The goal of treating the signs of carotid artery disease is to prevent the recurrence of symptoms of the same such as bruit, Transient Ischemic Attack. The treatment options for carotid artery disease include lifestyle changes, medications, and other medical procedures.
- Lifestyle changes
To avoid carotid arteries from progressing, it is advisable to quit unhealthy daily habits such as smoking, and consuming junk food. Make necessary lifestyle changes that will help in controlling high blood pressure and diabetes. Both conditions could be the underlying causes of carotid artery diseases. Include a heart-healthy diet, which will help in controlling the same. Maintain a healthy weight by exercising for at least half an hour. Consuming excess salt also increases the blood pressure which could also become the underlying cause of the disease. Include foods that contain potassium, folate, and other anti-oxidants that help in clearing the blockages in thr artery. - Medications
Patients might be administered with clot dissolving medicines has experienced stroke due to blood clot. This type of medication must be administered 4 hours from the onset of symptoms. In severe cases, the signs of carotid artery disease might just not go away by changing lifestyles. For instance, to control the cholesterol level in the body, statin medications might be required. By lowering the cholesterol disease, one can also decrease the chances of diabetes and blood pressure. - Medical procedures
If the signs of carotid artery diseases are severe, the doctor might suggest medical procedures that include: - Carotid angioplasty and stenting:
In this procedure, the doctors use a thin tube that has a deflated balloon that is attached to its end. The tube is threaded through a blood vessel of the neck and is taken to the narrowed or blocked carotid artery. Once taken to the blocked artery, the balloon is inflated and the deposited plaque (cholesterol) is pushed outward against the wall of the artery. A small mesh called stent is then placed in the artery which will help in supporting the wall of the artery. The function of the stent is to support the artery and preventing it from getting blocked again. - Carotid Endarterectomy:
This procedure is applied in those cases whose arteries are blocked 50 percent or more. In this procedure, the surgeon will make an incision to reach the blocked artery. Next, they will make a cut in the blocked artery and remove the inner lining of the artery that is obstructing the blood flow.
It is necessary that one takes immediate action when experiencing the signs of carotid artery disease that could lead to stroke or other life threatening medical complications.
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Here’s what you must know about age-specific PSA levels
Read moreProstate-specific antigen or PSA is a glycoprotein that is produced in the prostate gland to retain the liquid form of the seminal fluid and aid sperm movement. While PSA typically stays in the prostate ducts, a small portion may leak into the bloodstream; this allows experts to detect prostate diseases such as cancer. Since several factors affect PSA levels, doctors can utilize factors like age and conduct age-specific PSA levels to determine if further screening for cancer must be conducted. This method was devised a few decades ago to estimate abnormal PSA levels and correlate it with age-specific ranges.
Since prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancers to affect men, it became essential to detect prostate abnormalities proactively. Most experts conduct age-specific PSA levels tests along with a digital rectal exam to determine the presence of cancer. This is especially beneficial in men over the age of 50 who may be at the highest risk of developing prostate diseases. In an age-specific PSA levels examination, the result of 4 nanogram/milliliter (ng/ml) of blood is considered to be abnormal. Patients with these results must be prompt to get additional screenings done at the right time. While escalated PSA levels are abnormal and indicate prostate cancer, chances are that a man with PSA levels below 4ng/ml may have prostate cancer. PSA levels are known to vary throughout the course of a man’s life; therefore, age-specific PSA levels have various reference points for all age groups. According to these reference levels, a PSA level that is greater than 2.5 ng/ml is abnormal for men up to the age of 49. Similarly, for men between the ages of 50 and 59, the PSA levels that are greater than or equal to 3.5 ng/ml may indicate cancer. Men who are 60 or older should, therefore, be tested for cancer if their PSA levels are equal to or greater than 4 ng/ml.
Since prostate cancer, quite like other cancer types, do not show apparent symptoms in its infancy, an age-related PSA level test can increase the chances of detecting cancer in younger men. The method is highly effective in successful cancer diagnosis and treatment. Many experts suggest that the invention of an age-specific PSA level has dramatically lowered the occurrence of advanced stage cancer. While the age-specific PSA testing proves helpful in nipping the problem at the bud, several other reference ranges of PSA may also prove fruitful. Apart from age, for instance, certain races, ethnicities, and geographical differences may be susceptible to prostate cancer. Since relying only on an isolated age-specific PSA level reference may not be appropriate, several researchers are developing newer ways to effectively detect cancer based on underlying diseases, races, and lifestyles along with age groups.
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No Contract Cellphone Plans for Kids from Best Buy
Read moreIf you are planning to get a cell phone as well as a mobile plan for your teenager, you have some great options from some of the best providers in the country. Mobile carriers have designed these plans while keeping in mind the needs of today’s kids. Some phones can only make calls and send and receive text messages. These phones are a perfect choice if you want your kids to have basic connectivity. However, if your kids are older, you probably want a plan that provides some limited data for using social media. Best Buy has some no-contract cell phone plans for such needs. Below mentioned are some no-contract cell phone plans for your kids based on different requirements available on Best Buy.
Simple Mobile $40 Prepaid Phone Card
Simple Mobile offers you a prepaid phone card at around $40. This is one of the best selling plans, and you get free shipping as well. It is ideal for your younger children.Boost Mobile Re-Boost $50 Prepaid Phone Card
Boost Mobile offers you a prepaid card at around $47.50, which is in a higher price range than the previous option. This option is ideal for slightly older children, like those in their pre-teen years.AT&T $65 Prepaid Phone Card
AT&T provides a prepaid plan card at approximately $61.79. It also comes with free shipping. If your teenagers like to spend their time on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all day long, you should purchase this no-contract cell phone plan from Best Buy.Cricket Wireless $30 Refill Card
Best Buy offers this refill card for roughly $28.50. This is perhaps one of the cheapest prepaid cards that you can use for several note-worthy features and data capabilities. It also comes with free shipping.Total Wireless $35 Prepaid Phone Card
Best Buy has a cell phone plan by Total Wireless which is prepaid and costs around $33.25. Teenagers, as well as adults, can use this mid-range plan from Total Wireless. If you or your family member are not heavy internet users, you can buy this no-contract cell phone plan card from Best Buy.Tracfone Wireless $15 Smartphone Card [Digital]
This plan, which costs roughly $14.25, is the most affordable no-contract cell phone plan available on Best Buy. It comes with free shipping and offers 500MB data at 4G LTE speed, 200 minutes, and 500 texts. This plan is valid for 30 days.The above mentioned are the top no-contract cell phone plans with Best Buy. While they are great for your children who do not want to be restricted by a contract, they are great for your personal use as well.