Negative health impacts of bad teeth and gums

Most people are aware that they should brush their teeth and floss to keep their teeth and gums healthy, but you may be surprised to find out that taking good care of your oral health can also help to reduce your risk of other medical conditions, some of which are very serious and potentially deadly.

How does poor oral health affect general health?

Dentists often say that the mouth is a window to the rest of the body and a healthy mouth often reflects a healthy body. In recent years there have been several studies published in journals, which suggest a link between oral health and general health, with many implying that neglecting your oral health increases your risk of medical conditions. One of the most common associations is oral health and heart health, with some studies suggesting that poor oral health increases the risk of heart disease.

Experts believe that oral health has a significant bearing on general health because bacteria from the mouth can travel to other parts of the body via the bloodstream; the bacteria associated with gum disease can travel around the body, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke because they may trigger an inflammatory response. Researchers have found that people who have poor oral health are more likely to suffer from heart disease and further research in this area is being carried out.

Gum disease and diabetes

Diabetes is a very common condition and it can increase the risk of gum disease, as well as other health problems, such as foot problems and issues with vision. Dentists can often spot warning signs of diabetes in people who have not yet been diagnosed by examining the mouth.

Gum disease and pregnancy

Gum disease is more common among pregnant women because pregnancy increases the risk of gum disease as a result of hormonal changes in the body. Studies have suggested that poor oral health during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight, as well as complications during labour and birth. Pregnant women are advised to visit their dentist on a regular basis.

Laser Treatment - An Easy Way For Tattoo Removal

Body art or Tattoo design is a big business in New York City & even all over the world. Since a 36-year ban against tattooing was lifted in 1997, the city issues hundreds of two-year tattoo licenses each year to the artists. In 2011, there were a total of 2,127 tattoo licenses issued; according to the statistical reports given by the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene.

A research shows that as many as 22% of U.S. college students have at least one tattoo, and about half of people who get tattoos later try to have them removed.

According to researchers older tattoos are not easy to remove. Some say removal is not only painful, but is also expensive, but thanks to the technological advancements it has become really easy to get your tattoo removed at a cost effective price.

Is Laser Treatment The Safest Way For The Removal Of Tattoos?

Yes, Laser tattoo removal is the safest method as there are no side effects of this treatment. It is considered as an effective treatment because it makes tattoos of all sizes and colours to simply fade away. Most of the doctors and tattoo professionalism prefer to use laser treatment to avoid pain and all sorts of side effects.

The light from the laser targets pigments in colour of tattoo. Over time the ink is removed through the body's lymphatic system. This way the tattoos get removed without any spin-off.

How Tattoo Removal Works?

To know how a tattoo removal works, a person must know the actual process of the formation of a tattoo on to the body.

Tattoos are made by using a motorized needle. This needle perforates holes in the upper skin of a body which is visible by naked eye as upper skin is known as epidermal layer, and at the same time this needle injects or inserts the ink into these holes. After the ink is injected, it is then made to connect together with the skin molecules and as a result a permanent tattoo is formed.

The tattoo removal works, in an effective way to remove tattoos. Researchers have determined the wavelengths of light that must be used as well as procedures for best removal of a tattoo ink. (In case you're wondering whether the laser treatment may remove normal skin spots, then you don't have to worry as this does not happen at all.

The Effects of Drugs on the Brain

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By Roger Pahuriray

There are a lot of people who are asking this same question about drugs: what happens next when a drug enters the body and makes its way to our brain? There have been recent studies about how the brain works, and the complex relationship between electrical and chemical activity, but we still have a long way to go.

How Drugs Change Personality and Behavior

Addictive drugs have the ability to activate the pleasure circuit of the brain known as the mesolimbic dopamine cortex. According to some health experts, drug addiction is a biological process which alters the way our brain's pleasure circuit functions. It is important to examine the effects of drugs on the brain's neurotransmission to understand how it works.

All drugs have the capability to change the way our brain works. This is done by affecting chemical neurotransmission. Heroin and LSD for instance, can mimic a natural neurotransmitter's effects. PCP, on the other hand, can block the receptors, thus, preventing neuronal messages from getting through. Cocaine interferes with molecules which are responsible for transporting neurotransmitters back to the neurons that initially released them. With prolonged drug use, the brain changes in long-lasting and fundamental ways. These changes are a major part of addiction.

According to statistics, parents who abuse substances are more likely to be physically violent in the home and neglect their children emotionally. What's more, violence inside the home usually manifests as physical abuse. Plus, children of drug addicts are likely to suffer from anxiety or become depressed. They are also more likely to suffer from eating disorders and make more attempts to commit suicide.

Studies on Drugs and Addiction

Drug abuse is one of the widely studied subjects in the medical field today. More and more studies are being conducted on how drugs have an effect on one's personality and behavior. With these studies, the effects of common prohibited drugs such as LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin are beginning to be uncovered. There are a number of people who once lived in sober living homes who have participated in research about the effects of drug addiction in their overall lives.

As a result of scientific studies, we are now gradually being enlightened on how addiction is a disease which affects both a person's brain and behavior. There were many biological and environmental factors identified by researchers about drug addiction. Today, they are beginning to look for some genetic variations that can contribute in development and further progression of the disease. These researches will then be beneficial in discovering effective prevention and treatment for the said disease. And sober living homes as well as rehabilitation programs will be able to fine tune their approach to ensure more successful treatment.

What is Drug Addiction?

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The term addiction is identified as a relapsing brain disease, usually characterized by a compulsive drug seeking use, despite awareness of harmful effects. Addiction is considered a brain disease because drugs used and abused can change the brain's structure, and how the brain functions.

There are several reasons why people take drugs. Some of which are as follows:

• People use drugs to make them feel good. Drugs that are most abused can produce an intense feeling of pleasure. The initial sensation of bliss and euphoria will then be followed by other effects which differ from one drug type to another.
• People use drugs to feel a boost in self-esteem. There are some people who suffer from social anxiety and stress-related disorders. Because of these behavioral disorders, they tend to begin abusing drugs to lessen feelings of being distressed.
• They use drugs out of curiosity and peer pressure. Because almost everybody in their circle of friends uses drugs, they might as well use it too. This is the common mentality of most adolescents today. They enjoy engaging in daring behavior that can make them look "cool."

Effects of New Designer Drugs

People use new designer drugs because they supposedly produce better and faster highs. Studies indicate that they have the same effects as ecstasy. But while some new designer drugs are possibly semi-legal in a sense, they do have the same destructive effects on the brain as illegal drugs and cause even greater personality and behavior changes. Face-eating incidents have been attributed to the use of bath salts, though experts refute these claims. With prolonged drug use, the brain changes in long-lasting and fundamental ways. These changes are a major part in the addiction per se.

The use of drugs has a profound impact on the brain. And since the brain is the command center that controls everything we do, drug use also has a huge, debilitating impact on our personality and behavior. It is important to treat drug addiction as early as possible. Otherwise, prolonged drug use can cause long-lasting or even permanent damage to the brain, and consequently, alter behavior.

Author's Bio

Roger Pahuriray is an SEO Specialist who's had extensive experience in the Outreach Program. This time he brings his extensive SEO expertise to Casa Nuevo Vida Sober Living Homes where he tackles addiction and sobriety issues. The articles he posts will surely be informative and comprehensive especially for individuals who are in dire need of these resources. As an SEO Specialist for PinAgency.com, he works full-time catering to an impressive pool of clients like CasaNuevoVida.Com, SweetSweat.com among many others.

By Roger Pahuriray

Smoking Cigarettes, Smoker Turn to Electronic Cigarettes

A recent study in Korea discovers that those smoking over 20 cigarettes per day may be as much as three times as likely to suffer a potentially fatal SAH (subarachnoid hemorrhage). Researchers appeal to smokers to turn to electronic cigarettes which are much healthier. IECMA (International Electronic Cigarette Manufacturers Association) advises smokers to select big brand-name electronic cigarettes manufactured by large electronic cigarette OEM factories like KIMREE, JSB and JOYETECH.

The study carried out by Seoul National University Hospital shows that heavy smokers may be as much as three times as likely to suffer a potentially fatal SAH (subarachnoid hemorrhage). Heavy smoke here means smoking over 20 cigarettes per day. Therefore, researchers appeal to smokers to quit smoking or turn to electronic cigarettes.

"Electronic Cigarettes aim at providing people a healthier lifestyle. Comparing to traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes are nonflammable without no tar, other carcinogenic substance or 4000 chemical substances. But the market is full of counterfeit and shoddy products, smokers should be careful when choosing electronic cigarettes. We generally suggest big brand-name electronic cigarettes manufactured by large electronic cigarette OEM factories like KIMREE." said James Schneider, the CEO of IECMA.

Andre, Sales Director of KIMREE, said, "Since foundation, KIMREE has been adhering to the principle of 'quality first' and offering high-quality products. We really hope more and more smokers recover."

Cigarettes were always known to damage one's lungs as well as risk one at getting a heart ailment. Even e-cigarettes were proved as wrong to be recommended, even as they were thought an alternative to tobacco consumption. Now, researchers warn you should be highly alert if you are even living with a smoker.

A recent report revealed by a team at the Northumbria University has pinpointed that not only second-hand smoking can prove injurious for one's lungs or heart, but the same can also jeopardize him by destroying his memory.

The claims are evident from a study, which included a number of non-smokers, with some who are exposed to smoke each day when living with a smoker.

It was found that the ones spending some 25 hours a week with smokers were more likely to forget things. Testing all on time-based as well event-based memory, it was noted that the exposed ones forgot 20% higher than the ones who did not get exposed. However, both the groups were not overdoing current smokers, who forgot 30% more than them.

Thus, Dr. Tom Heffernan concluded, "Our findings suggest the deficits associated with second-hand smoke exposure extend to everyday cognitive function".

Sexting Risky For Teen Sexual Behavior

If your adolescent is sexting, they may be already sexually active and engaging in risky behavior, a new study suggests.

Researchers are trying to better understand if young people are at greater risk for HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases because they are sending sexually explicit photos or text messages via cell phones.

"Sexting" is not an alternative to "real world" sexual behavior among adolescents, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

"The same teens who are engaging in digital sex risk taking through sexting are also the same teens that are engaging in sex risk with their bodies in terms of being sexually active and not using condoms," said lead study author Eric Rice, an assistant professor at the University of Southern California's School of Social Work in Los Angeles.

A 2009 report from the Pew Research Center found that some teens "view sexting as a safer alternative to real life sexual activity."

While the term "sexting" may also include messages also sent over the Internet, this particular study looked solely at cell phone text messages and images. It was conducted via questionnaire in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Researchers surveyed 1,839 students ages 12 to 18 at random. Most were Latino or African-American. Three-quarters of those surveyed had cell phones.

"Even though a minority of teens sext we only found 15% but that 15% are much riskier with their physical sexual behaviors as well as their digital sexual behaviors," says Rice.

He add that teens who reported sexting were seven times more likely to be sexually active than their peers who did not sext.

The data suggests there are norms about sexting, according to Rice, meaning teens are starting to think that sexting is a normal part of their behaviors. More than half of the teens surveyed reported that they had a friend who sexted.

"A lot of young people think that their friends are sexting, and if you think that your friends are sexting, you're much more likely to sext yourself," he said 17 times more likely, according to study.

"I think that the implications are that teens who are sexting may be at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases because the teens who sext are about 1.5 times more likely to not use condoms when they're having sex," in addition to increasing the risk of teen pregnancy, Rice says.

This study was conducted in only one urban area; the authors realize that some of the results may not accurately represent rural areas. In addition, recent nationwide research found much lower rates of sexting.

However, Rice said this information can be valuable for parents.

"We [parents, clinicians, educators] should be talking about sexting and the fact that it's part of the risky sex behaviors and it's not just something that exists in a virtual space, so to speak," he said.

"Talking about sexting might be easier for [parents] than talking about sex and it could lead into a larger conversation about sex."

By Georgiann Caruso, CNN

Eating more Fruits and Vegetables

It's almost June, which means you have a little more than six months to finally complete that New Year's weight loss resolution. Now a study offers two simple changes that may help you reach your goal: Stop sitting in front of the television and start eating more fruits and vegetables.

While these health tips might seem obvious, it's their long-term sustainability that has scientists praising their virtues. According to the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine study published in the May 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, by making these adjustments you'll be more likely to maintain these habits to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Sedentary lifestyle tied to diabetes, heart disease, premature death: Is TV to blame?
Sitting too much may double your risk of dying, study shows

"Just making two lifestyle changes has a big overall effect and people don't get overwhelmed," Dr. Bonnie Spring, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a press release. "Americans have all these unhealthy behaviors that put them at high risk for heart disease and cancer, but it is hard for them and their doctors to know where to begin to change those unhealthy habits," Spring said. "This approach simplifies it."

In the study, 204 adult patients between the ages of 21 to 60 with elevated saturated fat and low fruit and vegetable intake, high sedentary leisure time and low physical activity were placed in one of four treatment categories. One group had to increase fruit and vegetable intake, another had to decrease fat and sedentary leisure, yet another decrease fat and increase physical activity (otherwise known as traditional dieting) and the last group had to increase fruit/vegetable intake and decrease sedentary leisure. Patients had to record their daily results for three weeks and were coached remotely through mobile technology. If the patients met their goals and displayed healthy lifestyle changes, they would receive $175.

On average, daily fruit and vegetable intake increased from 1.2 servings to 5.5 servings, sedentary leisure time decreased from 219.2 minutes per day to 89.3 minutes, and daily saturated fat decreased from 12.0 percent to 9.5 percent of calories consumed. The group that participated in traditional dieting reported fewer improvements than the other groups.

Then, the participants were given the option of continuing to report their lifestyle. They did not have to keep up with the dietary or exercise recommendations and would receive monthly payments just for turning in their data three times each month for six months.

Ninety-eight percent of the test subjects opted to continue with the second 20-week phase of the study. Out of the 185 people who continued on, 86.5 percent said they tried to "definitely" or "somewhat" maintain what they did in the three-week treatment period even without the financial or mobile encouragement.

What's even more surprising is they seemed to maintain the healthy habits of eating more fruits and vegetables and decreasing sedentary activity without receiving any financial incentive to do so. Though the patients did not increase their healthy behaviors in the six month follow-up, they made "substantial" improvements in watching less television and eating more vegetables compared with their rates when the study started. It is worth noting, however, that those who traditionally dieted for the most part did not carry healthy habits through the second part of the experiment, especially when it came to increasing physical activity.

"We said we hope you'll continue to keep up these healthy changes, but you no longer have to keep them up to be compensated," Spring said. "We thought they'd do it while we were paying them, but the minute we stopped they'd go back to their bad habits," she said. "But they continued to maintain a large improvement in their health behaviors."

The results suggest that even a short period of encouraging healthy lifestyles through coaching and incentives may have a lasting effect. Considering that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults - 35.7 percent - are obese, and obesity has been linked to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, taking these simple steps could make a big difference.

By: Michelle Castillo