Page 3 - June 2018 Healthbeat

on call
“I’m finally comfortable to go out in public again!” That’s what Michael Minor of Hot Springs exclaims after receiving the “All on Four” implant procedure from Dr. Jirik. It was indeed a life-changing experience in every way. I previously received implant surgery elsewhere and it just didn’t work out at all. I was never confortable with those implants and I felt that I had to settle for oversized teeth that impeded my ability to speak. I was self-con- scious and afraid to go out in public and withdrew from
many social activities. I could tell people were uncomfortable trying to watch me speak and talk to me. Before I came to Dr. Jirik I was told my tongue was too big and that was why I had trouble speaking.
Dr. Jirik and his team listened to me and addressed my every concern. After receiving my first temporaries things changed dramatically for me. I saw a change in myself and also in how my wife saw me. Dr. Jirik gave me my face back...I look like myself again. Every aspect of the All on Four procedure is customized including the size, shape and color of the restorations.
My investment speaks for itself and I now have beautiful natural looking teeth again. I will tell anyone that you’re in good hands with Dr. Jirik. You can expect the latest most advanced implant and cosmetic procedures from Dr. Jirik and his team and they can give you a sensational new smile.
Q:
Is there a cure for ALS?
ALS — amyotrophic lateral scle- rosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease — is a rare but devastating
condition. Certain nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord slowly die, causing patients to lose control of their muscles over time. This leads to paralysis, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and death, typically two to five years after diagnosis.
There is no cure for ALS, but there has been a surge of groundbreaking research in recent years. You may remember seeing viral videos of the ALS Ice Bucket Chal- lenge on social media in 2014. The result of that unexpected sensation was millions of dollars raised for research through the ALS Association. In 2016, the association announced several studies that made head- way into determining exactly which genes cause ALS. Researchers are looking into the therapeutic power of stem-cell treat- ments, gene therapy, copper injections, multiple medicinal approaches and micro RNA-based therapies.
In the meantime, existing treatments aim at keeping patients functional for as long as possible. They include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, sup- portive devices and equipment, medicines, feeding tubes and breathing devices.
What are the signs of schizophrenia
There is no test to help doctors diagnose schizophrenia, but the condition has certain hallmarks:
• Hallucinations: Hearing or seeing things that aren’t there.
• Delusions: Beliefs in things that are not true.
• Paranoia: Fear that others are out to get you.
These key characteristics can help doc- tors distinguish schizophrenia from other mental conditions. Meanwhile, people with
SHASHANK KRALETI, M.D.
FAMILY MEDICINE • UAMS
schizophrenia can also have symptoms such as depression, fears, job loss, substance abuse, rocky relationships, agitation, difficul- ty organizing thoughts, difficulty with cleanli- ness, repeating motions, erratic behavior and avoiding social situations.
About 1 percent of Americans have the condition, which is almost equally distrib- uted among men and women and ethnic groups. Symptoms usually arise between ages 16 and 30.
There is no cure, but the condition is usually manageable with treatment. In most cases, medication is a must.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a complex blood cancer that develops in bone marrow.
Bone marrow is the soft spongy tissue at the center of one’s bones. It contains plas- ma cells, which are a type of white blood cell. The disease causes these plasma cells to transform into malignant myeloma cells.
Multiple myeloma makes up about 15 percent of all blood cancers. It typically affects older adults. It is more common in men and African-Americans than other groups.
Myeloma cells cause soft spots in the bones. The disease also causes kidney problems. However, early in the disease, the patient may notice few symptoms. In- dicators include bone pain, fractures, ane- mia, renal problems, more or less urination and frequent infections.
Diagnosis can be difficult and is often based on several tests, including blood and urine tests, a bone-marrow biopsy and physical scans.
After diagnosis, the focus is to get the disease under control and keep the patient in remission with the best quality of life possible for as long as possible. Progress is being made in this field. Remission times are increasing, and the number of patients considered “cured” is on the rise.
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