BOCA RATON, Fla.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–The city rich with American history is now equipped to meet the increasing demands of men and women seeking relief from hormone imbalances, such as menopause, andropause (the male menopause), thyroid disorder and adrenal fatigue. Dr. Barbara Plucknett teams up with Medical Director, Dr. Kenneth Varano, D.O., at his Philadelphia bioidentical hormones practice.

“I want to spend more time with my patients and be able to offer them a lifetime of wellness solutions. I was tired of only offering temporary fixes – now I have the opportunity to help prevent and solve the health issues facing so many people.”

Dr. Plucknett describes why she made the decision to transition into anti-aging and preventive medicine, “I want to spend more time with my patients and be able to offer them a lifetime of wellness solutions. I was tired of only offering temporary fixes – now I have the opportunity to help prevent and solve the health issues facing so many people.” as a bioidentical hormones expert, Dr. Plucknett specializes in treating the underlying causes of symptoms oftentimes associated with aging, such as hot flashes, night sweats, low libido, weight gain, fatigue, mood swings and irritability.

Dr. Barbara Plucknett received her undergraduate degree from Temple University in 1987 and completed her Medical Doctorate at Pennsylvania State University in 1991. Before practicing medicine, Dr. Plucknett fulfilled her residency of Obstetrics/Gynecology at the Medical Center of Delaware in 1995, followed by fellowships at Greater Baltimore Medical Center and the University of Maryland Medical system.

About BodyLogicMD

Founded in 2003, BodyLogicMD physician-owned practices make up the nation’s largest and fastest growing network of the most highly-trained physicians specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Integrated with fitness and nutrition programs, BodyLogicMD’s medically supervised programs are for men and women suffering from hormone imbalance associated with menopause and andropause. also, BodyLogicMD is currently featured as an expert resource on Oprah.com and Suzanne Somers’ latest selling books, Knockout: Interviews with Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer and how to Prevent It and Break through: Eight Steps to Wellness, and her book, Ageless: the Naked Truth about Bioidentical Hormones dedicates and entire chapter to BodyLogicMD. Florida Trend cover story December 2009, features BodyLogicMD as the national leader in the growing anti-aging industry. BusinessWeek cover story March 2006, features the BodyLogicMD start-up story.

In “The Zombie Autopsies,” Dr. Steven Schlozman imagines a virus that strips the brain down to its basest levels. STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• A new novel "the Zombie Autopsies" is about, well, zombies
• The zombie virus basically eats the brain down to the amygdala
• When it’s humans vs. zombies, the best solution is a strategic attack, mathematician says

Zombie author and expert Dr. Steven Schlozman will join us for a Twitter chat at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 26. Tweet your questions to @cnnhealth and follow along at #cnnzombies.

(CNN) — An airborne virus is rapidly turning people into zombies. Two-thirds of humanity has been wiped out. Scientists desperately look for a cure, even as their own brains deteriorate and the disease robs them of what we consider life.

Relax, it’s only fiction — at least, for now. this apocalyptic scenario frames the new novel "the Zombie Autopsies" by Dr. Steven Schlozman, a child psychiatrist who holds positions at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Program in Child Psychiatry.

You might not expect someone with those credentials to take zombies seriously, but it turns out the undead are a great way to explore real-world health issues: why certain nasty diseases can destroy the brain, how global pandemics create chaos and fear, and what should be done about people infected with a highly contagious and incurable lethal illness.

"One of the things zombie novels do is they bring up all these existential concerns that happen in medicine all the time: how do you define what’s alive?" says Schlozman, who has been known to bounce between zombie fan conventions and academic meetings.

Harvard M.D.’s top zombie flicks

"When is it appropriate to say someone’s ‘as-good-as-dead,’ which is an awful, difficult decision?"

What a zombie virus would do to the brain

So maybe you’ve seen "Night of the Living Dead," read "World War Z," or can’t wait for the return of the AMC show "the Walking Dead," but you probably don’t know what differentiates the brains of humans and zombies.

First things first: how does the zombie disease infect its victims? Many stories in the genre talk about biting, but Schlozman’s novel imagines a deliberately engineered virus whose particles can travel in the air and remain potent enough to jump from one person to another in a single sneeze.

Now, then, to the brain-eating. the zombie virus as Schlozman describes it basically gnaws the brain down to the amygdala, an almond-shaped structure responsible for the "fight or flight" response. the zombies always respond by fighting because another critical part of the brain, the ventromedial hypothalamus, which tells you when you’ve eaten enough, is broken.

The brain’s frontal lobes, responsible for problem-solving, are devoured by the virus, so zombies can’t make complex decisions. Impairment in the cerebellum means they can’t walk well, either. also, these humanoids have an unexplained predilection for eating human flesh.

"the zombies in this book are stumbling, shambling, hungry as hell," Schlozman said. "Basically they’re like drunk crocodiles; they’re not smart, they don’t know who you are or what you are."

Why we love those rotting, hungry, putrid zombies

How a zombie virus would be made

So the bloodthirsty undead wander (or crawl) around spreading a lethal illness ominously called ataxic neurodegenerative satiety deficiency syndrome, or ANSD, for short.

"When something really terrifying comes along, especially in medicine or that has a medical feel to it, we always give it initials. That’s the way we distance ourselves from it," Schlozman said.

The virus has several brain-destroying components, one of which is a "prion," meaning a protein like the one that causes mad cow disease. In real life, prions twist when they are in an acidic environment and become dangerous, Schlozman said. how our own environment has changed to make prions infectious — getting from the soil to the cows in mad cow disease, for instance — is still a mystery.

Now here’s something to send chills up your spine: In Schlozman’s world, airborne prions can be infectious, meaning mad cow disease and similar nervous-system destroyers could theoretically spread just like the flu. Swiss and German researchers recently found that mice that had only one minute of exposure to aerosols containing prions died of mad cow disease, as reported in the journal PLoS Pathogens. a follow-up described in Journal of the American Medical Association showed the same for a related disease that’s only found in animals called scrapie. Of course, these are mice in artificially controlled conditions in a laboratory, and humans do not exhale prions, but it could have implications for safety practices nonetheless.

Like mad cow disease, the zombie disease Schlozman describes also progresses in acidic environments. In the book, a major corporation doles out implantable meters that infuse the body with chemicals to artificially lower acidity when it gets too high. but, sadly, when acidity is too low, that also induces symptoms that mimic the zombie virus, so it’s not a longterm solution. Everyone who gets exposed eventually succumbs, Schlozman said.

As for the unknown component of the zombie disease that would help slowly zombifying researchers in their quest for a cure, that’s up for the reader to figure out — and the clues are all in the book, Schlozman said.

How we’d fight back

You can’t ethically round up fellow survivors to kick some zombie butt unless the undead have technically died. and in Schlozman’s book, a group of religious leaders get together and decide that when people reach stage four of the disease, they are basically dead. that, of course, permits zombie "deanimation," or killing.

The ‘zombie theology’ behind the walking dead

And how do you kill a zombie? much of zombie fiction knocks out zombies through shots to the head. that, Schlozman said, is because the brain stem governs the most basic functioning: breathing and heartbeat.

A zombie-apocalypse disease like the one he describes probably wouldn’t evolve on its own in the real world, he said.

But, as we’ve seen, individual symptoms of zombies do correspond to real ailments. and if they all came together, the disease would be creepily efficient at claiming bodies, Schlozman said.

Bad news, folks: even if people contracted a zombie virus through bites, the odds of our survival aren’t great.

A mathematician at the University of Ottawa named Robert Smith? (who uses the question mark to distinguish himself from other Robert Smiths, of course), has calculated that if one zombie were introduced to a city of 500,000 people, after about seven days, every human would either be dead or a zombie.

"We’re in big, big trouble if this ever happens," Smith? said. "We can kill the zombies a bit, but we’re not very good at killing zombies fundamentally. What tends to happen is: the zombies just win, and the more they win, the more they keep winning" because the disease spreads so rapidly.

The best solution is a strategic attack, rather than an "every man for himself" defense scenario, he said. it would take knowledge and intelligence, neither of which zombies have, to prevail.

Why study zombies?

In his day job, Smith? models how real infectious diseases spread. but he’s already reaped benefits from his work on zombies. For instance, while many mathematical models only deal with one complicated aspect of a situation at a time, he tackled two — zombie infection and zombie-killing — when it came to speculating about outbreaks.

When it came time for modeling of real-world human papillomavirus (HPV), then, Smith? felt equipped to handle many facets of it at the same time, such as heterosexual and homosexual transmission of HPV.

"Knowing what we knew from zombies allowed us to actually take on these more complicated models without fear," he said.

Studying zombies is also a great way to get young people excited about science. Smith?, who was on a zombie-science panel with Schlozman through the National Academy of Sciences’ Science and Entertainment Exchange in 2009, has also seen math-phobic people get interested in mathematics by reading about his work with zombies.

"There are insights that we gain from the movies, and from fiction, from fun popular culture stuff, that actually can really help us think about the way that science works, and also the way science is communicated," he said.

And as to why people like reading about zombies and watching zombies so much, Schlozman points to the impersonal nature of things in our society, from waiting in line in the DMV to being placed on hold on a call with a health insurance company.

Think about all the situations in daily life where you sense a general lack of respect for humanity, and zombies make a little more sense.

"the zombies themselves represent a kind of commentary on modernity," Schlozman says. "We’re increasingly disconnected. that might be the current appeal."

For those that may be struggling with various health related issues, there may be some challenges in finding out what exactly is contributing to the problem. The body needs a natural balance in order to be most effective at fixing itself. If you are short on vitamins or minerals, you may have some health issues that could be fixed relatively easily. Some low vitamin D symptoms, for instance, may include any number of muscle or bone aches and pains.

There are several other symptoms that have been associated with a deficiency of vitamin D. To understand how this works, perhaps a little background is in order. take the fact that the human body naturally generates its own vitamin D in response to sunlight. this is a natural process that you can identify at times simply by spending that time in the sun yourself. The body can trigger the vitamin D with as little as 15 minutes per day.

If you are deficient, you may have some other low vitamin D symptoms, such as bone aches or muscle pain. Vitamin D plays a critical role in how the body regulates its calcium stores. this is why a lack may produce symptoms related to bone and muscle issues. Rickets is a common byproduct of insufficient vitamin D.

Weak bones to do calcium problems from lack of vitamin D may include tenderness with bones, increase in fractures (seen frequently with older individuals), dental problems including increase of cavities or overall decrease in dental health. other problems that may be related include headaches, asthma (especially in children), hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer.

Although these symptoms and diseases are not the direct result of vitamin D deficiency in all cases, the inability to regulate calcium properly due to this deficiency is what may be contributing to the problem.

There are numerous studies that have been done on this topic in recent years. those with a lack of exposure to the sun especially combined with other dietary deficiencies, such as no fish or meat or dairy may also experience some of these low vitamin D symptoms.

The recommendations put forth on the internet or elsewhere may only help the reader potentially understand that getting appropriate sunlight or other means of supplementation for vitamin D is definitely important. Having your levels checked to see where you are is something that should be undertaken with the support of your medical professional. Balancing your diet, exercise, and overall activity, including time in the sun will help you maintain the proper balance of vitamins and minerals in your body which will keep you at your healthiest possible state.

hi there im 18 years old and have these symptoms:
frequent urinating
premature ejaculation
lower back ache
prostate feels kind of like i want to squeeze my legs together to stop it aching.
loss of erection sometimes but this could be due to worrying if i have cancer etc..
thankyou

Can't tell you if you have either but you should see your GP without delay

You need to see your doctor, because it COULD be anything, but most likely you have a bladder infection or prostatitis. Try drinking lots of cranberry juice for a week and see if it gets any better…

no, these are signs of maturitry, these are very common at your age specially if ur not sexually active

I have prostate cancer and what you are describing is not. you can't "feel" your prostate. If you feel you have health issues of some type, check with a GP but you can quit worrying about prostate cancer.

i would say no..it is highly unlikely at your age…go and get checked if your worried…first signs are dribbling when you pass water and it is usually in a male 50 plus but get checked and put your mind at rest goodluck….

How often do you think about your liver? The liver is in fact one of the most important organs in the body and we cannot survive without one. Hepatitis is a kind of inflammation of the liver due to the liver being injured. In medical jargon an inflammation that lasts for a period of less than 6 months is termed acute hepatitis. Inflammation that continues beyond the 6 month mark is termed chronic hepatitis.

The causes of liver inflammation have been broadly classified by doctors to form two main categories. There is viral hepatitis and non infectious hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is a very confusing disease and is categorized into five viruses named from Hepatitis A to Hepatitis E. Each of the viruses causes a different type of hepatitis and spreads differently as well. some forms of the disease are infectious as well.

Non infectious hepatitis on the other hand is due to certain chemicals found in alcohol or medication. Then there are other health issues like obesity or genetic disorders among that can cause the disease. This type of hepatitis cannot be spread from one person to another.

Hepatitis C is a very persistent form of the disease, far more so than hepatitis A or B. it is transferred for the most part through blood. it should be clearly understood that it cannot be transferred through casual contact, hugging, sharing food or drink, coughing or sneezing. it can be transferred through sharing drug equipment like needles or tattooing needles that have not been sterilized properly. it can also be transferred during a blood transfusion, sex or other forms of contact with an infected person’s blood.

Strangely enough some people do not have any symptoms when they get infected with the hepatitis C virus despite the fact that it damages the liver. it is possible that the symptoms may emerge at a later stage and can even take months or as long as 20 years to appear. it is also possible that a person can develop the disease and the immune system will work to eradicate it completely without their knowledge.

When the symptoms for hepatitis C do appear, they may include: nausea, vomiting, flu like symptoms, loss of appetite, diarrhea, jaundice, fatigue, itchy skin and pain over the liver, just under the rib cage.

If you suspect that you may have hepatitis C or have been exposed to hepatitis C it is important that you be tested. you can schedule a visit with your doctor to be tested or there are home testing kits available as well which will be a less expensive testing option.

Blood clots, heart attack, and stroke are often symptoms of conditions or diseases such as cancer, but could also be side effects associated with certain medications and medical devices. Below is a list of diseases and conditions associated with symptoms like blood clots, heart attack, and stroke, as well as a list of medications and medical devices related to similar side effects.

Please contact your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms or side effects, or similar health issues.

Blood Clots, Heart Attack, and Stroke could be associated With:

Obesity increases your risk of developing many life-threatening conditions and health problems that lower quality of life. Complications of obesity can include heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and sleep apnea. People who are obese are more likely to develop blood clots, possibly connected to leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells.

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body creates antibodies that attack certain components of blood or cell membranes. The damage from these attacks causes clots to form. APS can cause blood clots in the arteries and veins, and clots that move into the lungs. it can cause also cause stroke, miscarriage, heart attack, and heart valve problems. nearly half of all lupus patients also have APS.

Immobility: Prolonged sitting, such as in a very long car or plane ride, and other types of immobility such as bed rest, can cause blood to pool in the veins in your legs leading to deep vein thrombosis (a clot in the deep vein of your leg). The clot can move into your lungs causing pulmonary embolism. Having developed DVT increases your risk of developing blood clots in your arteries which ca cause heart attack or stroke.

Cancer: Cancer can increase the risk of blood clots and the heart attacks and strokes they can cause due to multiple factors. The disease itself can cause metabolic and circulatory problems that make the blood more likely to clot. Bed rest, chemotherapy, and indwelling venous infusion catheters, sometimes necessary during cancer treatment can also increase the risk.

Blood Clots, Heart Attack, and Stroke are also side Effects associated With:

Yasmin is a birth control pill that contains a combination of synthetic hormones. Yasmin contains drospirenone, a progestin (synthetic progesterone) that is known to be associated with blood clots, stroke, heart attack, gallbladder disease and other health problems. Yasmin can have other serious side effects including personality change and decreased sex drive.

Ortho Evra is a birth control product that is administered in the form of a transdermal patch rather than a pill. Ortho Evra can cause blood clots, heart attack, and stroke in young women who are not in a high risk group for cardiovascular events because it delivers a higher dose of estrogen than most birth control pills.

Plavix is used to prevent blood clots. it works by inhibiting the ability of platelets to clump together. although it is supposed to prevent clotting it sometimes causes a condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in which blood clots form throughout the body.

Drug Eluting Stents are metal mesh tubes used to help keep arteries open and prevent heart attack. Drug eluting stents release a medication that is supposed to prevent reintosis, the formation of clots and blockage of the stent. however, they can cause a condition called late stent thrombosis which involves the formation of a clot inside the stent and leads to heart attack

There could be many other health issues, medical devices or pharmaceutical drugs that are associated with symptoms and side effects like heart attack, blood clots and stroke. it is best to consult with a qualified physician and be honest about your other treatments and lifestyle so he or she can help diagnose the source of the problem.

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The symptoms of dry mouth make up a lengthier list than you could imagine.  you might think that experiencing a dry mouth is a mild difficulty however it can definitely be an uncomfortable situation.  Take a look at some of the feasible symptoms of dry mouth and you will recognize just how significant this issue may be.

you will discover quite a few symptoms that will go along with dry mouth.  in the event that you have dry mouth, after that your case may have serious symptoms, or you may be fortunate enough that your symptoms are slight.  Listed below are some of the symptoms of dry mouth.  Did you know a dry mouth could cause all of this?

* Dryness of mouth and throat

* Sticky feeling in mouth and throat

* Tongue becomes dry, probably sore with cracked skin

* Problems chewing, swallowing, and speaking

* Dry and chapped lips

* Infection of the mouth

what may A Dry Mouth Bring About?

A dry mouth can lead to even more severe health issues.  The existence of a dry mouth indicates the absence of saliva.  without enough saliva your mouth won’t be able to perform many of its basic functions.  Digestion begins in the mouth and without having saliva to play its role in digestion then your digestions suffers.

Saliva also works to keep your mouth area from having infections.  It does this by assisting to keep the bacteria and fungi in your mouth in check.  With no saliva your mouth area is vulnerable to infections.

Saliva also aids to maintain your teeth healthy.  It aids to get rid of excess food particles from your mouth so that cavities will not form.  A dry mouth can be a reproduction ground for more rapid tooth decay.

you may not recognize just how essential saliva is in the processes of chewing and swallowing until you will not have enough.  Dry mouth can make it hard to eat.  It can likewise make it more hard to taste the food that you do take in.

Assistance for Dry Mouth

you don’t want these problems so you wish to do something concerning your dry mouth.  The best thing to do is figure out what is helping to make your mouth so dry initially and trying to take care of whichever that is.  for now, you must keep your mouth healthy and discover relief.  The OraMD 4-Step Oral Hygiene Program can help you to do both.  It will aid preserve the health of your mouth and regain some of the missing moisture to help you feel better right away.

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