There are numerous good doctors that you can find in Houston, Texas. They are very reliable in case of emergencies. Some of the doctors in Houston have their own clinics and most of them are residents in some of the hospitals in the area. Some of them are even members of institutions providing healthcare and surgical needs.

Denver Harbor Clinic
The Denver Harbor Clinic is a community-based, non-profit organization health center located in Houston. The center provides health care services to people who are poor and cannot afford the high cost of medical treatment.

The clinic understands how hard it is to have an illness and not be served with proper medical treatment because of poverty. Most of the funds of the clinic come from generous donors.

Members of the clinic are mostly community leaders, doctors, businessmen, philanthropists, and other ordinary citizens who are all committed to serve for the welfare of the people.

Health services include:
o Adult medicine
o Pediatric care
o Adolescent care
o Women’s health
o Prenatal care
o Low risk obstetric care
o Geriatric care
o Ophthalmology
o Nutrition seminars
o Minor Surgical Procedures
o Dental service
o Mental health counseling and therapy

Houston Surgical Consultants
The Houston Surgical Consultants consists of two great doctors from Houston – Dr. Garth Davis and Dr. Robert Davis. Both of them have been conducting surgeries in Texas Medical Center for many years. They have served patients from the locality and from other countries.

Besides their surgical services, they also provide extensive consultation with many patients.
Dr. Robert Davis finished his medical degree at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and South Africa. He finished his post-graduate education in London & Edinburgh in Great Britain, New York, Galveston, and Houston.

In 1973, he was able to receive his certification from the American Board of Surgery. He has also contributed to various scientific papers used in various medical conferences. He is also an active member to some of the prominent organizations of professional medical practitioners.

Dr. Robert serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.
Other achievements include:
o Deputy Chief at the department of surgery at the Methodist Hospital
o Member of the American College of Surgeons
o Member of the Royal College of Surgeons
o Member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery
o Chairman of Bariatric Surgery Committee at Methodist Hospital

Dr. Garth Davis, on the other hand, received his medical degree at the University of Texas in Austin. He was awarded the Most Outstanding Student in his time.
His credentials include:
o Completed surgical residency and elected as Chief Administrative resident at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
o Certified by the American Board of Surgery
o Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
o Fellow of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

Dr. Garth Davis has attended series of training in laparoscopic surgery.
Both doctors dedicated their profession in conducting surgeries for many patients. They were able to create a comprehensive medical program to help address the disease of obesity. A lot of their surgery procedures are related to gastric bypass and lap band.

By: David Urmann

Nutritional counselors, also known as dietitians, help patients identify and manage food and nutrition-related concerns through short- and long-term treatment strategies. Nutritional counseling is commonly applied to patients experiencing neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorders, digestive ailments, obesity, diabetes, menopause, pregnancy, allergies, among other conditions.

By analyzing and assessing diet and exercise habits, nutrition is seen as a key factor in establishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Without adequate nutrition, a large number of diseases can ensue in part due to the vulnerability placed on the body. Nutritional counselors aim to find integrated ways to set goals and help patients achieve them. When nutritional counselors assess patients, individual profiles are analyzed. The information the patient receives from the counselor is contingent on their lifestyle (vegetarianism, for instance), age, life stage (menopause, pregnancy), and medical history.

Nutritional Counseling incorporates weight monitoring and education about weight, food records, self-control strategies, meal planning, and problem-solving skills. Instruction of food planning and self monitoring is seen as instrumental in getting patients to follow a specified program.

The Work of Dietitians
Dietitians and nutritionists plan nutrition programs, helping to prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits while addressing dietary imbalances. They also recommend specific dietary changes to fit a person’s temporary condition. (Recommending extra folate for pregnant women, for instance.) Dietitians often work in hospitals and schools, applying their services through education and research. Clinical dietitians provide nutritional services to patients in institutions by assessing patients’ nutritional needs, developing and recommending nutrition programs, and evaluating the results with other professionals to coordinate medical and nutritional needs. Community dietitians counsel individuals and groups on nutritional practices aimed to prevent disease and promote health. They work as independent contractors with healthcare facilities or engage in their own private practice, screening clients’ nutritional needs and offering regulated approaches meeting them.

Eating Disorders
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) sets guidelines and protocols for the practice of nutritional counseling. In 1996, it defined guidelines for medical nutrition therapy for many medical conditions related to nutrition, which included eating disorders.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) considers nutritional counseling as one of the most important treatment elements for people with eating disorders. Nutritional counseling is viewed for its role in motivating patients to agree to reestablishing healthy eating habits. In this context, nutritional counseling is seen holistically, in terms of how it fits into ongoing support to patients and their families.

Nutritional counseling in this context attempts to correct irregular eating habits, replacing it with a balanced approach to food and weight control. It provides a synthesis of information and practices, drawing from many fields including cognitive-behavioral, relational, and educational techniques. It is considered a part of overall treatment, not as a single-source approach. As such, it employs the support of other treatment methods, which can include psychotropic medications and psychological counseling.

Collaborative rapport between patient and counselor is considered essential for treatment success. The counselor addressed entrenched food beliefs, behaviors and attitudes revolving around food, how, when, and how much to eat it – amounting to a complex equation. Counseling environments must be secure, safe, and supportive, where the patient receives helpful information from the counselor in a direct but non-intrusive manner.

How Nutritional Counseling Can Help Overall Health: Counseling can clarify questions related to nutrients, calories, and special food needs, showing what to look for when reading food labels. They can help sort through healthy cooking alternatives in real-life contexts while teaching strategies of self-control. (One may learn how to better select items from a restaurant menu, for example.)

Digestive Problems – Dietitians or Nutritionists jointly work with physicians to establish dietary plans that are in keeping with a patient’s condition. They may recommend the removal of fried foods, spices or carbonation, while recommending other alternatives.

Diabetes – Counseling can provide healthy food alternatives without sacrificing taste.

Pregnancy – It can help ensure a pregnant woman is getting all the nutrients she needs, especially during the first three months of pregnancy, the crucial period that may affect a newborn’s risk for developing neural tube or spinal cord defects.

Conditions that May Benefit from Nutritional Counseling HIV, Cancer, Hypertension, Organ Dysfunctions, Hypoglycemia, and Heart Disease.

Most eating disorder centers and residential programs offer nutritional counseling. The benefits of receiving nutritional counseling includes improved ability to concentrate, a boosted immune system, stabilized moods, more energy, aid in recovery of eating disorders, and increase in overall health.

By: Dr Rita Cummings

Law enforcement officers use field sobriety tests (FST’s) to determine whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol. In Colorado they typically use three tests, the nystagmus “(follow the flashlight with my eyes”), the walk and turn, and one leg stand test. Although the tests appear to be “scientific”, they have no basis in science and are useless in determining whether or not a suspect is under the influence of alcohol.

The tests all depend on the officer’s judgment of the suspect’s performance. Since the officer’s has pretty much decided that the suspect was impaired before asking them to take the test; they will see what they expect to see.

The tests are also administered under conditions that almost guarantee failure: on an sloped surface, late at night on the shoulder of the road, only feet from oncoming traffic, with the police car lights and strobe lights providing the only illumination, and given to a nervous person who is not familiar with the tests. That person also may have difficulty hearing the officer, understanding English, or have health problems that make the tests difficult if not impossible to perform. Finally, the suspects clothing can hinder their ability to perform the tests.

For example, one of my clients was required to perform the tests on a snowy evening while wearing an evening gown and 3 inch stiletto heels. The tests were given on the inside shoulder of Interstate 25 with cars and trucks passing by at 60 miles per hour. Nobody could have passed a test under these conditions.

The three most common tests were developed by the for profit Southern California Research Institute. They were paid for with a government grant from the Department of Transportation. According to their own research, 47 percent of the subjects tested would have been arrested for DUI – even though they were under the .10% limit. (Burns and Moskowitz, Psychophysical Tests for DWI Arrest: Final Report, DOT-HS-802-424, NHTSA, 1977.)

Independent testing shows that the roadside sobriety tests are not reliable. In 1991, Clemson University researchers conducted a study on the accuracy of the tests. They videotaped sober suspects taking the tests, showed the tapes to police officers and asked them to interpret the results. The results were astounding. According to the officers 46% of the sober suspects were too drunk to drive.(Cole and Nowaczyk, “Field Sobriety Tests: Are they Designed for Failure?” 79 Perceptual and Motor Skills Journal 99 (1994).

This presents a double-edged problem.First, the police, judges, prosecutors and jurors shouldn’t rely on these tests to make a decision about whether or not to prosecute or convict a defendant. Also, the fact that you can stand on one leg or walk a straight line after drinking doesn’t mean that you can safely drive home. Aside from not drinking, the only way to ensure that you won’t drive under the influence is to use a cab or have a designated driver.

By: Peter M. Johnson

The era of male Bikini Brazilian waxing has arrived. Sure, some men have been experiencing this procedure for years but it has become the trend for many men from coast to coast are appearing in droves to specialty Denver waxing studios. Like the female Brazilian, the male Brazilian involves the removal of all hair between the naval and tail-bone. Fortunately for all of us, professional waxing products have come a long way. Hard wax (sometimes called cold wax) should be the first and only choice used for this delicate procedure. Why? Because, it will hurt, bad. That should be reason enough but if you want another reason, strip wax may actually remove the skin? – ouch!

Hard wax involves the skin in a most minimal way. The hard wax wraps around the hair without attaching to the skin.? It is more of a short-lived discomfort rather than torturous pain. For you first timers, the first time waxing is always the most uncomfortable. The discomfort can mostly be attributed to an acute fear for the unknown — your senses are simply on heightened, code orange alert! Some tips for your first male Brazilian Denver waxing experience:

Before Your Brazilian Waxing Service:

o Trim your hair to 1/4 inch. Longer hair tends to bring more discomfort.
o Shower/cleanse before arrival. Do not apply any lotion
o If nervous about the pain level, take an ibuprofen/Advil 1 hour prior.
o Come in an hour prior to your service and purchase a No Scream Cream product that will temporarily prevent and relieve the pain in the area (must be applied 30 to 45 minutes prior to be effective).

Afterward:

Post care is as important then the actual service. Don’t overlook your responsibility to helping your skin avoid ingrown hair.

o Do not exercise immediately afterward. Open pores and sweat isn’t a good combination! Wait a day.
o Purchase product specifically to calm your skin down and to prevent nasty ingrowns. Either Tend Skin or Get the Bump Outta Here are designed for this purpose. I can’t tell you how important purchasing post care product is. Don’t defer this purchase! Your Denver Wax experience shouldn’t be a pain!

By: Rebekah Wood

If you have had an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) with contrast (dye injected into the patient so the doctor can clearly see internal organs, tissues and bones) you may be at risk of a fatal, incurable disease. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) also known as nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD) occurs in kidney patients who have an MRI with contrast.

An article at Tennessean.com tells the story of Jeanie Deason who developed NSF/NFD and has filed a lawsuit against the makers of the contrast dye. Jeanie’s legs and right arm are now “frozen in a bent position.” Her condition has so deteriorated that she requires 24 hour assistance. She spends her days bedridden, limbs throbbing, getting up only when her parents help her to the bathroom.

A doctor recommended therapy to help with Deason’s condition; however, TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid managed care program, refused for two years to pay for her treatment claiming it was experimental. Finally, in April, a Tennessee judge said TennCare must pay because the treatment is medically necessary.

Although there is no known cure for NSF, Deason’s physician, Dr. John Zic, an assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University, believes he can give Jeannie some relief through “extracorporeal photopheresis”. It takes blood from her body, exposes it to ultraviolet rays, then returns it to her. This helps her body’s immune system fight the disease. It can cost $8000 for a single treatment.

In Denver, Greta Carolus, suffering from kidney failure, was injected with a contrast dye containing Gadolinium, a rare metal. Four days after her MRI she was hospitalized, diagnosed with NSF and found herself in a wheelchair reports an article at lawyersandsettlements.com. “I wouldn’t wish this on anybody; my worst enemy I wouldn’t wish this on. This is just a terrible disease,” says Greta.

Kidney patients are most at risk for this disease as the toxic contrast dye is expelled through the kidneys and if they aren’t working the poison does not leave the body.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began issuing health advisory warnings on all MRI contrast dyes (also known as “contrast agents” or “contrast mediums”) containing Gadolinium.

On May 23, 2007, the FDA ordered that a black box warning be added to all Gadolinium-based contrast agent labels concerning the life-threatening risk associated with the use of contrast dyes containing Gadolinium.

The warning states that patients with severe kidney insufficiency who receive Gadolinium-based agents are at risk for developing the debilitating, potentially fatal disease known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF).

The required warning includes advice to “avoid the use of GBCA’s (Contrast agents containing Gadolinium) unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Although the FDA requires the warning, this use of Gadolinium containing contrast agents is still allowed and they are frequently used.

Lawsuits filed in federally supervised multi-district litigation in Cleveland allege the manufacturers knew of the dangers long before the FDA imposed warnings. “Makers of the contrast dye knew how toxic it was; they knew the results could be catastrophic,” said Seattle Super Lawyer Ken Selander who works with a group of lawyers around the country representing victims of the disease.

Those most at risk for the disease, kidney patients, are legion, according to the National Kidney Foundation who reports that some 20 million people-1 in 9 American adults-have chronic kidney disease and another 20 million are at risk for developing it.

Of those at risk, the ones most in need of the warning are the 300,000 people in the United States who are dependent on kidney dialysis to remove toxins from their blood. Typically, patients must visit a clinic several times a week for 4-hour periods while their blood is cleaned.

Initial symptoms of the disease include high blood pressure, muscle weakness and thick hardened skin. With time victims may suffer pain, burning and itching in affected areas. With more time, victims may experience stiffness in skin and joints which completely immobilizes them. Some suffer death.

If you or a loved one has kidney disease and experienced severe skin reactions after an MRI you should see a dermatologist at once. He can order the simple test which confirms you have the disease.

By: Rex Bush

Here you have The 10 Most Popular Brain Fitness & Cognitive Health Books of 2008. I hope you find them as stimulating as I did!

1. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Pear Press, March 2008)

- Dr. John Medina, Director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research at Seattle Pacific University, writes an engaging and comprehensive introduction to the many daily implications of recent brain research.

2. The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person (Oxmoor House, March 2007)

- Dr. Judith Beck, Director of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, connects the world of research-based cognitive therapy with a mainstream application: maintaining weight-loss.

3. The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (Viking, March 2007)

- Dr. Norman Doidge, psychiatrist and author of this New York Times bestseller, brings us “a compelling collection of tales about the amazing abilities of the brain to rewire, readjust and relearn”.

4. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain(Little, Brown and Company, January 2008)

- Dr. John Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, summarizes the growing research on the brain benefits of physical exercise.

5. The Art of Changing the Brain: Enriching the Practice of Teaching by Exploring the Biology of Learning (Stylus Publishing, October 2002)

- Dr. James Zull, Director Emeritus of the University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education at Case Western Reserve University, writes a must-read for educators and lifelong learners.

6. Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves (Ballantine Books, January 2007)

- Sharon Begley, Newsweek’ excellent science writer, provides an in-depth introduction to the research on neuroplasticity based on a Mind & Life Institute event.

7. Thanks: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Houghton Mifflin, August 2007)

- Prof. Robert Emmons, Professor of Psychology at UC Davis and Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology, writes a solid book that combines a research-based synthesis of the topic as well as practical suggestions.

8. The Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes and the Civilized Mind (Oxford University Press, January 2001)

- Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg, clinical professor of neurology at New York University School of Medicine, provides a fascinating perspective on the role of the frontal roles and executive functions through the lifespan.

9. The Brain Trust Program: A Scientifically Based Three-Part Plan to Improve Memory (Perigee Trade, September 2007)

- Dr. Larry McCleary, former acting Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Denver Children’s Hospital, covers many lifestyle recommendations for brain health in this practical book.

10. A User’s Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain (Pantheon, January 2001)

- In this book (previous to Spark), Dr. John Ratey provides a stimulating description of how the brain works. An excellent Brain 101 book to anyone new to the field.

Let me ask you know…have you already chosen a book to read next?

Copyright (c) 2009 SharpBrains

By: Alvaro Fernandez

People are relocated by the employers every year and the employers offer really excellent benefits depending on your level within the corporation. Of course, if you are a new hire for that particular company, there may not be any benefits offered. However, no matter what your status with the company or if you are relocating on your own to the area there is quite a bit of home work that you need to do before you make that relocation.

If you are single, chances are you will do an internet search to see where so good apartments or condos are in the heart of the city, close to the shopping centers, entertainment venues, and dining establishments; possibly being able to walk to and from home and office.

If you are a couple or a family being relocated there will be other things you will need to consider such as schools and activities for children. There are websites that you can check to get school listings for Denver area public schools. Some of those schools are listed by counties such as Jefferson, Douglas and Denver.

Denver is called the Mile High City and it would probably be a good idea to check with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce to see if they offer a welcome package and can send you some information. Most Chamber of Commerce offers this service and it will usually include a map of the area as well as out lying suburbs.

There is a website called www.MileHighCity.com. This website offers not only the listing for schools, but utilities, internet service providers, apartment selectors as well as information about the city itself. There is also a link to an online book called The Insider’s Guide to Denver.

If you are planning on purchasing a home, you will also need to locate a realtor. You need to make sure that it is not an agent that has so much business that they can help you. You want an agent familiar with the area and that is hungry. A hungry agent is going to work harder for you. A website such as www.Denverrealtors.org is a good place to start. If you are being relocated by an employer that uses a relocation company, it may be a requirement that you use an approved realtor to have the benefit covered by your employer.

A real estate agent or a company referred by the relocation company usually offers home finding services which takes everything you are looking for into consideration. Most employers like the fact that as part of this service, they help their employees purchase a home, at the right price for the time and help them to buy better offering to cover the costs of inspections on the home before it is bought. This not only helps the employee later if they should be relocated again, but helps the employers because they won’t have to worry about trying to sell an employees home that has multiple issues some of which might be environmental.

By: Bruce Swedal

Few people thought the Denver Broncos would get off to such a fast start, but it happened.

The 2008 season was a disappointment – while the Broncos have started out well, their strength of schedule is one of the most difficult in the league. If the Broncos go 8-8 it will be a miracle. As good as the 09′ season started for the Broncos, it can sink just as fast.

New head coach Josh McDaniels didn’t start his new job off with a bang. After upsetting QB Jay Cutler to the point where he wanted to be traded, the Broncos looks as they were doomed.

WR Brandon Marshall was very close to leaving the team as well. While Marshall may be immature to an extent, there is no denying his on-field ability. No coach wants to lose their best two players before the team even takes the field.

The Broncos defense has been a huge surprise thus far. They have the one of the top ranked defenses in the league as of now. Their defense was they Achilles heal in 08′ and cost them a chance at the playoffs.

QB Kyle Orton is the prototypical “game manager”, while he won’t put up the tremendous statistical performances like Drew Brees or Peyton Manning, Orton won’t lose many games either.

When the weather in Denver gets colder, the Broncos must run the ball more. It seems every year no matter how the team is doing the Broncos running game is among the best in the league.

Many people thought the Broncos were a 4-12 or 5-11 team at the start of the season. The Broncos have been one of the most surprising teams in the league so far. The Broncos only competition in the AFC West is the San Diego Chargers, understandably. It will be very tough to keep pace with the talented San Diego Chargers over the course of the season.

By: Mark Parachas

For those who routinely greet a beeping alarm clock with a shriek of denial, coffee is more than a welcoming morning drink: it’s a way of life. But, even for those not in need of an intervention by the Hills Brothers, coffee can be filled with lots of benefits, lots of health benefits.

In the past years, no one thought of coffee as a drink that could filter out illness. Instead, it was thought of merely as a drink that gave exhausted people a latte pep. But, it turns out it might not just be a bean; it may also be a magical bean.

Now, before we continue, it’s important to point out that consuming large amounts of coffee is not without its risks. Like too much of anything, overindulging in coffee can lead to problems. Coffee can stain teeth, cause high blood pressure, and lead to constipation, nervousness, heart palpations, and sleep changes. The high amount of caffeine can also lead to osteoporosis, and the inability to absorb certain nutrients. Still, for many people, the benefits of coffee outweigh the risks and a mug or two is a morning, afternoon, and evening ritual.

Those who drink coffee regularly may find a decreased risk of diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver. It can decrease the risk of diabetes 2 by up to half (especially for those who consume several cups a day) and can decrease the incidence of cirrhosis by up to at least forty or fifty percent. Some studies suggest the more coffee consumed, the less chance of cirrhosis forming.

Coffee, though its caffeine content can speed up the heart rate, can also help people to “beat” heart disease. Possibly because it removes excess lipids from the blood stream or maybe because of its stimulant effects, those who consume coffee have a lower rate of cardiovascular disease. Parkinson’s disease is another ailment coffee grounds: studies have shown that those who drink more than three cups of coffee per day significantly decrease their chances of getting Parkinson’s. Along these lines, lifetime coffee drinkers, as opposed to those who only occasionally drink it, have a largely decreased incidence of Parkinson’s.

Among other benefits of coffee are prevention of gout, anti-cancer elements, reduction of dental cavities, and cognitive enhancements. Those with coffee in mind have less chance of developing Alzheimer’s and do largely better with short term memory recall and reaction time. Some tests indicate that coffee even increases IQ, allowing coffee drinkers to brag to tea drinkers about being smarter.

When it comes to health, coffee is a rising star (bucks). With recent findings, it plays a role in health: vigor is in coffee’s (java) script. Simply stated, those who regularly indulge in cups of Joe are likely to see wellness brewing.

By: Jennifer Jordan