injury victims immediately notice subtle changes in their attitude. They begin to have poor concentration/attention, confusion, impulsiveness, hard comprehension, irritability & speech problems, where once they do not have such problems. Some also feel chronic pain & difficulty in controlling their bowels.

Because the brain remains such a mystery, even to neurologists, the chances always exist that traumatic brain injuries get misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. It is very important to ensure a good compensation for brain injury victims to sustain their treatment & the loss of income brought on by their condition.

Our Los Angeles Lawyers are very skilled in dealing with personal injury & other brain injury.

Posted on

A Neuroscientist’s Perspective on How to Protect Your Brain

Dr. Yaakov Stern is the Division Leader of the Cognitive Neuroscience Division of the Sergievsky Center at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, New York. He is one of the leading proponents of the Cognitive Reserve theory.

Alvaro Fernandez (AF): Dear Dr. Stern, it is a pleasure to have you here. Let me first ask you this: the implications of your research are pretty astounding, presenting major implications across sectors & age groups. Right. What has been the most unexpected reaction so far?

Yaakov Stern (YS): well…I was pretty surprised 😮 when, years ago, a reporter from Seventeen magazine requested an interview. I was really curious to learn why she felt that her readers would be interested in studies about dementia. What she told me showed a deep understanding & insight: she wanted to motivate children to stay in school. She understood that early social interventions could be very powerful for building reserve & preventing dementia.

AF: That’s great…so let’s now fast forward, say, 60 years from our high-school years, & suppose that persons A & B both technically have Alzheimer’s (plaques & tangles appear in the brain), but only A is showing the disease symptoms. Right. What may explain this discrepancy?

YS: Individuals who lead mentally stimulating lives, through education, occupation & leisure activities, have reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Studies suggest that they have 35-40% less risk of manifesting the disease. The pathology will still occur, but they are now able to cope with it better… Some will not ever be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s because they do not present any symptoms. In studies that follow healthy elders over time & then get autopsies, up to twenty percent of people who did not present any significant problem in the daily lives have full blown Alzheimer’s pathology in their brains.

AF: What exactly may be going on in the brain that gives that level of protection?

YS: There are two ideas that are complementary. One idea 💡 postulates that some individual persons have a greater number of neurons & synapses, & that somehow those extra structures provide a level of protection. The other theory emphasizes the building of new capabilities, how people can perform tasks better through practice, & how these skills become so well learned that they are not too easy to unlearn.

AF: OK, so our goal is to build that Reserve of neurons, synapses, & skills. How can we do that?

YS: In summary, we could say engaging in activities. In our research almost all activities are seen to contribute to reserve. Some have challenging levels of cognitive complexity, & some have interpersonal or physical demands. In animal studies, exposure to an enriched environment or increased physical activity result in increased neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons). You can get that stimulation through education and/ or your occupation. There is clear research showing how those two elements reduce the risk. Now, what’s very exciting is that, no matter one’s age, education & occupation, our level of participation in leisure activities has a significant & cumulative effect. A key message here is that different activities have independent, synergistic, contributions, which means the more things you do & the earlier you start, the better… But you are never stuck: better late than never.

AF: Can you give us some examples of those leisure activities that seem to have the most positive effects?

YS: For our 2001 study we evaluated the effect of 13 activities, combining intellectual, physical, & social elements. Some of the activities with the most effect were reading, visiting friends or relatives, going to movies or restaurants, & walking for pleasure or going on an excursion. As you can see, a variety. We saw that the group with high level of leisure activities presented 38% less risk (controlling for other factors) of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms. And that, for each additional type of activity, the risk got reduced by 8%. Physical exercise, by itself, also has a very beneficial impact. OK. So, we need both mental & physical exercise. The not-so-good news is that, as of today, there no clear recipe for success. More research is needed before we prepare a systematic set of interventions that can help maximize our protection.

AF: What do you think of the relatively recent appearance of so many computer-based cognitive training programs?

YS: At least from the point of view of Alzheimer’s, we do not know if learning a new language is more beneficial than learning a new musical instrument or using a computer-based program. It is too early to tell the long-term effects. Right now, the most we can say is that those who lead mentally stimulating lives, through education, occupation & leisure activities seem to have the least risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

Copyright (c) 2007 SharpBrains

Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO & Co-Founder of SharpBrains, which gives the very latest science-based information for Brain Health & Brain Exercises, & has been recognized by Scientific American Mind, CBS, Forbes, & more. Alvaro holds MA in Education & MBA from Stanford University, & teaches The Science of Brain Health at UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute.