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The arteries and veins refer changes affecting the whole system to the third lesser zone = Blood zone. In the observation of this zone special attention is given to light or dark colouring. A strong lightening of this zone over the entire iris indicates that the blood is heavily laden with uric acid; whereas a [...]
The doctor’s procedures In a complete physical examination, the doctor uses a combination of his or her senses and knowledge of the body to check over your child, system by system. The doctor uses instruments to extend the senses. For example, the stethoscope magnifies sounds, and the otoscope (for examining the ears) and ophthalmoscope (for [...]
Birthmarks are any unusual marks or blemishes present on an infant’s skin at birth. Almost 50 percent of all infants are born with red or salmon-colored marks on the mid-forehead, upper eyelids, upper lip, or back of the scalp and neck. These marks, which are sometimes quite extensive, fade and disappear during the first years [...]
Maybe it’s because our first introduction to physical examinations was being groped and told to cough by a school nurse known as the Claw, but men have a problem going to the doctor. Women make about 130 million more visits to the doctor each year than men. “Men believe that they’re bulletproof, and like most [...]
From biblical times to today, people who have skirted the edges of death occasionally come back to report a world beyond that is, well, beyond imagination. Such events are called near-death experiences or NDEs for short. With modern resuscitation technology reviving people from further into the dying process than ever before, an increasing number of [...]
Occasionally the forced introduction of one preventive measure has unexpected beneficial effects elsewhere. The best example was the introduction of the 55 mph speed limit in the US in 1974. During the 1970s life expectancy went up by 2.7 years in the US and much of this was the result of the slower driving and [...]
There is no reason at all why a person with dementia can’t enjoy music. Sitting and listening passively will give pleasure to many, as will taking a more active role, such as joining in by humming or singing. More importantly, those who have learnt to play a musical instrument in earlier life may retain this [...]
Many people looking after an older person with dementia are themselves elderly and suffer from chronic medical conditions of one sort or another. If on top of these they also have to cope with the mental and physical demands of caring for someone with dementia, it is possible that their own illnesses may be aggravated. [...]
A whole range of state welfare benefits can be found listed in leaflets and brochures, which are available from the local social security office or very often from a post office. A social worker will also know about them, as will the local office of Age Concern who publish their own booklet. It is surprising [...]
Most doctors, and others working with them in a professional capacity, have a reasonably clear idea about the course of Alzheimer’s disease and use this information when making a diagnosis or advising a family about the future. There is nevertheless a considerable degree of variability in the way in which Alzheimer’s disease alters a person’s [...]