The Flu And You

Everyone should get flu vaccine, experts say By MAGGIE FOX

Everyone in the United States over the age of six months should get seasonal influenza vaccines every year, federal vaccine advisers said last month.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made the long-awaited vote to recommend virtually universal flu vaccination — something public health experts have long recommended.

“The new recommendation seeks to remove barriers to influenza immunization and signals the importance of preventing influenza across the entire population,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement. Read more

The Benefits of A Virtual Colonoscopy

The American Cancer Society recommends getting a colonoscopy at age 50, and every five to ten years thereafter. LA Health News editor Mark Ariel underwent the procedure last month at Parkview Imaging in Santa Monica By Mark Ariel

Though it commands less attention than cancers of the breast or prostate, colorectal cancer is the leading nonsmoking-related cancer killer of Americans. It is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society recommends getting a colonoscopy at age 50, and every five to ten years thereafter. While all this is good to know - many folks hit their fifties and do not rush to undergo the procedure, due to the perceived discomfort of the process. I confess - I was one of those people. What can I say - the thought of having a colonoscope (a long, flexible instrument about 1/2 inch in diameter) inserted into my rectum, advancing through my large intestine - didn’t appeal to me. However - this is an extremely important health screening and - it turns out - there are other options.

Last month I underwent a “Virtual Colonoscopy” at Parkview Imaging in Santa Monica. It was quick - the entire process took under 45 minutes - and I received my results the next day. The procedure, Virtual Colonoscopy (CT Colonoscopy), is the evaluation of the colon utilizing CT. After cleansing the colon the exam is preformed by distending the colon with air and scanning the abdomen and pelvis. The images are “reconstructed” in multiple planes and interpreted by the radiologist. This procedure is faster and less invasive than conventional colonoscopy and does not require sedation. There is a preparation required for the Virtual Colonoscopy, which is the same as a standard colonoscopy. It includes a clear liquid fast 24 hours before the procedure and drinking a laxative to cleanse your colon. Plan to spend the night at home. Read more

Goodbye Face Lift, Hello Stem Cell Lift

The Stem Cell Lift™ is a true advancement that has brought us closer to the everlasting search for the fountain of youth. In this article I will explain the change in concept in cosmetic surgery and the advancement in technology that has made this innovation possible. By Dr. Nethan Newman

Looking back at plastic surgery results for face lifts over time has made many cosmetic surgeons aware that the nip tuck of the past made the face look tighter and plastic not youthful and natural. As we age, the youthful fullness of the face starts to deflate and the skin looses its elasticity. This process causes the skin to droop and loosen causing us to look tired, unhealthy or sad. One of the first places that we notice this loss of volume is under the eyes and the cheeks. Read more

Substitute For Love

Tiger Woods case puts spotlight on “sexual addiction” By Andrew Stern

Golfer Tiger Woods’ admission that he is undergoing therapy after having adulterous affairs has focused attention on the issue of sex addiction, a condition some experts say is becoming much more common. But sex addiction is a controversial concept not currently recognized as an official diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, considered the definitive word on psychological disorders. Read more

How to Heal Faster

Listening to your body By Myke Zykoff HHP, C.Ht.

At some time or other we’ve all experienced not feeling well. Sometimes it lasts longer than we’d like. Some people even get labeled with terminal nomenclature that suddenly dictates every subsequent thought they have. A downward spiral ensues. What does it take to stop this? How can one begin to take back control and become the master of their health?

First off let’s acknowledge what an “illness” really is: a symptom. Your body is meant to be healthy. When something gets in the way of this, you experience discomfort. ALL discomforts, including illness, are merely signals your body is sending you to let you know something’s not right. To heal we must give it the attention it calls for.

Here’s a simple example: Bang your knee and it hurts. (The pain tells you something is wrong.) You rub it, it feels better. (You give your body the attention it requires and it returns to wellness.) To begin healing faster, no matter the level of discomfort, let go of the concept of illness as a problem.

(Thinking this way makes one a victim and allowing oneself to be “victim” creates secondary gains that may keep you in a discomfort for much longer than necessary.) Acknowledge that any form of un-wellness is a strong message that you’ve overlooked a core self value. Read more

Phalloplasty Surgery

What Is Important For You To Know About Surgical Male Enhancement By Patrick Tsakuda

The Rheinschild Clinic specializes in surgical male enhancement. The clinic’s Director and Founder, Gary W. Rheinschild, M.D., is a Board Certified Urologist and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a founding member of the American Academy of Phalloplasty Surgeons. Dr. Rheinschild was the first physician in the United States to pioneer Phalloplasty surgery in the early ’90s.

Dr. Rheinschild, and his trained protégés, have performed over 7,000 surgeries - half of them have been penis reconstruction cases due to the fact that the patient went to a doctor not qualified to perform Phalloplasty. The Rheinschild Clinic utilizes the latest and most advanced techniques currently being performed today in the world of Phalloplasty.

As a family business, The Rheinschild Clinic’s number one priority is to provide the best medical care. “The quality of care is more important to us than the quantity of patients,” states Linda Rheinschild, Dr. Rheinschild’s daughter and Patient Care Coordinator. “We perform our Penis Lengthening and Penis Thickening surgeries in two stages, since it’s best for the healing process and also to achieve maximum results,” Linda explains.

“For both surgeries there are no incisions made on the penis itself,” Linda reveals. “Our patient has to first focus on getting their length achieved by performing our Penile Lengthening Spacer Technique. We have been using this new method for almost 2 years with amazing results. Our patients are seeing results faster. We go transcrotally making a very small, aesthetically pleasing incision, placing the spacer to prevent scar tissue & retraction of the ligaments. We release the man’s hidden penis’ in cutting their ligaments, placing the spacer in, which stabilizes and pushes down the penis making it automatically longer. Read more

Love of Money: The Root of All Evil?

If one is not careful, intense and selfish desire can make a person lose everything By Djehuty Ma’at-Ra

If one is not careful, intense and selfish desire can make a person lose everything By Djehuty Ma’at-Ra

Ever heard of the saying “For the love of money is the root of all evil?” Well, logic would dictate that if the love of money is the root of all evil, then it stands to reason that the hatred of money is the root of all good. Sounds absurd, right? Well, that’s because it is. How can an inanimate object such as paper (dollar bills) when loved by people be the root of all evil? Money is amoral, neither moral nor immoral. In our society, money physically is paper bills or dollar bills. These bills represent energy; energy in the form of belief and this belief is what gives the paper bills their value. Even if our paper bills (Federal Reserve Notes) were still backed by gold and silver the value wouldn’t really be in these two tangible substances because these substances also only have value based upon people’s individual and collective belief. Read more

Awesomely Ryan

Actor and boad certified personal trainer Ryan McPartlin (Chuck’s “Captain Awesome”) on killer abs, mind games and giving in to temptation By Mark Ariel

Born and raised in Chicago, actor Ryan McPartlin has gone from achieving success on the football field at the University of Illinois to achieving success on screen with his midwestern charm. After graduating, where he played football in the Big Ten Conference, with a degree in Speech Communication, McPartlin decided to spend six months in Australia and New Zealand to explore the outback and decide which career path he should follow. He initially moved to California years ago to pursue acting.

En route to primetime success, McPartlin caught the eye of photographer Bruce Weber; thereby garnering a prime campaign for Abercrombie & Fitch. It wasn’t long before he parlayed a coveted role on daytime’s “Passions” into a lead role as Fran Drescher’s younger live-in love on the comedy “Living With Fran.” No stranger to romancing an older leading lady, McPartlin recently starred opposite Gina Gershon in the acclaimed Lifetime mini-series “Everything She Ever Wanted.” Amidst his series regular role on Josh Schwartz’s hit NBC action dramedy “Chuck” as Devon “Captain Awesome” Woodcomb, he’s managed to guest star on such series as “Mad Men,” “Swingtown,” and “CSI: NY” among others. Additionally, he’s voiced the title role of Universal’s animated feature “The Adventures Of Clutch Powers.” Read more

Happiness Makes For A Healthy Heart

Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in most industrialized countries

People who are usually happy and enthusiastic are less likely to develop heart disease than those who tend to be glum, scientists said last month, and boosting positive emotions could help cut heart health risks.

Researchers said their observational study was the first to show an independent relationship between positive emotions and coronary heart disease, but stressed that more work was needed before any treatment recommendations could be made. Read more