Wellness Hour - Topic Education G - Z

A - F or G - Z

Hair Restoration: Hair restoration procedures are designed to restore or improve the natural hairline. There are many options available for hair restoration, from medications to hair follicle transplantation. Hair restoration may require several sessions.

Hearing / Audiology: (from Latin: audire, "to hear"; and from Greek: and λόγος, logos, "knowledge") is the branch of Science that studies hearing, balance and related disorders. Its practitioners, who treat those with hearing loss and proactively prevent related damage are audiologists. Employing various testing strategies (e.g. hearing tests, otoacoustic emission measurements, videonystagmography, and electrophysiologic tests), audiology aims to determine whether someone can hear within the normal range, and if not, which portions of hearing (high, middle, or low frequencies) are affected and to what degree. If an audiologist determines that a hearing loss or vestibular abnormality is present he or she will provide recommendations to a patient as to what options (e.g. hearing aids, cochlear implants, surgery, appropriate medical referrals) may be of assistance. In addition to testing hearing, audiologists can also work with a wide range of clientele in rehabilitation (cochlear implants and/or hearing aids), paediatric populations and assessment of the vestibular system.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Often referred to as HRT, hormones (estrogen and/or progesterone) may be given to postmenopausal women to alleviate symptoms of menopause. Long-term usage has been shown to be a risk factor for breast cancer

Imaging / Radiology / CT: Use of imaging techniques, such as X ray or CT Scan, in the diagnosis and treatment of disease

Invisalign / Orthodontics: Orthodontic procedures are most commonly done on children but in recent years have become very popular for adults. Orthodontics treats patients with bite and teeth positioning problems that cannot self-correct with growth or other interceptive procedures. The orthodontist may use either a removable or a fixed appliance. Removable orthodontic appliances are easier to wear and care for and are advantageous in that it is easier to check the patient's progress and oral health. Fixed orthodontic appliances are attached to the teeth and can only be removed by the dentist. In determining whether to use a removable or fixed orthodontic appliance the dentist will factor in the nature of the problem and the tooth movement required to obtain a good result. In children, the child's ability to cooperate with the dentist and maintain good oral hygiene also will be considered. Orthodontics cannot only improve one's smile, but also improve the function of the teeth so they can last a lifetime.

Lap Band / Weight Loss Surgery: Also called "Bariatric Surgery." A discipline of surgery on the alimentary tract, that includes surgical procedures that lead to weight loss. Generally, the procedures produce restriction of the ability to eat, malabsorption of nutrient, or a combination of those two mechanisms. Plastic surgery procedures (including liposuction and the different "lift" surgeries) are not considered types of "weight loss (=bariatric) surgery" by definition. Bariatric surgery is considered a long-term therapy for morbid or severe obesity. It is not considered a cosmetic surgery.

Lasik: the acronym for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis which refers to creating a flap in the cornea with a microkeratome and using a laser to reshape the underlying cornea.

Macular Degeneration / Macula: Damage or breakdown of the macula, which is an area in the back of the eye that controls central vision. It may be caused by injury or aging; and while it does not progress to total blindness, patients with macular degeneration require special optical aids to enlarge distant and near objects. In the elderly, this is known as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).

Medical Spas: A medical spa is a hybrid between a medical clinic and a day spa that operates under the supervision of medical doctor. Medical spas can treat facial conditions like brown spots, redness, broken capillaries that cannot be treated at all or as effectively by a traditional esthetician. They also specialize in laser hair removal and Botox and fillers. Medical spa menus vary, but you can usually get medical spa treatments like laser treatments , IPL (intense pulsed light) treatments, microdermabrasion, photofacials, injectables like Botox and fillers, peels and skin tightening. Medical spas tend to have a more clinical atmosphere, so they aren't always the first choice for relaxing, but many do also offer massage and body treatments. Some medical spas also have a wellness focus and include services like acupuncture, nutritional counseling and naturopathic doctor consultations. One of the biggest questions in choosing a medical spa is to find out whether the doctor is actually on the premises supervising operations and doing treatments, or whether he has lent his name to someone else's enterprise and has relatively little involvement. It's importnat to find out the qualifications of the people doing the services and how long they've been doing them. Prices for medical spa treatment like laser and skin tightening and photo-facials tend to be high because the equipment itself it epensive. You may also want to research the type of equipment they use for the treatment you're interested in, because it's a complex field and the technology is always changing. You really want the most up-to-date, least painful technologies for procedures like skin tightening. Sometimes cosmetic surgeons open medical spas as an adjunct to their practice, so they can sell more services to women who are working on their appearance. One caution here is that you may give more credence to a doctor's recommendations that you get microdermabrasion or laser treatments. Don't lose your critical judgement just because a doctor is recommending a treatment. The best approach is to identify what is bothering you and then see what they recommend to treat it. Doing independent research is good because the medical spa will want to use the machine they have, and it's important to know if it's the best choice for you. Regulations vary from state to state. A medical doctor generally has to oversee the procedures performed in a medical spa, but this does not mean he is always on the premises.

Oncology / Cancer Treatments: Oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with tumors, including study of their development, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This includes most cancers. An oncologist (on-KOL-o-jist) is a doctor who specializes in oncology.

Ophthalmology: is the study of the eye, and the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect it. Ophthalmologists not only perform vision tests and prescribe glasses or contact lenses, but also the surgery to treat eye disorders, such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment and obstructed tear ducts.

Orthopedic Surgery: the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of injuries and diseases of the body's musculoskeletal system.

Pain Management: the control of pain or discomfort through medication, stress reduction, relaxation, exercise, massage, heat, cold, or providing a comfortable environment

Periodontal Disease: any gum disease (such as periodontitis or gingivitis) that, if untreated, inflames and eventually destroys the bone and tissues that support and anchor the teeth.

Podiatry: the care and treatment of the foot and ankle from childhood problems through those resulting from aging, including injury and disease and surgical correction of bunions, hammertoes and other conditions

Pyschology / Counseling: is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. Psychologists study such phenomena as perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Psychology also refers to the application of such knowledge to various spheres of human activity, including issues related to daily life (e.g. family, education, and work) and the treatment of mental health problems. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of these functions in individual and social behavior, while also exploring the underlying physiological and neurological processes. Psychology includes many sub-fields of study and application concerned with such areas as human development, sports, health, industry, media, and law.

Stroke: A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood supply) caused by thrombosis or embolism or due to a hemorrhage.[1] In medicine, a stroke, fit, or faint is sometimes referred to as an ictus (cerebri), from the Latin icere ("to strike"), especially prior to a definitive diagnosis. In the past, stroke was referred to as cerebrovascular accident or CVA, but the term "stroke" is now preferred. A stroke is a medical emergency and can cause permanent neurological damage, complications and death. It is the leading cause of adult disability in the United States and Europe. It is the number two cause of death world-wide and may soon become the leading cause of death worldwide.[2] Risk factors for stroke include advanced age, hypertension (high blood pressure), previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking and atrial fibrillation. High blood pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor of stroke.[1] The traditional definition of stroke, devised by the World Health Organisation in the 1970s,[3] is a "neurological deficit of cerebrovascular cause that persists beyond 24 hours or is interrupted by death within 24 hours". This definition was supposed to reflect the reversibility of tissue damage and was devised for the purpose, with the time frame of 24 hours being chosen arbitrarily. The 24-hour limit divides stroke from transient ischemic attack, which is a related syndrome of stroke symptoms that resolve completely within 24 hours.[1] With the availability of treatments that, when given early, can reduce stroke severity, many now prefer alternative concepts, such as brain attack and acute ischemic cerebrovascular syndrome (modeled after heart attack and acute coronary syndrome respectively), that reflect the urgency of stroke symptoms and the need to act swiftly.[4] A stroke is occasionally treated with thrombolysis ("clot-buster"), but usually with supportive care (physiotherapy and occupational therapy) and secondary prevention with antiplatelet drugs (aspirin and often dipyridamole), blood pressure control, statins and anticoagulation (in selected patients).

Vein Removal: Many people are embarrassed by the appearance of spider veins on the face or legs. Spider veins are actually dilated or stretched blood vessels that appear on the legs, not "broken" blood vessels, as is commonly thought. Their precise cause is unknown, but it is thought that heredity, excessive standing, weight gain, hormonal changes and pregnancy may be some of the causes. Laser technology has become an important factor in the treatment of vascular deformities such as hemangiomas, port wine stains, and spider veins. Endovascular laser therapy (EVLT) allows for the treatment of varicose veins using minimal incisions and laser ablation of the vein in the area above the knee. Our clinical center uses EVLT, laser therapy and sclerotherapy injections in combination to offer an aggressive approach to the treatment of problematic lower leg veins and spider veins. We typically treat larger varicose veins with either EVLT or sclerotherapy. Spider veins are treated with the laser. Most patients require 2 to 3 treatments spaced over 3 to 6 months.

Weight Loss: in the context of medicine or health or physical fitness, is a reduction of the total body weight, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue and/or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon and other connective tissue.

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