(NAPSI)—For more than half of her life, 43-year-old Megan Bettor dealt with bouts of excruciating low back pain. She doesn’t remember a specific accident or injury that caused the initial pain – all she knows is that it was a constant part of her life.

Megan knew something had to change and began exploring surgical options, including a disc replacement, an invasive and expensive treatment that may or may not address her pain. That’s when she met Ramana Naidu, M.D., director of pain management, MarinHealth Medical Center and interventional pain physician and anesthesiologist.

This type of pain is a relatively new discovery and caused by vertebral endplates that get damaged due to age, wear, tear and everyday living. While approximately 5.3 million people in the U.S. are living with vertebrogenic pain, this condition did not have an official diagnosis until recently, let alone a treatment.

Dr. Naidu thought Megan would be an ideal candidate for a procedure utilizing Boston Scientific’s Intracept™ Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System, which provides a minimally invasive, same-day treatment specifically designed to address vertebrogenic pain.

The Intracept system targets a specific nerve in the lower back – the basivertebral nerve or BVN – that transmits pain signals from the damaged vertebral endplates to the brain. The Intracept system uses a radiofrequency probe to heat the BVN and prevent it from sending these signals. The procedure is proven to be safe and effective, with patients reporting significant pain and functional improvements at five years after a single treatment.

“Historically, the disc was presumed to be the source of most chronic low back pain, but recent research demonstrates that the vertebral endplates play a significant role in causing pain,” said Ray Baker, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific. “By targeting the BVN, patients can achieve durable relief through a minimally invasive procedure.”

After receiving insurance approval, Megan underwent her procedure with the Intracept system in November 2023. Her pain relief was immediate and, as time went on, Megan ramped up her physical activities without the accompanying low back pain.

If you have suffered from chronic low back pain for at least six months and find it gets worse with physical activity, you may have vertebrogenic pain.

Physicians across the U.S. are trained to make this specific diagnosis and to determine if treating your low back pain with the Intracept system may be an option for you. You can also use the Intracept Physician Finder to locate a physician near you to make an appointment and learn more about this diagnosis and proven treatment.

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

Keeping yourself well-hydrated is vital for your overall well-being, including ensuring your airways are clear and functioning smoothly. When you don’t drink enough water, your body might produce more mucus, which gets thicker and can challenge breathing. By staying hydrated, you’re doing your respiratory system a big favor, helping it work at its best. Continue reading to see how sipping that extra glass of water can be a game-changer for your airway health, based on scientific facts and expert advice.

Understanding the Airways

Before we explore the relationship between hydration and airway health, it’s crucial to understand the airways and their significance. The airways consist of the nose, throat, trachea, and lungs. They pass air from the external environment to the lungs, facilitating essential gas exchanges.

Why Hydration Matters for Airways

Staying hydrated keeps the mucus in your airways thin and flowing, preventing buildup and infections. Dehydration thickens this mucus, hindering expulsion and increasing the risk of inflammation and respiratory issues. Hydration also preserves the mucosal linings, offering protection against infections.

Practical Tips for Staying Hydrated

● Drink Enough Water: The exact amount of water needed varies from person to person based on factors like age, health conditions, climate, and activity levels. However, most experts recommend drinking around eight glasses (64 oz) of water daily to maintain proper hydration.
● Monitor Hydration Levels: Pay attention to signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, fatigue, and dark-colored urine. One easy way to check your hydration levels is to monitor the color of your urine. Pale or light yellow urine indicates you’re well-hydrated, while darker yellow or amber urine means you need more fluids.
● Incorporate Hydrating Foods: Incorporating hydrating foods into your diet primarily involves incorporating fruits and vegetables rich in water. Watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, and oranges are excellent choices, as they contain over 85 percent water, making them incredibly hydrating. Similarly, vegetables such as cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, celery, and bell peppers are also known for their high water content.

Help Us Promote the Benefits of Airway Health

Join the Foundation for Airway Health in its mission to ensure everyone understands how breathing impacts health and development. Your donation allows us to spread the word about the importance of breathing for overall health, conduct valuable research, and ensure access to care.

You generally won’t need to see your doctor to be diagnosed with a poison ivy rash. If you go to a clinic, your doctor will likely diagnose your rash by looking at it. You usually won’t need further testing.

Treatment

Poison ivy treatments usually involve self-care methods at home. And the rash typically goes away on its own in two to three weeks.

If the rash is widespread or causes many blisters, your doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone, to reduce swelling. If a bacterial infection has developed at the rash site, your doctor might prescribe an oral antibiotic.

Lifestyle and home remedies

A poison ivy rash will eventually go away on its own. But the itching can be hard to deal with and make it difficult to sleep. If you scratch your blisters, they may become infected. Here are some steps you can take to help control the itching:

Apply an over-the-counter cortisone cream or ointment (Cortizone 10) for the first few days.

Apply calamine lotion or creams containing menthol.

Take oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which may also help you sleep better. An over-the-counter antihistamine that won’t make you so drowsy is loratadine (Alavert, Claritin, others).

Soak the affected area in a cool-water bath that has about a half cup (100 grams) of baking soda or an oatmeal-based bath product (Aveeno) in it.

Place cool, wet compresses on the affected area for 15 to 30 minutes several times a day.

You probably won’t need medical treatment for a poison ivy rash unless it spreads widely, persists for more than a few weeks or becomes infected. If you’re concerned, you’ll probably first see your primary care doctor. He or she might refer you to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).

How long will this rash last?

Is it contagious?

Is it OK to scratch?

Will scratching spread the rash?

Will popping the blisters spread the rash?

What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?

What can I do to help control the itching?

If the rash doesn’t go away or gets worse, when do you think I need to make another appointment with you?

How can I prevent this in the future?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

When did you begin experiencing symptoms?

Have you had a similar rash in the past?

Have you spent time outdoors recently?

What treatment steps have you already tried?

(NAPSI)—The latest GeneSight® Mental Health Monitor survey shows that nearly half of Americans feel they have lost time in their lives due to poor mental health.

Courtney Nugent suffered a decade-long struggle with anxiety. At first, medication helped manage her anxiety. However, after a surgery, she found her medication was no longer keeping her anxiety in check. She began a trial-and-error journey of seven different medications to try to get back to “normal.”

“I had to call off my wedding to focus on my mental health,” said Nugent. “My mental health crisis was six months on paper, but for every second of every day, I was fighting to stay alive. That’s time I can’t get back.”

Of those diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression, 50 percent said they have lost years of their lifetime because of poor mental health—and 12 percent said they’ve lost decades.

About a third of those with anxiety and/or depression said they’ve missed significant events due to ineffective mental health treatments. The “treatment as usual” approach to mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety, is often associated with medication trial-and-error, which can also add to lost time. The GeneSight test is a tool clinicians can use to inform mental health medication treatment plans and may help shorten their patients’ road to wellness.

“Patients who have lost time due to depressive episodes or periods of anxiety often feel a sense of loss, which further complicates their mental health situation,” said Sharon Philbin, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

A person’s genes may play a role in their outcomes to certain mental health medications. Practitioners like Philbin order the GeneSight test (a simple cheek swab) to help patients understand how they may metabolize or respond to several mental health medications based on their individual genetics.

“GeneSight has been one of the tools I’ve used to help my patients feel better and take control of lost time so that those living with anxiety and depression can enjoy their lives,” said Philbin.
Courtney was prescribed a new medication based partly on her GeneSight test results and began to feel like herself again. “I have a new job and a new lease on life. I do not think I would be alive without the GeneSight test,” said Courtney.

It wasn’t until her clinician personalized her mental health medication treatment with the help of the GeneSight test that she got back on track. Learn more at https://genesight.com/mental-health-monitor/.

While the Healthy Eating Pyramid is a good indicator of the types (and quantities) of foods we should eat to stay healthy, there are certain foods that are healthier than others when it comes to our eyes.

Do you remember being told as a child that carrots are good for your vision? Ever wondered why that is? Well, it’s because they are full of nutrients such as vitamin A and beta carotene (a plant pigment that helps our body synthesize vitamin A), both of which are essential for your eye health.

As well as carrots, there are lots of foods and different nutrients that are important for your vision. Here’s a list of the 10 best foods that will boost your intake of the above nutrients. Consider adding these foods to your diet to help avoid or delay eye conditions such as cataract, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

1. LEAFY GREENS

Easy to digest, easy to include into every meal, and readily available, leafy greens are great not just for your eyes, but for your overall health. Also remember, the darker the green, the better they are for you. So things like kale, collard greens and spinach are excellent because of their high vitamin C levels.

2. LEAN MEAT

We have some good news for meat lovers. Protein from lean meats such as beef, poultry (chicken, turkey, duck, etc.) or pork can be very beneficial to your eyesight.

Beef is rich in vitamin A and zinc, both of which are beneficial to your cornea (the clear protective outer layer of the eye) and your retina. Poultry and pork are also good sources of zinc. 3. FISH Fish is a very good source of omega-3, which is an important nutrient for eye health. Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is important for your retina. Oily fish such as salmon, trout, tuna, swordfish, sardines, anchovies and mackerel are all great options, and should be included in at least one or two meals every week, if possible.

4. LEGUMES & PULSES

Legumes are plants, pods and seeds that belong to the Fabaceae family. They refer to things like peas and beans (for example: green beans, broad beans, snake beans).

5. SEEDS

Seeds contain high levels of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, and they can help fight age-related eye health issues. These days chia seeds, pepitas, flaxseed, hemp seeds and sunflower seeds are all readily available in the health food section of your local supermarket.

6. NUTS

Nuts are also rich in vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids. Almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, pistachios and brazil nuts are all great for your eyesight.

7. CITRUS

During the cold and flu season, we all turn to oranges, mandarin, grapefruit, and lemon or lime to up our vitamin C intake. But did you know these zesty citrus fruits are also great for your eye health? 8. EGGS Whether you like them poached, boiled or scrambled, eggs are great for your eye health, which is eggscellent news!

9. CARROT

The hype is true, carrots are good for your eyes. These crunchy root vegetables are a great source of vitamin A, which is important for keeping your cornea clear.

Other foods rich in beta carotene include sweet potatoes, pumpkin, capsicum, mangoes, apricots and rockmelon (and any other bright yellow or orange fruits and veggies you can get your hands on).

10. WATER

Water may not be food per se but it makes an important part of a healthy diet.

When you don’t get enough water, your body suffers from dehydration. This also means your eyes. So if your eyes are feeling a bit dry, as well as applying eye drops to them, guzzle down a tall glass of water.

Sugary drinks should also be avoided because they lead to diabetes, and that can cause diabetic retinopathy, which can then lead to blindness.