Page 3 - Healthbeat March 2016

A major concern when you lose teeth is whether you will be able to eat your favorite foods, speak clearly and smile naturally. Our patients that choose a traditional denture usually require a “training” stage in which you gradually accustom yourself to eat- ing, drinking and talking with dentures in your mouth. Not only do you have to get used to the bulk of the dentures, you also must learn to eat with small amounts of food on either side of your mouth, and to avoid foods like crisp apples and corn on the cob to keep from dislodging your dentures.
Now the good news! All on Four! Implant dentistry makes it possible for you to eat anything you want, speak clearly and smile without having to worry about your teeth becoming loose or moving out of position. Dental implants are placed directly in your jawbone, creating stability and increasing the biting force. Dental implants are an increasingly popular choice for tooth replacement. The restoration looks more natural than dentures, and they also help keep your jawbone healthy. Implants are set directly in to the jawbone, where they bond with the bone and stimulate bone growth as you chew normally. Once your gums have healed from the implant surgery and the prosthetic teeth set into place, you will be able to eat normally, without having to avoid any of your favorite foods. All on Four is a significant and positive advancement in dentistry. Get rid of those uncomfortable dentures and limited diet and enjoy a lib- erating quality of life that you only dreamed of. Call us today for a complimentary con- sultation.
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
Send your health-related questions to healthbeat@arkansasonline.com.
on call Q:
A sty is a red, painful bump that typ-
ically forms on the outside of the up- per or lower eyelid, although it can form on the underside of the eyelid. Filled with pus, a sty is the ocular equivalent of a pimple. It usually doesn’t affect eyesight.
Occurring when an oil gland in the eye- lid becomes blocked, a sty typically can be blamed on staphylococcal bacteria. A sty often lasts for a few days until it bursts and then heals. A warm, wet compress placed over the eye several times a day can help speed healing. Do not attempt to pop a sty.
A sty typically will resolve on its own in less than two weeks. If the sty fails to heal, a doctor may need to prescribe an antibiotic or remove the sty surgically.
To prevent having one, avoid rubbing your eyes with dirty hands, remove eye makeup each evening, and clean contact lenses as recommended.
What is the difference between eczema and psoriasis? How are they treated?
Eczema and psoriasis are two skin conditions that are often confused
with each other.
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that
typically develops during childhood and is characterized by dry, red and itchy skin, which is often hot to the touch. Oozing pim- ple-like bumps can develop with eczema. Eczema is often found on the face, backs of the knees, wrists, hands or feet.
Eczema is generally a response to envi- ronmental factors and is treated with topical steroids, antihistamines and moisturizers.
Like eczema, psoriasis causes dry, red and itchy skin. However, the skin also becomes scaly with psoriasis. Psoriasis is usually found
on the knees, elbows, scalp and lower back. Psoriasis, which typically develops be- tween the ages of 15 and 35, is thought to be an autoimmune disease. Something in the immune system causes inflammation, which triggers skin cells to grow much too quickly. The buildup of skin cells is what causes the
scales to form.
Psoriasis is treated with steroid, vitamin D
and retinoid creams, as well as moisturizers, coal tar for the scalp and light therapy. For more serious cases, strong oral medications may be needed.
Does vitamin C prevent colds?
For years, conventional wisdom has held that vitamin C can prevent the common cold. Since no one wants to get sick, many people have turned
to supplements in hopes of staying off a pes- ky cold.
Unfortunately, scientific studies don’t support conventional wisdom’s take on vi- tamin C.
Researchers analyzing a number of clini- cal trials found that regularly taking at least 200 milligrams of vitamin C a day (more than double the recommended daily allowance of 90 milligrams for men and 75 milligrams for women) didn’t affect whether most peo- ple contracted the common cold. There was one notable exception — for people under extreme physical stress, such as marathon runners, vitamin C supplementation halved the common-cold risk.
The study also found that those who took vitamin C on a daily basis saw a reduction in the duration of their cold symptoms. Howev- er, large vitamin C doses at the start of a cold didn’t help and can cause diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, insomnia and kidney stones.
I frequently getastyonmy
eyelid. What causes it, and can I do anything to make it go away?
SHASHANK KRALETI, M.D.
FAMILY MEDICINE • UAMS
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE // HEALTHBEAT // SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016 3