Tag Archives: Stress

Study published in World Journal of Urology confirms Fotona SMOOTH® laser technology is a safe, effective & minimally-invasive solution for stress and mixed urinary incontinence

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, 21-Sep-2018 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The latest study published in the World Journal of Urology (Comparison between erbium‑doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser therapy and sling procedures in the treatment of stress and mixed urinary incontinence – https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-018-2445-x) provides further confirmation that Fotona SMOOTH® laser technology is a safe, effective and minimally-invasive solution for stress and mixed urinary incontinence (SUI and MUI). The article, written by Dr. Nobuo Okui, compares Fotona’s minimally invasive IncontiLase® Er:YAG laser therapy with the more conventional TVT and TOT surgical sling procedures.

Asian Study Confirms Favorable Results of Fotona SMOOTH® Laser Therapy for Urinary Incontinence

In the study performed by Dr. Okui, 50 Japanese women were treated either surgically (tension-free vaginal tape – TVT or transobturator tape – TOT) or with a Fotona laser. The 1-h pad test, ICIQ-SF, and overactive bladder-symptom score were used to assess the patients before and 12 months after treatment. Laser therapy was performed by first applying a local anesthetic to the vaginal wall and then inserting a probe into the vagina. Laser irradiation was performed for 20 min with an Er:YAG wavelength of 2940 nm (Dynamis XS, Fotona) for a total of three treatments (alternating every month). Results of the 1-h pad test and ICIQ-SF showed comparable improvements in SUI in the sling and laser therapy groups, while some of the patients with MUI in the TVT and TOT groups showed exacerbation. In conclusion, the TVT and TOT procedures and the laser therapy are comparable for SUI; however, laser therapy is superior in terms of MUI and complications. The study thus once again confirms the safety and efficacy of Fotona SMOOTH® laser therapy for urinary incontinence.

Urinary Incontinence Treatment Options

Conventional treatment options for urinary incontinence are surgical, and include TVT or TOT sling procedures, which involve inserting a synthetic material. Problems often arise with artificial meshes that require new treatment methods. With the Fotona SMOOTH® Er:YAG laser thermotherapy (also known as IncontiLase®), the goal is to provide a minimally invasive therapy based on vaginal collagen hyperthermia followed by collagen remodeling and new collagen synthesis, which results in overall regeneration of aged or stressed vaginal tissues and subsequently greater support to the bladder.

Unique Fotona SMOOTH® Technology for Maximum Safety

Patient safety is the primary concern and, for this reason, the patented Fotona SMOOTH® technology holds a very unique position within the spectrum of gynecological treatment options. It is a non-surgical procedure (no incisions) and without implants or appliances. The Fotona SMOOTH® method of dual-tissue regeneration is completely non-ablative and therefore minimally invasive to the vaginal wall. The treatment involves an additional superficial heat-shocking mechanism of tissue regeneration, and a unique self-regulating safety feature. These dual-tissue regeneration characteristics of the Fotona SMOOTH® Er:YAG laser allow for an exceptionally high degree of safety and efficacy in thermotherapy of the vaginal wall. This is what makes Fotona SMOOTH® a significantly safer alternative to many widely used and more-invasive procedures.

Evidence-Based Laser Medicine

Over the past few years numerous (over 35) other studies on Fotona SMOOTH® laser therapy have been published by distinguished gynecologists from around the globe in some of the most trusted and renowned international scientific journals, all with favorable results (https://www.laserandhealthacademy.com/en/practitioners/recommended-reading/gynecology/). One such noteworthy clinical paper published in March 2018 by Dr. Adolf Lukanovic and Dr. Mija Blaganje is the first randomized controlled trial study (on 114 premenopausal parous women) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-ablative Er:YAG laser therapy as an alternative non-invasive treatment of SUI and the improvement of sexual gratification (published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2018 (224): 153-158). The results from this study indicate that a single session of IncontiLase® treatment improves the impact of SUI symptoms on quality of life and sexual function in premenopausal parous women significantly better than placebo.

In another Asian study, Dr. Yi-Wen Tien et al. from the Chang-Hua Hospital in Taiwan examined the effects of laser treatment for female SUI on pad weight, urodynamics, and sexual function in 35 women (published in the International Urogynecology Journal. 2017; 28(3): 469-476). The study reveals that the effect of IncontiLase® treatment for mild SUI was moderate at the 6-month follow-up. Moreover, it improved LUTS, quality of life, and the sexual function of both partners. The authors conclude that the IntimaLase® procedure is very effective in the treatment of SUI and is not associated with any severe adverse effects.

Similarly, Dr. Yi-Hao Lin et al. from the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan obtained favorable results. Their study investigated the effects of non-ablative laser treatment on overactive bladder (OAB) syndromes, SUI and sexual function in 30 women with urodynamic stress incontinence (published in the Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2017 (56): 815-820). The results showed that IncontiLase® treatment can resolve SUI and coexistent OAB symptoms three months after therapy, while repeated laser therapy may be necessary after six months. The results also revealed that sexual gratification improved, while no major adverse effects were noticed.

The quantity and quality of the studies performed with Fotona SMOOTH® laser therapy is such that Fotona’s Dynamis has been cleared in the European Union for SUI (IncontiLase®), vaginal laxity – vaginal relaxation syndrome (IntimaLase®), genitourinary syndrome of menopause – GSM (RenovaLase®) and pelvic organ prolapse (ProlapLase®), giving women the option to choose a safer and less-invasive treatment alternative. In Asia, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has already cleared Fotona Dynamis for mild to moderate SUI, and the Singapore Health Sciences Authority has cleared the Dynamis for the treatment of SUI and GSM.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Professional Tennis Player Overcomes Debilitating Anxiety & Panic Disorder Unconventionally

The tennis world has seen many comebacks in the past but none as unlikely as this one. After 6 years Dennis Simsek a professional tennis player and teaching pro on the ATP tour has naturally been able to overcome Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder, after being moments from taking his own life. Emergency visits before and after important tennis matches, intense physical sensations that resembled serious illnesses during matches, and overwhelming fearful thoughts were just a few of the personal mental and physical battles.

The ‘Me vs Myself On & Off The Court’ eBook outlines natural and unconventional ways Dennis overcame his mental illnesses. The coping strategies such as anti anxiety pills were only a short term fix that didn’t lead to long term recovery, and this is causing a major roadblock for people suffering from intense panic and anxiety these days. The ups and downs of this inspirational story will give readers a glimpse into the life of a professional athlete that feared everything from crowded areas to up tempo music. Readers will be able to relate to these stories, gain strength to stay motivated to face their fears, and reach their dreams through my online blogs and 30 day fear eliminator challenge set to launch on Jan 1st.

This eBook as well as the many interactive tools were launched through The Anxious Athlete website on Dec 15th, and can be purchased through the website below. I am hoping you will be able to see the enourmous benefits that athletes and non athletes who suffer with mental illnesses will gain from reading this book.

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The Young Are Being Hit Hardest By The Strains Of Modern Life

PruHealth has revealed that the old adage of ‘being over the hill’ in later life may need to be revised as it seems the stresses and strains of modern life are hitting the younger generation the hardest.

The latest research from PruHealth, the health insurance provider that rewards policyholders for being healthy, has found that today’s 20-somethings feel three years older than their birth certificate states and the average 30-something feels their actual age, but the average Brit aged 40+ feels 11.5 years younger than their actual age.*

However, 20-30 somethings seem to have energy levels closer to those of retirees. More people in their 20s and 30s have a dip in their energy levels throughout the course of the day than any other age group, while 12% of 30-somethings don’t feel energetic at any point during the day at all – compared with only 6% of people in their 60s.

The research highlights how people in their 20s and 30s live unhealthier lifestyles than those in their 40s and 50s, which could be the reason for the younger generation’s sluggish energy levels and feeling older than their years. The top three reasons for lower energy levels were identified as an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and not getting enough sleep. However, little action appears to be being taken to counteract this with only 47% saying they eat a balanced diet, 18% never exercise, and a quarter sleep for less than 6 hours a night.

The older generation tends to follow a more balanced diet, eats less unhealthy foods such as takeaways, and participates in a similar level of exercise compared with the younger generation. However, as the over 40s require less calories than the under 40s** this could be the key to their youthfulness.

Interestingly, people of all ages who feel younger than their real age are more likely to feel most energetic in the morning, while those who experience a peak in energy levels in the afternoon are more likely to feel older than their actual age.

Shaun Matisonn, CEO, PruHealth, said: “While it’s wonderful to see that the older we get, the better we feel, the energy levels of those under 40 clearly needs more attention. This age group need to get more exercise – and more sleep – eat healthily and follow more active lifestyles to help boost their energy levels.

“Finding time in your 30s to exercise and eat healthily can be especially difficult while you’re juggling a career and looking after a young family, but incorporating small steps in your daily routine, such as getting off the bus a stop early and snacking on fruit rather than crisps, can help make all the difference.”

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Take The Stress Out Of Finding The Right Drug Addiction Treatment Center

Addiction treatments are only as successful as the treatment centers that administer them. That sounds obvious, but the truth is that too many prospective rehab patients assume that every facility must be more or less the same. This simply isn’t the case. In fact, only those rehab centers which properly recognize and cater to their clients’ needs can ever be expected to affect meaningful long-term healing.

The practical implication here is that you have to do your research before making a rehabilitation decision. It isn’t enough to simply pick a treatment center based on price or convenience; if you’re going to get better, it’s going to be because you find a place that can meet each and every one of your unique individual needs. Given the stakes in the fight against drug addiction, it’s hard to imagine how you could ever settle for any sort of inferior option.

Addictions-Treatments.com is a site devoted to finding you the best addiction treatment center possible. If you’d like more information on addiction recovery programs, please call 1-877-771-6160, visit our website at http://www.addictions-treatments.com/, or contact us at admissions@addictions-treatments.com.

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Stressed Lifestyles Increasing During Recession

PruHealth’s bi-annual Vitality Index* – which tracks the nation’s health trends – has revealed that the health of the nation has declined by two points since July 2008 to a health rating of just 59%. Nearly one in five (18%) Brits now admit they live unhealthy lifestyles, an increase of four per cent in just six months.**

In the last six months the percentage of Brits saying they are under a significant amount of stress has increased from 38% to 40%. As confidence in the economy has decreased it is perhaps of little surprise that almost half (44%) of Brits report their stress levels have increased.

Half (50%) of these adults disclose that stress is affecting their personal life, with many of those surveyed now considering stress the greatest health risk to the nation (10%). Two in five (41%) people suffering from the condition put their increased stress levels down to money worries while 22% say an increased workload is the main reason for their stress. The same number also cited redundancy worries as a large contributing factor to their levels of stress.

The Vitality Index showed that those in poor health have seen the most significant rise in their stress levels, up from 56% to 64%. Those in good health cited only a slight rise from 32% to 34%.

The problems of increased stress are exacerbated by a lack of exercise. According to PruHealth, the number of people reporting that they never exercise has increased from 11% to 14%, with more than a quarter (28%) of adults blaming work commitments.

Commenting on the findings, Dr David Grainger, a senior fellow of the University of Cambridge, said: “In just six months there has been a marked widening of the ‘health gap’ as lifestyle improvements evaporate. Replicated across the entire adult population of the UK, these findings suggest a staggering two million more people have an unhealthy lifestyle than six months ago. The most likely cause? Economic recession.”

Almost half of Brits (47%) say they struggle to eat the recommended “five-a-day” servings of fresh fruit and vegetables; only 24% manage to eat their five portions on a daily basis and alarmingly a fifth (21%) only get their daily intake of fresh fruit and veg once a week or less.

Primarily, it’s the perceived cost of exercising and eating healthily that is driving more people to cut exercise and healthy eating out of their daily routines. More than half (56%) of Britons feel they cannot currently afford the added expenses associated with being healthy, such as gym memberships and super-foods, and over one in three (37%) say they find it hard to take care of themselves due to their busy schedule. Sixty one per cent of people simply feel healthy foods are more expensive than the unhealthy alternatives.

 

The information contained in Prudential UK’s press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions. Full consumer product information and a personalised health insurance quote can be found at www.pruhealth.co.uk

*The research was carried out on behalf of PruHealth by Ipsos MORI. A nationally representative sample of 3034 GB adults was questioned online in January 2009. Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population. Seasonal variations may affect some responses. 
**4% of 48million UK adults is 1.9million people

About PruHealth
PruHealth was launched in October 2004 as a joint venture between Prudential and Discovery Holdings from South Africa. Since launch, PruHealth has grown quickly. It now provides health insurance cover for more than 190,000 lives and in a sample of its individual customers, one third said they had changed their behaviour for the better because of its Vitality reward scheme which encourages health insurance policyholders to look after their health.

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