Thursday, July 25, 2013

Vascular Surgery As Treatment for Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis refers to the build-up of plaque on the coronary arteries. Presence of this dangerous condition can mean that the proper amount of blood is not reaching the heart. When this happens, a heart attack is possible.
Because this issue is so dangerous, it's important that you pay attention to any warning signs of atherosclerosis. One sign of a potential problem is having unusual chest pain during exercise or heavy physical activity. This type of chest pain is known as angina and is a red flag that you may have a blocked artery.
If your doctor determines that you have blocked arteries, you will most likely be referred to a cardiologist to discuss vascular surgery. The type of vascular surgery that addresses this condition is called an angioplasty, and there are several variations available.
A balloon angioplasty involves the use of a catheter that has a small, ballooned tip at its end. Once the surgeon places that tip at the appropriate spot within the artery, the balloon is inflated to create open space in the blocked area. The artery is essentially stretched open to allow adequate blood flow to the heart.
A variation of this vascular surgery introduces the use of a stent, which is a small piece of metal mesh tubing. In these surgeries, a catheter is used to insert the stent into the troubled artery. Again, the balloon tip is inflated, which allows the stent to gently expand. That stent acts as a support system for the artery and holds it open at an ideal size so that blood can flow correctly. The stent stays there after the balloon and surgical equipment are removed. Within several weeks the artery heals itself around the stent. Patients who are at a high risk of recurrence may have a special kind of metal tubing implanted that contains prescription medications.
During a rotablation version of the procedure, a catheter with an acorn-shaped tip is used. The diamond-coated tip spins around at a high speed and removes plaque build-up on the artery walls. The plaque is safely and naturally flushed from the site by the flowing blood and eventually filtered by the liver and spleen.
An atherectomy is another variation of an angioplasty that involves the use of a specialized catheter that has both a balloon and blades on it. Once the balloon is inflated, plaque squeezes into a window-like opening in the catheter and the blades cut away at the excess fat. Those pieces of fat and build-up that are shaved off are removed with the surgical equipment instead of being left in the body.
Atherosclerosis is a troublesome condition that affects many people, especially as they age. It's important to listen to your body for signs of problems and see a cardiologist for proactive screening when recommended by your primary care physician. While vascular surgery is a good solution for even seriously clogged arteries, it's easier to address issues earlier on before they get to more advanced stages.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

A Few Tips on Selecting the Right Kind of Treatment Center for Your Needs

If you are looking for a treatment center, there are a few ways to choose the right one for your situation. This is important since choosing the best one possible can increase your odds of success when it comes to the recovery process. Check out a few of the details you should consider before you make a decision.
You should first find out if the treatment center you are considering is inpatient or outpatient. An inpatient location allows you to essentially live there, offering constant supervision as you deal with your addiction. If you think you could benefit from this, you should look into centers that offer this option. But if you do not believe you need a staff to keep an eye on you around the clock, an outpatient option might be better. In this case, you could keep up your regular routine, such as work or school, and then go to meetings a few times per week or however often they are scheduled. In some cases, you might need inpatient help for a while, after which you can graduate to outpatient meetings once you do not need as much supervision during recovery.
You should also find out what kinds of treatments are offered. Most centers have a mix of methods that they use to treat patients. They often include counseling for each patient, as well as counseling sessions for family members who want to help their loved ones get better. In addition, they might have you meet with other professionals who can help you with your situation. For example, if you have an eating disorder, you might meet with a nutritionist to come up with a good diet for your needs. And if you are on a drug that requires medical supervision during withdrawal, make sure this is available at the treatment center you are considering. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself in danger.
Finally, make sure the treatment center you choose has experience treating patients with the problem you are struggling with. In fact, if possible, find a location that specializes in treating patients like you. This can give you some confidence that you are in good hands, and are not the first person the staff has seen with your particular problem. This can make a big difference during your recovery.
No matter what kind of problem you are dealing with, the right treatment center can give you some hope that you will eventually get better. And for many people, hope is very important right now. Luckily, paying attention to these details can help you choose the right location.
If you need the assistance of a Baton Rouge treatment center, turn to the professionals at Townsend. To learn more about their services and on how they can help you with your

3 Things That Separate Pharmaceutical Quality Control From Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance

Quality is the standard that each and every product relies on to be the benchmark of its reputation. Without it, a product is nothing more than the components with which its made. In the pharmaceutical industry, quality control and quality assurance are two of the most important factors if the company wants to have a positive reputation and be known for reliability and superior products. There are several things that separate quality assurance from quality control.
• Assurance is the evaluation and monitoring of a product, throughout the entire process to make sure each and every item meets or exceeds the standards put in place by the company.
• Control is the monitoring of the techniques and protocols so that the resulting product is exactly what is expected.
• Quality control measures the amount of quality, while quality assurance ensures there is quality to be measured.
Pharmaceutical companies are expected to produce products capable of living up to the claims made on their behalf. Professionals who specialize in quality control and assurance must work as a team and, not only create those products, but prove they are reliable. Without the proof of quality assurance, control would mean little and the product would be compared to others with little or no credibility. While distinctly different, the tasks they perform are similar and apply to different processes and protocols.
Quality Control
Pharmaceutical quality control measures are put in place to ensure each product meets or exceeds the expectations the company and the public have placed on it. If quality is inferior, the team must determine why and then send the needed changes to the quality assurance team so they can begin developing a plan to correct the problem. Whether it is reformulating the product or enhancing specific operations in the manufacturing process, the end product must be able to stand up to the intense scrutiny of the quality control professionals who measure its effectiveness.