These Include Weight Loss: Little-Known Uses of Anti-Depressants

Antidepressants are the talk of the town lately and since we are promoting active lifestyle, there are particular things that we want to clear out, like taking antidepressants is not only for depression. Not all these drugs are given to patients to cure depression, but can also be used for the treatment of non-psychological conditions. You’re going to see antidepressants in a wider perspective after reading this. The following uses of antidepressants may surprise you. You’ve got to read this if you are looking for a way on how to lose weight quickly in Tyrone FL. 

For the Treatment of Sleep Issues or Insomnia. “Common antidepressants used to treat sleep problems include trazodone, mirtazapine, amitriptyline, and doxepin,” says Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, D.C.

Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that can be used for sleep. It was originally intended as an antidepressant, but because of its nature, patients had to take very high doses for it to effectively fight depression and anxiety. Low doses can induce sleep. Today, it is most often prescribed as off-label for insomnia. The best thing about trazodone is that it is not addicting or habit-forming.

For the Treatment of Pain. There is an ongoing research about the benefits of antidepressants for the treatment of certain pain disorders, but this is not yet formally approved by the US FDA. It is assumed that its ability to treat pain is due not to the antidepressant’s effect on a person’s mood, but rather to the medication’s impact on transmission of pain signals through nerve fibers.

For Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). Antidepressants are not recommended to treat standard PMS, but it can be an appropriate treatment for an underlying condition known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD usually happens when the PMS is severe.

For the Cessation of Smoking. Bupropion is a popular antidepressant that can help with smoking cessation.

“It’s marketed under the name Zyban for this particular indication.” However, for depression it’s marketed as Wellbutrin,” says Rosenthal. 

For Weight Loss. The majority of antidepressants cause some weight gain, but there are kinds like Prozac and Welbutrin, which are known to cause weight loss. These drugs affect the levels of dopamine, which controls energy, appetite and motivation. If you want a quick weight loss program or method, affordable bariatric surgery might also be a good way.

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For You?

If you are unhappy with your body shape, you may consider weight loss surgery. But just like the many aspects and considerations in our lives, weight loss surgeries have significant benefits and drawbacks too. You may also need to understand that weight loss surgery is not a cure for obesity. It is better to consider it as a helpful tool to defeat obesity. Let us take a closer look on the pros and cons of the procedure to help you decide if weight loss surgery is good for you or not. It is an important commitment so you need to be extra careful. 

Pros and Cons of Weight Loss Surgery 

Weight loss surgery is not an easy fix and most importantly, it does not work like magic. It is a medical procedure that may have a lot of advantages and disadvantages too. Doctors in weight loss advice patients to know the possibilities first before making a decision. 

The most important benefit that you can get from the surgery is of course, weight loss. You may also save yourself from negative conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea and severe arthritis. But with these benefits, serious risks may also be anticipated. These risks may include band erosion, bleeding ulcer, blood clot in the lungs, breakdown of the staple line and worst, heart attack. 

Your Life after the Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgeries, just like the other kinds of surgeries require recovery time. The time for recovery will depend on the patient’s ability to adjust to his new lifestyle. For the most favorable results, surgeons recommend the following:

1. Eat smart. 

Make sure that you eat nutritious foods. You have to eat the right kinds in right amount. 

2. Exercise 

Exercise regularly but do not do heavy exercises right after the surgery. You have to wait until you are fully recovered. 

3. Do follow-ups with your doctor. 

A follow up with your doctor will monitor your progress. This will also keep you on track and prevent serious risks. 

If you are thinking about a change in your lifestyle, weight loss surgery can be right for you. Just make sure that you are mentally, emotionally and physically prepared as you take on the challenge. The decision and the life that you will be living after the surgery is challenging so make sure you are all set up to get the best results. 

What is Cholecystectomy and Who Needs It?

How have you been feeling lately? Have you been experiencing pain that starts in the center of your upper tummy or the epigastric area that spreads to the right upper back of your shoulder blade area? Do you have trouble moving around and the pain does not go away no matter what position you take or do? Does you condition prevent you from taking normal or deep breaths. Did the pain start with the duration of 15 minutes then to 24 hours? Doe the pain keep you up at night or enough to wake you up from deep sleep? Does the pain occur after meals? Do you experience frequent vomiting? Do you have nausea, loss of appetite, fever, dark urine, yellowing of the skin, light-colored stools and chills? Better get yourself to the emergency room, these pains will not go away until the proper treatment/ procedure is done. This is a very painful condition that one should not tolerate nor dismiss as normal. These are the symptoms of gall stones in the gall bladder.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a procedure endorsed by the National Institutes of Health for the past 2 decades, as an effective and safe surgical treatment for the removal of the gallbladder or gallbladder surgery. The review endorsed the numerous benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and its effectiveness compared to open cholecystectomy. This type of surgery is done requiring small incisions in the abdomen that allows the insertion of operating ports, small cylinder tubes about 5 to 10 mm in diameter, through which surgical instruments with a video camera are placed into the abdominal cavity. The camera transmission is seen via video on a screen where the doctors monitor the course of their surgery. 

The camera shows the surgical field and sends magnified image from inside the body to a video monitor feed. This gives the surgeon a close-up view of the tissues and organs. The National Institute of Health panel noted that this type of procedure, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, should be performed by certified surgeons, experienced in this form of surgery only on patients with confirmed gallstones. This form of laparoscopic surgery has now replaced traditional open cholecystectomy as the first-choice of treatment because open surgery leaves the patient prone to infections.

Why is gallbladder removal necessary? In America alone, half a million have their gallbladder removed every year. Cholecystectomy is defined as the surgical removal of the gallbladder. It is treatment commonly done on patients with gallbladder conditions or manifesting symptoms of gall stones. Mostly considered an out-patient surgery, meaning patients can be discharged the same day as the surgery or the following day. This type of surgery is done requiring small incisions in the abdomen that allows the insertion of operating ports, small cylinder tubes about 5 to 10 mm in diameter, through which surgical instruments with a video camera are placed into the abdominal cavity. The camera transmission is seen via video on a screen where the doctors monitor the course of their surgery. 

The camera shows the surgical field and sends magnified image from inside the body to a video monitor feed. This gives the surgeon a close-up view of the tissues and organs. It is one of the most common operations performed in surgery today. Cholecystectomy can be performed through a single incision through the navel using the spider vein surgical system to remove the gall bladder. This is a recommended method compared to the traditional method for it leaves only a small almost invincible scar. The gall bladder is a pear-shaped pouch found in the upper right part of your abdomen. It stores the bile, which is a digestive fluid produced by the liver, that aide the digestive system in breaking down fatty food. Gall stones are formed in the gall bladder when these substances are of balance. The sad thing is, in many cases gall stone problem may remain undetected, gall stones cause no symptoms until it is too late. Get checked by a doctor today.

What Happens After Having a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

Does immediate relief from pain come after the removal of a person’s gall bladder? The answer is yes. The pain is caused by the gall stones found in the ill gall bladder organ.

Cholecystectomy is defined as the surgery in which the gallbladder is removed.It is treatment commonly done on patients with gallbladder conditions or manifesting symptoms of gall stones. Symptoms include extreme pain in the upper belly or the epigastric area that spreads to the right upper back of your shoulder blade area nausea, loss of appetite, fever, and dark-colored urine, yellowing of the skin, light-colored stool, chills and fever. Mostly considered an out-patient surgery, meaning patients can be discharged the same day as the surgery or the following day. It is one of the most common operations performed in surgery today. In the illustration above, you will see the following body parts:

1. Liver

2. Gallbladder 

3. Bile duct

4. Bile duct enters duodenum

5. Stomach

Cholecystectomy can be performed through a single incision or what people call now as “key-hole” surgery. This barely leaves a scar after the procedure. The great news is, the pain is gone plus it does not take long to recover from laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is mostly considered an out-patient surgery, wherein the patient can leave the hospital on the same day or the following day.

According to medical practitioners, both laparoscopic and open cholecystectomies are generally safe procedures with a low risk of complications. The most common complication is infection at the incision site in some cases. So do you really need a gall bladder? The organ is said to be useful but not essential. A person can live normally after the gall bladder removal operation. Now what happens after?

After the removal of the gallbladder, a pathological examination should immediately be performed on the organ to confirm diagnoses and check for cancer. A follow-up procedure should be done if cancer is confirmed, to remove parts of the liver and lymph nodes as required. There is however what they call “post cholecystectomy syndrome” or PCS, this minority of the patient population statistically from 5% to 40% develop symptoms like persistent pain and gastrointestinal distress in the upper right abdomen.

Minor symptoms after surgery are gas problems and a bit of soreness. Some people though who have had their gall bladder removed experience diarrhea or bloating. You will need to consult your doctor regularly if these symptoms persist. Also it is important to note that a special kind of diet will need to be enforced. Mostly people are back to work in two week time with medical wounds perfectly healed, leaving an almost invincible scar. A survey done on laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients mentioned the enormous relief they felt after the surgery and extreme recommendation to everyone who has been diagnosed with gall stones in their system. They noted how their lives are so much better after the procedure. See your doctor today.

Bariatric Surgery is the Weight Loss Solution

Is your weight a problem? Have you exhausted yourself trying all the kids of diet, buying all those expensive fitness machines, going through extensive gym training for long periods, only to double your weight after a month or so? Have you experienced extreme weight issues since your teenage years and the situation is still recurring even after decades of determination to lose weight. Do not lose hope for there are procedures available to treat obesity. Do some research and consult a doctor to know which one is best suited for you.

Bariatric surgery is a procedure recommended to be performed on people who are obese. Extreme obesity is a serious health problem which cannot be resolved through exercise and diet. Types of weight loss surgery vary and often have a lot of risks and complications attributed to it like hernia, infections and blood clots. Losing weight is achieved by removing a portion of the stomach, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch or sleeve gastrectomy, or by reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted medical device, also called gastric banding. Another procedure done to induce weight loss is the resecting and re-routing of the small intestine to a small stomach pouch or gastric bypass surgery. Having performed this type of surgery helped a lot of people get the weight they dreamed of. On the other hand, it is important to do your own research, find a specialized weight loss clinic near your house and get in touch with an experienced medical surgeon if this procedure is for you.

Medical studies explain that bariatric surgery, not only reduces obesity, also it manipulates the metabolism of patients which causes a condition commonly known as “metabolic syndrome”. 

Undergoing weight loss surgery does not guarantee that a person will no longer gain weight. The surgery allows a person to lose weight due to the extreme alterations done to a person’s system. However, it is up to the person, who went through the surgery, to keep the weight off. It is important to keep a strict diet, undergo a fixed exercise regimen and maintain lifelong extensive medical follow-up if one wants to keep the benefits of bariatric surgery and avoid future complications.

Dr. Christian L. Birkedal MD, Board certified General Surgeon, at 42 years old is a distinguished medical presenter, speaker and writer of medical textbook chapters for Surgery. Dr. Birkedal is a Clinical Associate Professor and teaches at Daytona Beach Community College’s branch of the Florida State University School of Medicine.

Dr. Birkedal treats preform procures such as gastric sleeve, gastrectomy, bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) and abdominal surgery among others. Dr. Christian L. Birkedal’s office is located at 305 Memorial Medical Parkway Suite 205, Daytona beach, Florida 32117. According to a recent survey, Dr. Birkedal’s clinic was given feedback with their experience and scored 4.2 out of 5 for likelihood of recommending to family and friends. Visit his clinic today to ask about the best weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) for you.

Biography: Dr. Christian Birkedal, MD

Dr. Christian L. Birkedal MD, Board certified General Surgeon, at 42 years old is a Clinical Associate Professor and teaches at Daytona Beach Community College’s branch of the Florida State University School of Medicine. He studied medicine at the University Of Alabama School Of Medicine and received Health grades Honor Roll. He also took residency at the Baptist Health System who values continuous education hence, is also an undergraduate of the Florida State University.

A distinguished medical presenter and speaker, Dr. Birkedal is also a writer who has been published in textbook chapters of Emedicine Textbook of Surgery.

Doctor Birkedal’s career includes serving as the Medical Director of the Wound Treatment Center and the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Capitol Regional Medical Center, there after becoming an established Medical Surgeon at the Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Christian L. Birkedal, MD is famous for weight loss surgery, otherwise known as bariatric surgery.

This is a type of procedure recommended to be performed on people who are obese. Weight loss is achieved by removing a portion of the stomach, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch or sleeve gastrectomy, or by reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted medical device, also called gastric banding. Another procedure done to induce weight loss is the resecting and re-routing of the small intestine to a small stomach pouch or gastric bypass surgery.

Dr. Birkedal performs procedures such as Abscess Incision and Drainage, gallbladder surgery, abdominal surgery, gastric sleeve, adrenalectomy, adult breast cancer consultation, amputations, cholecystectomy, breast surgery, appendectomy, gastrectomy, foreign body removal, benign tumors, bowel resection, bowel surgery, breast biopsies, breast cancer, exploratory surgery, breast surgery, burn care, cancer, excisions of skin lesions, colon resection, colon cancer, breast lumpectomy, Crohn’s disease and axillary lymph node dissection, excisions of benign skin lesions, foreign body removal, ganglion of wrist and bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) among others.

Dr. Birkedal Treats conditions such as spider veins and varicose veins. Both men and women can develop spider veins as age advances. Women though are more likely to develop spider veins rather than men. Exposure to sun and wind make men more prone to spider veins. Spider veins are identified as blue-purple colored veins that materialize under the skin but are noticeably seen from outside view on the face, legs and thighs. Mostly hereditary abnormalities in the veins, spider veins cause embarrassment due to its noticeable bruise like color. Varicose veins though are more painful compared to spider veins. Both are problems caused by blood circulation issues. Certain causes of spider veins are pregnancy, heredity, obesity, oral contraceptives, aging, hormonal issues, smoking, and occupation, sun and wind exposure and alcohol intake.
Dr. Christian L. Birkedal’soffice is located at 305 Memorial Medical Parkway Suite 205, Daytona Beach, Florida 32117. According to a recent survey, Dr. Birkedal’s clinic was given feedback with their experience and scored 4.2 out of 5 for likelihood of recommending to family and friends. Visit his clinic today.

4 Reasons to Employ Minimally Invasive Surgery to Remove Spider Veins

Spider veins or varicose veins refer to veins that have enlarged and are painful. These are usually found on the legs, although varicose veins may occur in other parts of the body.  Both men and women could have this problem but the effect is worse for women than men. Women hate the bulging veins in their legs because they make their legs unappealing.  In addition, they could also present some health risks.

There are several treatments recommended to reduce enlargement of the vein. Natural treatments include elevating the leg, regular exercise, wearing of special stockings, and applications of some topical gel, which helps reduce inflammation or swelling. However, these treatments are only temporary.  There are surgical procedures such as stripping of the saphenous veins but this could have some complications like deep vein thrombosis and the possibility of infection.

Nowadays, there is a surgical procedure that can help people get rid of the enlargement of their veins safely and this is known as minimally invasive surgery.  One of the experts in this field is Dr. Birkedal, whose training and practice involve using catheter to treat varicose veins. There are five reasons to use this type of surgery when dealing with varicose veins.

First, it is safe. The incision made is very small and after the catheter has been inserted and laser shot is delivered into the vein, the tiny wound is closed. There is no danger of infection of the wound.  The patient does not experience too much, which eliminates trauma.

Second, it is cost effective because there is no need to get admitted to a hospital. The procedure can be done in the doctor’s office. The doctor makes a tiny incision, inserts a catheter and delivers a laser shot, which causes the vein to collapse. The incision is closed and blood is rerouted to other veins.

Third, recovery is quick. After the treatment, the patient could go home right away. Hospitalization and other medications are not necessary.

Fourth, it has no side effects. Since the wound is very small, there is no possibility that it will get infected, such as what happens when stripping and more invasive surgery is performed.  Blood clots may form in the neighboring veins but they could be treated using blood thinners.

With this minimally invasive treatment, sufferers from varicose veins would find a solution to their problem with less expense and time.