Living With the Pain of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is defined as a syndrome and not a disease. This makes it very difficult do diagnose as there are no tests that a Watseka Illinois hospital can run to determine if someone has it. People with the condition can have a broad range of symptoms. The most common is widespread pain that has no cause. The patient might have tender spots that hurt when pressure is applied. Sleep problems are common which can lead to an all-encompassing sense of fatigue. The pain and lack of sleep can contribute to patients becoming depressed and anxious. Not everyone with fibromyalgia suffers from all the symptoms which can contribute to the difficulty of diagnosing the condition. Since the symptoms can be caused by several diseases, it can often take years for a patient to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

No one is sure what cases fibromyalgia. Doctors at a Peotone Illinois hospital can tell you there are several theories. There is strong evidence that there is a genetic predisposition to develop the syndrome. Often the syndrome is triggered by either a traumatic illness or injury. Extended periods of stress can be another triggering event. Research is slowly making progress in figuring out the syndrome's mechanism. Evidence is starting to point to the cause being a disturbance in the central nervous system that causes the patient to feel pain in situations that would not be painful to healthy people.

Since there is no known cause, there is no known cure. Patients can work with their healthcare professionals at a womens diagnostic center to develop a plan to control their symptoms. There are several medications that can reduce pain and relieve feelings of depression. A sleep regimen can help combat fatigue. It is easier to get a full night's sleep if you have a set time to go to bed and get up every morning. Distractions such as noise and light should be eliminated from the bedroom since they can interrupt the sleep cycle. Women with a body mass index of 25 or greater are at least 60% more likely to develop fibromyalgia than those with a lower BMI. Those with the syndrome should try to get some exercise. Even if they do not drop excess pounds through exercise, they can experience stress relief that lessens their symptoms. Alternative treatments like acupuncture and meditation might bring some relief. Since fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, patients will be dealing with its effects for many years. They tend to do better if they have a supportive network of family, friends, and therapists to help them deal with the emotional impact of the syndrome.

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Using the Body Mass Index to Assess a Healthy Weight

Obesity is one of the leading health problems in the United States. Obesity in adults can lead to hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and even some cancers. It is very important for people to maintain their weight to avoid health problems. An easy way to test to see if you are overweight and in danger of future problems is by assessing your body's BMI.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the number used to represent a person's weight and height. For most people, BMI is a reliable way to calculate body fat, but does not directly measure body fat. Calculating a person's BMI is not a direct measure of body fat, but it does function as an inexpensive and easy way to assess body fat and screen for weight categories that may lead to later health problems.

BMI is thought of as more of a preliminary test to show weight problems. After a person's BMI is measured, doctors can assess weather or not they need to do further testing such as skinfold thickness measurements and appropriate health screenings or gather more information such as evaluations of diet, physical activity, and family history.

Though it is indirect, organizations like the Center for Disease Control use BMI because it is one of the best ways to calculate and assess obesity statistics for large populations. It is also beneficial because it is a standard way to measuring the norm. BMI is easy for a person to calculate and compare his or her own Body Mass Index against the average rates. BMI can also be converted between kilograms and meters or pounds and inches to compare international rates.

The formula for measuring BMI for adults 20 years and older in pounds is by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplying by conversion factor of 703. Though BMI is generally accurate, there are correlation variations between race, gender, sex and age. At the same BMI, women can often times have more body fat than men and older people also tend to have more body fat than younger adults. Athletes may also have a distorted BMI due to increases in muscularity rather than body fat.

To fill these gaps, there are different formulas for to calculate the BMI for children and teens. The CDC website has a virtual calculator that will specifically calculate BMI for children 2-19 relating to age and sex.

Neville Street is the Administrative Director for Rodriquez MD, a bilingual medical practice in Lawrenceville, GA that provides health care to infants, children, adolescents and adults. Lawrenceville doctors Deborah and Veronica Rodriguez are sisters with a combined 27 years of experience. The doctors are Board Certified in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine and both Gwinnett physicians have extensive experience working in private practice.

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Body Mass Index (BMI) Does Not Determine Your Level of Health

Back in the not-too-distant past, we used to figure out how fat we were by stepping on the bathroom scale.
The more obese we got, as a country, the more we looked for ways to find the scale wrong.
It can't just be about pounds, can it? After all, some people are big-boned, some people are short, some tall.
Sure, you're supposed to figure your weight in conjunction with your height and even age, and while the bathroom scale has become a technologically advanced tool that allows you to store several weight figures in its memory, talk nicely to you and possibly wash your dirty dishes, it doesn't take other important factors into consideration.
At some point, the Body Mass Index became the new scientific way to figure out whether you were fat or lean. The formula works like this:

BMI = weight in pounds/(height in inches x height in inches) x 703.

(The 703 is to convert the index from the original metric version of the formula.)

The Center for Disease Control says a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is ideal.

Below 18.5 is underweight; 25.0 to 29.9 means you're overweight, and 30.0 and above means you're obese.

A mathematician named Lambert A.J. Quetelet came up with the BMI formula in the early 19th century as a means to measure the degree of obesity in the general population. He specifically said the BMI should never be used to indicate the level of fatness in an individual. Scientists in the U.S. have ignored that admonishment.
If you do use it on an individual basis, you end up with some of the most physically fit people on the planet falling into the "overweight" category -- people like Michael Jordan, Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger (at 30 is considered "obese"!) and Tom Cruise are on that list.
These celebrities may weigh more than the average person because they have more dense muscle tissue, which is heavier than "normal" muscle. Also, strong bones are more dense than loose fat, which would add points to the BMI. The formula, meanwhile, assumes low muscle mass and high relative fat content.
So, although it sounds scientific, the formula is flawed and misleading, and for many people, completely inaccurate.
One thing that isn't considered when looking at the BMI is waist size.
Dr. Memmot Oz, who has appeared on the "Oprah" show many times and is set to begin his own TV program in the fall, has talked at length about how important waist size is to overall health.
From the Oprah.com site: "Instead of focusing on the number on the scale, Dr. Oz says to focus on the number around your waist. The ideal waistline for women is 32 and a half inches and 35 inches for a man - a goal that is achievable by everyone, no matter your age."
Even that seems to be a very one-size-fits-all statement. Thirty-two and a half inches for ALL women? And 35 inches for every man?
On one "Oprah" show, Dr. Oz brought a couple of specimens of an organ called the omentum, which plays a key role in making us fat. The organ stores fat all around the stomach, where the body has easy access to it when or if needed. But the fat creates an inflammatory process that can put you at risk for blocked arteries.
Ideally, the omentum should be thin and lacey, not thick and fatty. That should be reflected in a trim waist rather than a "beer belly."
Body fat can be more accurately measured, perhaps, through a couple of other tests besides the BMI. One can use a body fat caliper to grip a fold of skin at certain points on the body and measure its thickness. Then there's the "immersion" technique: This method is based on the idea that lean tissue (muscles and bones, etc.) tends to sink in water, while fat floats. A person is seated in a chair which hangs from a scale. The person on the chair is lowered into a pool of water until completely immersed, and the person's weight (while immersed) is recorded. The fatter you are, the more you tend to float and the lower your immersed weight will be -- muscular people weigh more than fat people while immersed. This method is very accurate, but it requires a lot of equipment.
One thing is for sure: The Body Mass Index isn't particularly useful as a tool for discovering whether you're fit.
You might as well go back to the bathroom scale; find one that will speak gently to you and give you a bit of encouragement when the numbers seem too high.
Or abandon numbers altogether ... a three-digit number has nothing to do, really, with your worth as a person.

BMD Scan Center | Digital Mammography Center | Ultrasound with 4D Center.

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Why do doctors use CT scans?

CT scans use computers and rotating X-ray machines to create images of slices, or cross-sections, of the brain. Unlike other techniques, CT scans (and MRI scans) can show the inside of the head, including soft tissue, bones, brains and blood vessels. CT scans can often show the size and locations of brain abnormalities caused by tumors, blood vessel defects, blood clots, and other problems. CT scans are a primary method of determining whether a stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic.
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CT Scan

Introduction
                      CT ScanThe CAT scan (also called CT scan) is well-known by name, but do you really know what it is and understand how it works? A CT scan is usually one of the first tests done in a stroke evaluation, particularly during an acute stroke in the emergency room. This test can show areas of abnormalities in the brain, and can help to determine if these areas are caused by insufficient blood flow (ischemic stroke), a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhage), or a different kind of a problem. CTscans can be obtained on any part of the body, but the information here applies only to CT scans of the head.
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Radio Isotopes

	Molecular imaging using PET technology is one of the fastest growing areas of imaging for both research and clinical applications. As the demand grows for more advanced radiopharmaceutical development programs, the leading facilities turn to Siemens for answers. With Siemens Eclipse™ cyclotrons and Explora® chemistry modules, we raise the bar in radioisotope delivery systems, providing high yields and unparalleled reliability.
	Eclipse cyclotrons are powerful enough to provide Curie levels of radioisotopes for the most demanding clinical, research, and distribution centers, yet offer flexible design and easy workflow.
	Straight-forward Design for Powerful Production
	Patented Magnet Design
	The accelerator magnet’s coil is made from a continuous sheet of copper, whichprovides a significant reduction in power consumption, lower operating expenses,and enhanced reliability.
	Deep Valley Technology
	A large valley-to-hill gap ratio provides improved axial beam focusing with higher beam transmission and reduced internalactivation. As a result, radiation exposure is reduced and shielding requirements are simplified.
	Return Yoke
	The accelerator chamber is surrounded by the magnet return yoke, reducing stray magnetic fields and helping to simplify installation and site planning.
	Top-Mounted Components
	All major components are vertically mounted on the accelerator, providing improved alignment and easier service. It is not necessary to lift the upper magnet yoke while conducting preventive maintenance on these components. This minimizes exposure of internal surfaces to moisture, making for more rapid pump-down, more stable performance, and higher beam production.
	Compact and Self-shielded
	The Eclipse safety shielding’s interlocking mechanism eliminates the need for a complex and expensive vault to house the cyclotron. Retracting the safety shields requires a simple push of a button. Decommissioning costs are significantly less when compared to a vault-based machine.
	Flexxible Designs
	Molecular Targets
	Eclipse target design enables Curie level yields of PET radioisotopes using minimal amounts of enriched target materials.Targets are easily installed and removed,minimizing radiation exposure. Changing targets does not require breaking the accelerator vacuum, contributing to the system’s unbeatable uptime. Because the Eclipse can be configured to accommodate one or two target ports, any combination of targets can be used, offering you a flexible approach to generate multiple isotopes simultaneously.
	Target Changer**
	The Eclipse features innovative target changers with four and eight positions per carousel, respectively, for built-in expansion and backup slots. This requires at most two beam ports which minimize the possibility of leaks and simplify beam alignment and extraction. The dual extraction option allows two target changers to be mounted,offering a maximum of sixteen target positions and the capability to simultaneously produce two different isotopes or to double the quantity of one.
	Targets
	All targets are available on both the 4 and 8 position target systems except for the tantalum target, which is only available in the 4 position, high current target changer.
	F Fluoride Ion
	Flouride ion is commonly produced with a standard, silver body target. The new,optional tantalum target body for fluoride ion production offers unparalleled uptime,and is the backbone of today’s major FDG production facilities.
	Carbon Dioxide Gas
	The minimal surface area carbon dioxide target produces ultra-high specific activity C carbon dioxide at high yields.
	15O Oxygen Gas
	The compact and high yield oxygen target can produce a dose of 15O water for under four dollars in target materials with just a action of a target load.
	N Ammonium Ion
	The 13N target produces N ammonia in the target with no need for additional synthesis and minimal in-line purification.
	F Fluorine Gas
	The fluorine target produces F fluorine gas using the two shoot method, enabling highyield and efficient recovery (>99%) of theO enriched oxygen gas.
	Explora FDG4
	Through the Explora product portfolio,Siemens offers an expansive line of automated synthesis for PET imaging and research, as well as a team of technical experts to help you optimize your facility.Build your program for today and tomorrow with the Explora product portfolio.
	Quality FDG Production
	4 runs without intervention Novel recipe building software for customized chemistry Remote diagnostic capability Automatic self-cleaning Rich user feedback (radiation, temperature, pressure sensors) Low cost of operation Minimal custom parts (uses conventional disposable glassware) Supports recovery of 18O water A Broad Offering
	Explora CN
	Cyanide synthesis, includes conversion of 11C carbon dioxide to methane. The Explora CN uses simple, effective flow chemistry for robust production.
	Explora GPU
	The general purpose gas processing unit in the Explora line provides for conversion of 15O-O2 to 15O-CO and 15O-CO2 and converts 11C-CO2 to 11C-CO as well.
	Explora AC
	The Explora Acetate module is a flexible platform for Grignard-based syntheses.
	Explora H2O
	The 15O water module allows for inexpensive production of 15O water and offers a unique disposable cassette.
	Easy Workflow
	Automation — Bringing It All Together
	The Eclipse control system allows you to initiate production remotely and within minutes the system is ready to irradiate a target. You can easily control all functions of the cyclotron which allows you to optimize performance.
	Remote operation and test capability for Eclipse cyclotrons and Explora chemistry modules provides unparalleled service support. We pioneered the fully automated and integrated cyclotron. Our systems offer high-yields with reliable uptime. Ability to visualize performance in real time enhances safety and operational efficiencies. Cyclotron component lifetime tracking increases uptime and reliability.When it comes to the production of radiotracers, we see the ability to be automated yet flexible as key to producing consistent high yields. So we have simplified the production process and this in turn reduces the workload on your staff. Explora substep efficiency analysis: (trapping, labeling, hydrolysis) maximizes output. Recipe builder unit operations, with drag-and-drop capability, support extremely flexible synthesis creation and modification MRI Center | Diagnostic center | CT Coronary Angiography