The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (38 page)

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Electro ejaculation
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Electric stimulus brings about ejaculation to obtain semen.

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This procedure can be used in men with a spinal cord injury who cannot otherwise achieve ejaculation.

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Surgical sperm aspiration
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This technique involves removing sperm from part of the male reproductive tract such as the epididymis, vas deferens or testicle. This allows retrieval of sperm if blockage is present.

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Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
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This technique consists of a microscopic technique (micromanipulation) in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to achieve fertilization in conjunction with the standard IVF procedure. ICSI has been especially helpful in couples who have previously failed to achieve conception with standard techniques. For men with low sperm concentrations, ICSI dramatically improves the likelihood of fertilization.

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Assisted hatching -
This technique attempts to assist the implantation of the embryo into the lining of the uterus.

ART works best when the woman has a healthy uterus, responds well to fertility drugs, and ovulates naturally or uses donor eggs. The man should have healthy sperm, or donor sperm should be available. The success rate of ART gradually diminishes after age 32.

Certain complications exist with the treatment of infertility. These include:

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Multiple pregnancies -
Although the most common complication of ART is multiple pregnancies, ART is not the direct cause of a number of the extreme cases of septuplets or octuplets reported in the media. The number of quality embryos kept and matured to fetuses and birth ultimately is a decision made by the couple. If too many babies are conceived, the removal of one or more fetuses (multifetal pregnancy reduction) is possible to improve survival odds for the other fetuses.

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Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) -
If over stimulated, a woman's ovaries may enlarge and cause pain and bloating. Mild to moderate symptoms often resolve without treatment, although pregnancy may delay recovery. Rarely, fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity and chest, causing abdominal swelling and shortness of breath. This accumulation of fluid can deplete blood volume and lower blood pressure. Severe cases require emergency treatment. Younger women and those who have polycystic ovary syndrome have a higher risk of developing OHSS than do other women.

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Bleeding or infection -
As with any invasive procedure, there is a risk of bleeding or infection.

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Low birth weight -
The greatest risk for low birth weight is a multiple pregnancy. In single live births, there may be a greater chance of low birth weight associated with ART.

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Birth defects -
Significant concern exists regarding the possible relationship between ART and birth defects. More research is necessary to confirm these findings. Weigh this factor if you are considering whether to take advantage of this treatment. ART is the most successful fertility-enhancing therapy to date.

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With so many things going on in our daily lives, it is normal to forget things.  Everyone forgets things. How many times have you misplaced something?  How many times have you put something in a safe place and forgot where the safe place was at?  Forgetfulness tends to increase with age, but there is a big difference between normal memory-loss and the type of memory loss associated with a medical condition

Normal that is age-related does not prevent you from living a happy, healthy, and productive life. You just need more time to remember a name or the task you had set out to do. You are aware that you're forgetful and may even crack a joke about it and laugh with your friends about being forgetful.

Causes

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Taking too much of a medication (overmedication). Overuse of medications may be the single biggest cause of memory loss or confusion in older adults.

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Alcohol and medication interactions: This is a problem, especially for older adults, who may take many medications at the same time.

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Misusing or abusing a medication or alcohol.

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Drug intoxication or the effects of withdrawal

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A head injury

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Decreased or blocked blood flow to the brain.

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A seizure disorder

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Brain tumors

Medical Conditions

Memory loss that begins suddenly or that significantly interferes with your ability to function in daily life may indicate a more serious problem.

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Dementia
is a slow decline in memory, problem-solving ability, learning ability, and judgment that may occur over several weeks to several months. Many health conditions can cause dementia or symptoms similar to dementia. In some cases, dementia may be reversible. This is the most common cause of dementia in people older than age 65.

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Dirium
is a sudden change in how well a person's brain is working (mental status). Delirium can cause confusion, disruption of the sleep-wake cycles, and unusual behavior. Delirium can have many causes, such as withdrawal from alcohol or drugs or medications, or the development or worsening of an infection or other health problem.

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Amnesia
is memory loss that may be caused by a head injury, a stroke, substance abuse, or a severe emotional event, such as combat or a motor vehicle accident. Depending upon the cause, amnesia may be either temporary or permanent.

Treatment

As you get older, it is normal to experience some memory loss. Usually, an occasional memory loss does not mean you have a serious problem or medical condition. Some treatments include:

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Focus your attention. Often forgetfulness may indicate that you have too much on your mind. Slow down and pay full attention to what you are doing.

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Establish a routine

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Use clocks

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Use calendars

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Use lists

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Use notes

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Use helpful technologies as reminders, such as a cell phone’s components.

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Write your daily activities on a daily planner, and keep it in a place where you can see it easily.

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Store easy-to-lose items in the same place each time after you use them.

Memory techniques:

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To remember a person's name, repeat it several times after being introduced to it.

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To recall numbers, group them and then relate them to a date or story. For example, if your personal identification number (PIN) is 2040, remember it with the phrase “20 plus 20 equals 40.” Use the same PIN number for all of your accounts.

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Retrace your steps if you cannot remember why you went into a room.

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Reduce your stress. Being anxious can impair your memory.

Lifestyle

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Eat a well-balanced diet

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Exercise

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Don’t smoke

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Play stimulating mind games

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Seek treatment for depression

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Check with your doctor to see if any medications you are taking is causing the memory loss

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Another name for hives is called urticaria.  Hives are raised, red, itchy welts of a variety of sizes that appear and disappear on your skin. As many as one in five people experience acute hives at one time or another.

In most cases, hives are harmless and do not leave any lasting scars, even without treatment. The most common treatment for hives is antihistamine medications.

Symptoms

Hives can be either acute or chronic.

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Acute Hives:
acute hives can last from less than a day to up to six weeks

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Chronic Hives:
chronic hives last more than six weeks.  They sometimes can occur for months to years at a time.

Hives are raised, red bumps of various sizes that appear and disappear on your skin. They are often itchy and may look similar to mosquito bites. Hives tend to occur in batches.

Causes

The lesions of hives are caused by inflammation in the skin. Hives are triggered when certain cells release histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream and skin.

Allergic reactions to medications or foods can cause acute hives.
Some allergens include:

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Foods:
Many foods can cause problems in sensitive people, but shellfish, fish, nuts, eggs and milk are frequent offenders.

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Medications:
Almost any medication may cause hives are common culprits include antibiotics, aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and blood pressure medications.

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Other allergens:
Other substances that can cause hives include direct contact with pollen, animal dander, latex and insect stings.

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Physical factors:
Environmental factors also can result in the release of histamine with subsequent hives in some people. Examples of these factors include heat, cold, sunlight, and water, pressure on the skin, emotional stress and exercise.

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Dermatographism:
The name of this condition literally means, "write on the skin.

In addition to these triggers, hives may occur in response to your body's production of antibodies. Some examples include blood transfusions; immune system disorders, such as lupus or cancer; certain thyroid disorders; and infections, such as hepatitis, or even a cold.

Risk factors

You may be at greater risk of hives if you:

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Have had hives before

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Have had other allergic reactions

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Have a disorder associated with hives such as lupus, lymphoma or thyroid disease

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Have a family history of hives

Diagnosis

It is sometimes impossible to determine the cause of hives. Your doctor will begin by asking you about your medical history. This may include asking you to create a detailed diary of exposure to possible irritants. It is important to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and herbal remedies, even if you do not take them every day. Your doctor may also want to conduct allergy tests, such as skin tests.