Despite all the breakthroughs of science and modern medicine the ability to pinpoint the beginning and end of a pregnancy is still not well understood. Most people, for example, are shocked to find out that a human pregnancy is not actually 40 weeks in duration. Here are some common terms and abbreviations that you may run into during pregnancy along with their definitions.

Gestation: From Latin, this refers to the period of development in the uterus from conception until birth.

Gestational Age (GA): The duration of pregnancy starting from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). GA pregnancy dating is based on the assumption that the average pregnancy is 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period. GA pregnancy dating is widely used, but is frequently inaccurate for the simple reason that a woman is not pregnant on the LMP. Fetal age pregnancy dating is much more accurate.

Fetal Age (FA): The fetal age is the duration of a pregnancy starting from the time of conception. It is much more accurate to calculate the date of delivery if the estimated time of conception (ETC) is known. FA pregnancy dating assumes that a pregnancy will be approximately 38 weeks from the time of conception, until the time of birth.

Last Menstrual Period (LMP): The first day of the last menstrual period.

Estimated Time of Conception (ETC): The date by which conception is thought to have occurred.

Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA): The date on which it is expected that the baby is due to be born. The term ETA is actually identical to the “estimated date of confinement” (below), but is typically used when pregnancy dating proceeds from a fairly well known estimation of the time of conception (ETC).

Formula: ETA = ETC – 7 days + 9 months

Estimated Date of Confinement (EDC): The EDC is the date on which it is expected that the baby is due to be born. The term EDC is actually identical to the “estimated time of conception” (ETC). The EDC is the most common term used to indicate the “due date” for a pregnancy. It is typically used when the date of the last menstrual period (LMP) is known, but the estimated time of conception (ETC) is not known.

Formula: EDC = LMP + 7 days + 9 months (Naegele’s Rule)

Hopefully, this short article has clarified the correct use of terminology related to pregnancy dating. Unfortunately, our understanding of the the events of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy will probably continue to be influenced by some very unscientific thinking. Addressing the mythology of the 28 day menstrual cycle and the 40 week pregnancy, Dr. Bruno Walter, back in 1977 most excellently noted that:

“From archaic experience, women know that their ‘monthlies’ recur in approximately four-weekly intervals. Philosophers and physician, however, translated ‘four-weeks’ into 28 days. By this legitimate trick, woman’s reproductive physiology got assorted with the cabala of numbers, 4 times 7 for the menstrual cycle and 10 times 28 for the duration of the pregnancy. To the physician, the 28-day menstrual cycle, as well as the 280 days’ duration of pregnancy became the static, orthodox diagnostic criteria of woman’s health and physical normalcy. For the philosopher, the 28 days was the bridge to the mythology of the moon. The comparison of the observed occurrence of high tides and the resolution of woman’s plethora in menstruation with the phases of the moon, produced the first rational theory of the mystic process of periodic vaginal bleeding in women” (Walter, 1977, p. 1).

…and so it has been ever since.

Acne is one of the most common skin disorders in the world today, plaguing millions of people. On the bright side, of all the skin disorders, it is one of the most treatable.

Acne is the medical terminology used to describe pimples that erupt on the face and body. Its effects vary in degree, and in the case of a severe outbreak, can be devastating. The majority of cases are caused largely by diet, and the environment. In addition, acne problems can also be caused by overproduction of sebum. Sebum is a waxy substance that works to lubricate the skin.

Many acne remedies have been developed and are available to help combat the potentially devastating effects that acne can cause. The great majority of patients respond well to these acne remedies. These remedies come in several different classifications that all work to combat this skin disorder. The three main classifications are conventional, herbal, and homeopathic remedies.

A number of acne patients will generally respond to one or more of these acne remedies. If a conventional acne remedy is prescribed, tretinonin will probably be the active ingredient. Tretinonin is a Vitamin A based medication that works by altering the growth of the oil glands. This alteration will cause existing pimples to dry up, and prevent new ones from forming. Side effects are minimal with tretinonin, and may result in a mild burning or dry feeling on the skin. If the acne is inflamed, antibiotics are included with other acne remedies. Antibiotics offer the acne sufferer a soothing, and cooling relief to the affected area.

One of the stronger, if not the strongest of all acne remedies that can be prescribed is Accutane. Accutane is a potent drug capable of completely eliminating all signs of acne. As effective as it is, this acne remedy is only used as a last resort because of its strength and side effects. When using Accutane, some of the possible side effects doctors will advise you about are headache, hair loss, muscle pain and itchy skin. If you are pregnant, or could become pregnant, doctors will not prescribe Accutane because it has been proven to cause serious birth defects.

With possible side effects a concern, some people will choose to use only herbal acne remedies. Several are available on the market today with black currant seed oil, and evening primrose oil among the most well known and most sought after of all the herbal acne remedies. These can successfully treat existing acne when used consistently, and are capable of clearing up affected areas. When herbal acne remedies are used as a preventative measure, it is recommended that Echinacea, tea tree oil, calendula, and golden seal be used. These herbal acne remedies have a positive effect in preventing acne from forming. When using herbal acne remedies, it is important to remember that they do not offer instant relief. In fact, they may take up to three months to be fully effective.

Homeopathic acne remedies are the least popular due to the fact that they do not offer a lot in the of way of acne medicines. However, there is one effective homeopathic acne remedy and it is called Kali Bromatum. Although it has shown tremendous results, the downside is that it is necessary to take six doses per day, and the healing time will vary with each patient. Should the patient have severe acne, homeopathic acne remedies will be unable to cure within a short amount of time. As a precaution, it is always advisable for the patient to see a medical professional to find out if there is an underlying medical condition.

Medical technology has finally reached the point, which will allow parents to choose the sex of their baby in advance. Unfortunately this is rather disturbing to the natural evolutionary order of things. In other words this could upset the balance between the number of males and females on the planet. In foreign countries this is much more important to them that it is to us here in the United States.

Currently in the United States of America we do not regulate fertility clinics and there are really no laws here since the industry is somewhat unregulated in the choosing of sex of a baby. Some foreign countries prohibit sex selection procedures and many of the wealthy people in those countries wish to come to the United States to take part in our fertility sciences and medical treatment clinics.

Both China and Canada prohibit the choosing of the sex of your baby in advance and the use of fertility drugs to ensure that your choice is carried out. What is interesting is that many of these fertility clinics the United States, which offer sex selection procedures are advertising on web sites and radio stations and other countries to get these wealthy folks to come over here for the procedure. This should probably not surprise anyone due to our lack of oversight of sex selection fertility clinics. Consider this in 2006.

As medical technology advances, the risks that exist in major surgeries like the tummy tuck become more manageable. Being able to manage these risks has led to a growing confidence in the world of plastic surgery such that the tummy tuck is being considered by more and more people as a viable solution to their abdominal problems. When dieting and exercising fail to address the pockets of fat that reside in the lower abdominal region, people begin to turn to cosmetic surgery and the tummy tuck is usually first in line.

As more and more people take note of the possibilities afforded by a tummy tuck, more question s will be asked and one of the major questions would be the cost of undergoing a tummy tuck.

The cost of a tummy tuck can vary quite significantly. Depending on the complexity of the tummy tuck, cost can range from $3000 to $8500. There are many other factors outside of the tummy tuck complexity to be considered when trying to save up for one.

The location of the surgical practice will play a big role as tummy tuck surgeons operating within a city will normally charge more due to higher cost of operations. The surgeons themselves will have varying base fees depending on the demand of their expertise. Reputable tummy tuck surgeons will be more expensive than a relatively new surgeon on the field while surgeons who are regarded highly by dignities and celebrities will be priced out of range for the average wage earner.

Other costs that will add-on to the basic fee of a tummy tuck would include the fees of an anesthesiologist who will oversee a tummy tuck patient during surgery. The anesthesiologist is responsible for ‘keeping you under’ by administering proper dosage of anesthesia. Overnight stay at the hospital or clinic will add to the cost as well. Some people might not require an overnight stay but a full tummy tuck procedure is a major enough surgery to warrant a one night stay at the least.

Recent developments in medical technology have led to alarming increases in the number of people under the age of 18 going for various operations like plastic surgery, liposuction, skin collagen implants, and other similar procedures simply for the sake of cosmetic changes.

The incidences are usually sparked by mass media, where insecure teenagers undergo cosmetic surgery to try and alter their appearance to look as close as they possibly can to a media personality that they idolize, usually a movie or music idol. Even lacking the desire to fully emulate their idols, peer pressure and the need to Look Good has caused increasing numbers of teenagers to go into liposuction for fat reduction and plastic surgery.

The government has begun to recognize the health problems that might potentially arise from this trend, as well as the potential social ramifications down the line. On one note, health specialists have already recognized that there are inherent risks to getting drastic liposuction for rapid fat removal.

One of these risks involves the system shock that a person’s body suffers from the sudden absence of fat. Another is the dermal surgery that usually accompanies a liposuction to remove the folds of skin that usually result from a liposuction. Both of these health hazards are potential problems even in the best of times, which is why liposuction was originally used as a means of fat removal for people who had few other options available to remove levels of body fat which were approaching toxicity.

To use liposuction purely for cosmetic purposes negates the original intention of it’s designers, and while advances in technology have made it much safer than it’s original design, the risks still remain, though in smaller percentages. Taking that risk purely for the sake of altering one’s physical appearance shows the level of shallowness and lack of discipline that is quickly becoming a problem in today’s youth.

On that note, the social ramifications for the government’s bid against liposuction for teenagers has to do with the effect on the mindset of the youth in general. Even without endorsing it, something as simple as tolerating what is potentially a life threatening procedure to simply cater to a teenager’s vanity is an act that will have far reaching impacts on society. The resulting mindset in the youth will be that physical appearance matters more than substance, intelligence, and personality.

Also, another effect on their mindset will be one that focuses on getting changes Quick and Easy. While weight loss can be achieved through proper diet, exercise, and enough personal discipline, liposuction offers an empty promise of fast and easy weight loss with no effort involved. This will tend to erode the value of personal discipline, training, and effort.

Because of these issues, the government is clamping down on liposuction for teenagers. Congress currently has bills in consideration that will deal with the issues and restrict liposuction to responsible adults of legal age who can and will be held completely responsible for their own actions. Minors still wishing to undergo treatment will be required to have the consent of their parent or guardian.

Furthermore, taking into account the existence of unscrupulous underground clinics that will offer liposuction to anyone who will pay them, the government is also issuing stricter legal penalties for these miscreants to stem the possibility that teenagers will simply visit these shadow clinics once they become barred from the legitimate clinics.

What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids (or piles are they are more commonly known) are simply the veins in your anus which have become distended (swollen with blood). This is very similar to varicose veins, where the vein becomes large and lumpy, only these veins are around the anus which makes it a bit more embarrassing.

The vein swelling can affect the part of the anal canal just above the sphincter where it is less well supported and protected causing Internal Hemorrhoids. Or it can affect the veins at the lower end of the canal causing External Hemorrhoids. Either of these types can exhibit the same kinds of symptoms and are generally quite uncomfortable in most cases.

Hemorrhoids affect approximately 50% of the population and appear to be distributed evenly across both male and females although anecdotally, it appears that pregnant women are quite susceptible to this condition.

What are the symptoms of Hemorrhoids?

There are a number of symptoms of Hemorrhoids which as is usual with most medical symptoms could be any one of a number of medical conditions. The best advice anyone could receive if they’re not sure, is to see a doctor as soon as possible. Some of the other conditions which have similar symptoms to Hemorrhoids range from things like threadworm and colon cancer. It is always best to go to your doctor and find out that you have nothing to worry about than to not go and only find out when the condition has become a lot worse than it could have been.

The main symptoms of Hemorrhoids are

Passing bowel movements are painful.

You have an itchy anus.

There are one or more painful or tender fleshy lumps in the anus area.

There is a feeling that your bowels are never empty.

Normally these symptoms are at worst uncomfortable and don’t stop you from conduction your day to day business. However, in a few rare situations, they can be very painful if they are associated with a splitting of the anus (known as an anal fissure).

What is the treatment for Hemorrhoids?

In most instances, Hemorrhoids can be treated successfully without any professional medical intervention. Despite that though, as I mentioned earlier, it is always best to consult a doctor if you’re unsure or the condition lasts for more than a couple of weeks.

Some examples of the treatment for hemorrhoids are to eat a lot of foods rich in fibre. This can help to prevent constipation which can aggravate the condition.

Closely related to constipation, is to avoid straining and to use soft toilet tissue. Then wash the area with warm water.

From all pharmacies, you should be able to buy some creams over the counter called Corticosteroids which contain a local anaesthetic and will soothe the pain and discomfort. They are not recommended for long term use though.

There are three other treatments which all require you to visit a medical practitioner.

The first is where a chemical is injected into the hemorrhoid which causes them to shrivel up.

The second way, is called Banding. Where a rubber band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid. The Hemorrhoid then shrinks and eventually falls off.

The final option is surgery called hemorrhoidectomy which is only conducted very rarely as less traumatic methods named above are used. This option would normally be used on internal hemorrhoids which are very large.

If you have been the victim of medical malpractice, there are attorneys who specialize in helping you recover damages that you are entitled to as a result of the negligence. Texas medical malpractice lawyers will review your case during, what is often, a free consultation. Being injured can leave you with a feeling of depression and helplessness, especially if it is the fault of someone else.

In order to file a medical malpractice claim, the victim should get a 2nd opinion from a qualified physician. Common malpractice suits stem from incorrect operations and improper prescriptions or diagnosis. Texas medical malpractice lawyers will ask to see medical reports, x-ray results and other information relating to any/all treatment that you have undergone. The 2nd opinion, in this instance, would be for the purpose of determining whether of not you have been improperly treated by another physician. You will likely need another physician to verify your claim of medical negligence by another doctor or facility as this will help to strengthen your legal case.

Damages that Texas medical malpractice lawyers may seek include lost wages if you have had to take time away from your work to recover, the cost of medical bills and a reasonable sum for pain and suffering. It will be easier to begin to arrive at a cost of damages once your medical treatment has concluded. If, however, you will require medical treatment for the rest of your life, Texas medical malpractice lawyers can try to negotiate arrangements for a lifetime compensation plan for future medical costs.

After reviewing the information that you provide, Texas medical malpractice lawyers will begin settlement negotiations on your behalf. It’s important to seek legal advice quickly if you feel that you have been a victim of medical malpractice. In order to help protect your interests, Texas medical malpractice lawyers will make sure that your personal injury claim is filed in a timely manner. Each area has specific deadlines that must be met in order for a claim to be honored and, if this timeframe is not met, all future compensation may be forever lost. The settlement process can be lengthy, so patience is key at this point. A series of letters and telephone calls will likely be exchanged before an acceptable settlement can be reached. Once a settlement is agreed upon, Texas medical malpractice lawyers will deduct their commission before providing you with the remaining sum. A retainer agreement will be signed between Texas medical malpractice lawyers and yourself, which will outline the fee schedule as it relates to any settlement or judgment. In the event that a case is unable to be settled, it may proceed to trial. The trial process is lengthy and expensive, which is why cases are often settled out of court.

Now that the legal professionals (Lawyers) who specialize in medical malpractice have been finding resistance in suing Doctors, because now the doctors have better lawyers; these medical malpractice lawyers are suing nurses. Now the nurses are paying higher costs in medical mal-practice insurance or their hospitals are paying it for them and this is raising rates significantly and also causing some nurses to choose other professions and drop out of the medical infrastructure system of our nation all together.

Yet in doing so how can we replace all these nurses? Well it will not be easy you see as they are graduating many more lawyers to sue than they are nurses to heal these days? The shortage of nurses is getting great and hospitals are offering incentives such as new cars, pay off up to 12,000 in credit card bills or a $10,000 cash gift simply for signing up with their hospital for three years. And that is on top of their high-pay, insurance premiums for medical malpractice and all the perks and benefits of being a nurse.

Still with all of these things we have a shortage of nurses in our health care system and the American People are not getting any younger these days either. So the question remains due to Medical Malpractice; How do we get more nurses to shore up the shortages? It will not be easy that is for sure. Consider all this in 2006.

If you have a medical malpractice situation, you need expert legal advice and you want to find a lawyer who will get you paid without charging you upfront fees, one who will take your case on a contingency basis. What you need are the law office of; Pick a Lawyer. Have you seen these ads on Television? Everyone out trying to find the perfect lawyer to get free money?

Finding a Medical Malpractice lawyer is easy, as there are so many of them. In fact one estimate was there was a medical malpractice lawyer for every five doctors and each one had at least 5-10 cases going on at all times. What does this mean? Well it is an incredible burden on the medical profession and it is costing all of us higher medical insurance premiums and costs when something goes wrong.

Why is America allowing the legal profession to destroy the medical health care system in this nation? One answer by a medical mal practice lawyer was; Hey do not blame me, I have a family to feed too and I have a right to make a living? Gee Whiz, I think a famous band robber once said that too.

Actually so did John Gotti Jr. after his conviction. It is amazing we put up with this nonsense in America and I suppose you still want to find a medical malpractice lawyer in order to sue our nation’s medical infrastructure into oblivion don’t you? Thanks for nothing, dear Sir. Consider all this in 2006.

Medical insurance billing software, also called electronic claims software, is now one of the most important elements of a successful medical practice. Medical insurance billing is no longer as time consuming as it once was. Now you have the opportunity to electronically file insurance claims quickly and resolve issues easily. You can spend more time processing the claim and less time in follow-up. This will keep costs down, as insurance processing will now run more efficiently and administrative work will be reduced. You will receive payments more quickly and spend less time on accounts receivable follow-up calls.

Many medical offices utilize the power of the Internet to conduct everyday transactions more efficiently, more accurately, and less expensively than ever before. Some of the functions that can be performed via the Internet include checking eligibility and claims status, receiving referrals and authorizations, and acquiring pre-certifications.

A popular option that many experts recommend is web-based software. All you need is an average computer and a broadband Internet connection. Web-based companies offer many services, such as software support, security, database management and training. Some of the specific services offered for medical insurance billing are the fact that claim files are automatically generated at scheduled times and submitted to the carriers and clearinghouses without user intervention, and automatically downloaded responses that are interpreted and converted into word processing format and claims marked as submitted when the response file is received from the carrier instead of when the biller saves the claim. The web-based option eliminates the burden of maintaining network servers, backup tapes, upgrades or modems. Discover if the software package will fill all the medical insurance needs of your practice by finding providers who are experienced in health care management solutions and issues specific to medical insurance claims.

When searching for the appropriate medical insurance billing software, consider if the software makes the incomprehensible simple. Medical insurance software systems should include a comprehensive selection of features to ensure that you can manage your practice files, claims and billing with maximum ease and efficiency. Some important features to look for are access to the latest forms and guidelines, a step-by-step procedure that will prompt you through the claims process with relative ease, and features that will automatically print the proper forms, documents and bills when complete.

Why waste time on phone calls to insurance companies when medical insurance billing software can provide quick access to claims management. Let your medical insurance billing software interface directly with the carrier and your practice. Medical insurance billing software is just one of the many options now available that make operating a medical practice easier than ever before.