Health & Fitness

The first things that come to most peoples’ minds when they hear of a gynecological appointment are the painful exams and uncomfortable interviews. Some people may even want to skip the appointment out of fear of opening up on sensitive health issues or allowing a stranger to examine them. You can put your mind at ease, though. With services from the best Edinburg gynecology specialist, you will be treated with care and respect.

Facing your fears is the first step towards empowering yourself. Read on to find out about what to expect from your first obstetric or gynecological appointment at Women’s Clinic of the Rio Grande Valley – including how to best prepare for it.

Know Why You Are Going

Whether you are going for a pelvic exam, to get birth control, or to test for STI, understanding why you are going is essential. That way, your gynecologist will be prepared to answer any questions you may have. It psychologically prepares you for all the tests, treatments, and other services you may want to get.

Do Not Go For a Pelvic Exam When You Are on Your Period

During the menstrual period, the cervix goes downwards, making it difficult for your gynecologist to perform a pelvic exam such as a Pap smear. Try to mark the days when you are on your periods so that you can choose the best day for your pelvic exam appointment. If you are in doubt, you can still call your doctor to help you.

Prepare to be Honest

Your doctor is there to help you. If they do not have the truth about your condition or symptoms, they cannot give you the professional help you need. This will negatively affect your treatment. Do not be embarrassed. Your doctor has heard and seen it all before, so you don’t need to feel alone in your struggles or questions.

Your First Appointment Does Not Have to be Traumatic

For your first appointment, your doctor will be understanding of your apprehension. If you are not ready for a physical examination, it is ok. They will be willing to talk to you about what the exam entails and resolve any fears you may have. If you decide you are ready for the exam, they will do it then. If you need more time, that is fine too. You can make another appointment for the future and be more comfortable after having met the doctor and understanding what to expect.

Like sciatica, piriformis syndrome results in the same radiating and intense leg pain because it affects a single nerve. Dr. Dennis Slavin, MD of Rio Grande Pain Team, understands the extremity of your pain and develops customized treatment plans that directly address the underlying condition to offer you fast and substantial pain relief. To achieve significant and lasting pain relief from your condition, call the Rio Grande Pain Team or go online to schedule an appointment with McAllen piriformis syndrome specialists today.

What Is Piriformis Syndrome?

The piriformis is a particular muscle located deep in your buttocks. The piriformis syndrome condition develops when spasms develop in this muscle, thus causing pain. In most cases, this problem develops from spasms after muscle irritation, bleeding in the areas near the muscle, overworking this muscle, swelling, or tightening from spasm or injury.

A muscle spasm in your behind may be relatively painful, but another issue arises from the sciatic nerve running right under the piriformis muscle. Once this muscle gets cramped or swollen, it may put pressure on your nerve. In turn, you develop some symptoms, which are primarily referred to as sciatica.

What Are the Symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome?

The sciatic nerve generates from the spine, runs through each buttock down to both legs. If this nerve is damaged or pinched, symptoms might develop anywhere along your spine. Some of the most common symptoms might include lower back pain, aches in the buttock, pain while sitting, immobility around the hip area, weakness in the affected leg’s muscle, and pain through your calf, thigh, and maybe in your foot.

Some patients report tingling or numbness along your foot and leg. Pain experienced due to piriformis syndrome varies from one patient to another, i.e., mild, debilitating, or severe. Typically, this pain worsens when one is in motion.

What to Expect with Piriformis Syndrome Treatment?

All treatments at Rio Grande Pain Team are patient-centric. They developed in line with the patient’s immobility and extremity of pain. The treatment for piriformis syndrome mostly blends several therapies to achieve quick and lasting pain relief.

Muscle stretching exercises are particularly effective, but patients can also benefit from heat and massage therapy. As a board-certified interventional pain management specialist, Dr. Slavin provides targeted treatments, which directly address the immediate cause of pain.

If necessary, Dr. Slavin may recommend muscle injection for your piriformis syndrome. Piriformis muscle injections contain anesthetics to instantly relieve you of the pain and steroids to reduce swelling and relax your muscles. To precisely inject this medication into the affected area, Dr. Slavin uses ultrasound imaging to visualize your muscles and guide the needle.

To sum up, Dr. Slavin and the pain specialists at Rio Grande Pain Team offer rapid and lasting relief from chronic pain. Restore or enhance your life quality through specialized treatments, which directly address the underlying cause of your pain. Schedule an appointment with the Weslaco or McAllen office today through by calling the office or using the online booking tool.

Genital lesions are sexually transmitted soft growths that appear on the genitals. It is usually caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Genital lesions can cause itching, pain and discomfort. For women, sometimes lesions can occur inside the vagina and can be hard to note. Genital lesions can also appear on the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat. The presence of lesions around the anus, scrotum, penis, vulva, and perineal area can be signs of an infection and needs a doctor’s intervention. You will need to visit a specialist of genital lesions in Fort Worth for diagnosis and treatment.

What are the causes of genital lesions?

Several health problems can cause genital lesions, and any manifestations on the genitals or any part of the skin should be taken to the doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Human papillomavirus is the most common cause of genital lesions, and it occurs when you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex with an infected person. The absence of genital lesions does not necessarily mean that you do not have HPV. The infection has an incubation period and months can pass from when you are infected to the time you notice their presence.

How is the diagnosis of genital lesions made?

Before treatment, the doctor needs to determine the cause of the lesions. Determining the cause will help the doctor institute appropriate therapy and reduce possible infections to others. The process of diagnosis can involve:

i. Physical assessment

The doctor will conduct a physical examination of the skin’s affected areas by checking rashes, including any lesions or warts. During this process, you should notify the physician of any abnormal redness or discharge.

ii. Swab test

Swab testing is done by taking swabs of body fluids and taken to the lab for testing. A swab for the throat, genital, or anus is used to detect the presence of any sexually transmitted infection.

iii. Biopsy

Samples for a biopsy can be obtained by skin scraping, where a piece of the skin is removed for testing. The doctor removes a sample size large enough for laboratory testing to determine the cause of the lesions. The size can, however, be larger if the whole lesion is removed from the skin. The sample is then examined using a microscope for any presence of scabies, psoriasis, or fungal infection.

iv. Blood samples

Some causes of skin lesions that occur due to syphilis or herpes can be detected through blood samples. Blood tests analyze the presence of a herpes simplex virus antibody and determine its infection.

Though there are home tests you can carry out, they are not as reliable as the tests done by a doctor. If you carry out a home test and you suspect the presence of an infection, visit the doctor for more tests so that they can give you appropriate treatment. The treatment recommended depends on the cause of the lesion. Your doctor may recommend antibiotics and cream to ease symptoms such as itching while curing the main problem. You should also maintain a healthy lifestyle to boost your immune system and help fight any infections that cause lesions.

Many people struggle with acne all over the world today. The acne might be in the form of whiteheads, which are closed pores, or blackheads, which are pores that are open and plugged. Another form of acne are nodules that are large solid bumps that form beneath the skin; if these lumps have pus they are called cystic lesions.

Having acne, scarring, or hyperpigmentation in Glen Allen can lower your confidence in your physical appearance. If you are struggling with such a problem, you can seek medical attention from a dermatologist who will take your medical history and do a physical examination to determine the primary cause of your condition. Treatment will then be individualized depending on the severity of your condition and the type of acne that you have.

What Causes Acne?

Four factors mainly cause acne. These factors are; producing excess oil (sebum) in your skin, clogging your hair follicles by the excess oil and other dead cells, a bacterial infection on the acne and inflammation. Acne therefore commonly affects the skin areas that have a lot of sebum production like the forehead, chest, upper back, other parts of the face, and the shoulders. Other factors trigger acne that is given below;

1. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal imbalance is one of the factors that trigger the development of acne. Androgens that are found in high amounts in boys and lower portions in girls play a role in acne. The androgenic hormones stimulate the glands that produce sebum to enlarge. These large cells then produce a lot of sebum which clogs the hair follicles, causing acne. Women who have hormonal changes due to pregnancy and use of oral contraceptives are also at risk of getting acne.

2. Medications

There are some medications that increase your chance of having acne. These medications include corticosteroids and lithium, which is a drug that is used to treat mania. People who are put on synthetic testosterone are also at risk of getting acne. However, it is not everyone who uses these medications that gets acne because other factors also play a part in the causation of acne.

3. Family history

You are at a higher risk of getting acne if you have first-degree family members like parents or siblings who also have acne. It is not a guarantee to get acne if you have family members with acne, especially if the acne is due to non-genetic factors like medications.

Other risk factors of acne include having stress which worsens acne that already exists, eating foods that have a lot of carbohydrates, using oily substances on your face, going through puberty, and friction on your skin like from hats or tight collars.

In summary, acne is a common skin condition that occurs due to excess production of skin oil that clogs the hair follicles. The condition is then worsened by bacterial infection and inflammation of the hair follicles. The triggers of acne include having hormonal changes, a family history of acne, some medications like corticosteroids, and being stressed. If you are struggling with acne, you can benefit from medical treatment.

 

Weight gain comes with many health complications including the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. If you struggle with weight loss, you want to find ways to sustainably manage your weight and keep it at manageable or desirable levels. People have often been pigeonholed to think that fad diets are the solution; however, losing weight requires a combination of things. Diet alone may not help do the trick. Additionally, physical exercise alone may also not help cut back on your weight. For some, it even requires the intervention of a New Rochelle weight loss specialist to understand how they can lose the extra pounds. Even as you seek help from specialists, you want to follow these tips to reduce your weight.

1. Reduce your carbs intake

You want to reduce the amount of starch and sugars you eat – this is a critical step. Cutting back on carbohydrates lowers your hunger levels. You end up eating fewer calories. Rather than burning carbohydrates for energy, you find that the body begins to burn stored fat for energy. When you cut down on carbs, it also lowers insulin levels, causing kidneys to shed excess water and sodium. This helps reduce bloating as well as unnecessary water weight. A low carb diet may also reduce appetite, causing you to eat reduced amounts of calories without feeling hungry or thinking about it.

2. Eating fat, vegetables, and proteins

Your meals should include a portion of fat, protein, and low carb vegetables. You may want to eat two to three meals every day, and if you are hungry, you can add a fourth meal. When you have this kind of meal plan, it helps bring the carb intake down. You may reduce your carb intake to about 20 to 50 grams per day.

Eating lots of proteins can help enhance calorie expenditure. Also, a high protein diet helps reduce cravings as well as obsessive food thoughts. It reduces the desire for late-night snacks. High protein diets also make you feel full.

You should not be afraid to fill your plate with large portions of low carb vegetables. This kind of diet helps increase your fiber, minerals, and vitamin intake. These vegetables include spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, or brussels sprouts. When it comes to healthy fats, go with olive oil, avocado oil, butter, and coconut oil.

3. Lift weights three times per week

Although you may not need to exercise to lose weight when following this plan, physical exercise is so crucial for a sustainable weight loss. Lifting weights offers resistance training and helps you burn more calories. You prevent your body’s metabolism from going down. Losing weight requires that you keep your metabolism at an optimal level. If weights are not your favorite, you can do cardio workouts such as running, jogging, cycling, walking, swimming, and yoga. Exercise is also good for overall health and wellbeing, so you want to consider making it part of your routine.

While there are no black and white rules for weight loss, you want to ensure that you consider these three factors. If you face difficulties managing your weight, seek a specialist in weight loss and medical exercise to help you.