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Some Diseases Caused by Bacteria:

Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are called mycobacterium tuberculosis. People with TB or tuberculosis cough excessively and suffer a terrible pain in the chest. They cough up blood and display excessive weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite and a persistent fever. TB spreads from the infected person to others in the peripheral. When the patient sneezes, coughs or spits, the bacteria infect those around. Latent Tuberculosis is a condition in which the infected person remains unaware of the infection because of milder symptoms. But, the condition becomes active very often, threatening the patient’s life span in the absence of proper antibiotics. Pulmonary Tuberculosis affects a person’s lungs, while Miliary Tuberculosis results in infection of the lungs that slowly spreads to the heart, liver and brain. Tuberculosis, also affects the skin and bones.

Bubonic Plague: Bubonic plague is another life-threatening disease caused by bacteria. The bacteria that cause the plague are the yersinia pestis variety. The different kinds of bubonic plague include the common form that spreads through certain rats and fleas. Sepsis is a form of the disease when the bloodstream is infected with the bacterium. Pneumonic plague refers to a condition when the bacterium infects the lungs. And, the most harmless form is called the abortive form. The fever persists for a while, before abating. The incubation period for the infections that are life-threatening range from 2 to 7 days.

Pertussis: Pertussis is also referred to as ‘whooping cough’. The bacteria that spread this disease are referred to as bordetella pertussis. The disease takes a toll on the immune system of younger people within 6 weeks. The symptoms of Pertussis include nausea, severe coughing, and fever. The term ‘whooping cough’ is the result of the sound that the patient makes while coughing. Sadly, the disease spreads in underdeveloped regions of the world, where the access rate of the expensive antibiotics is highly questionable.

Cholera: The term indicates ‘flow of bile’, in Greek. It is an intestinal infection caused by the vibrio cholerae bacteria that contaminates food stuff and water. Cholera is a diarrheal disease that is spread via consumption of undercooked food, deficiency of hydrochloric acid and poor hygiene. The symptoms only surface around three days after infection sets in. The signs include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, severe dehydration, dryness in the mouth and skin, low urination, low blood pressure, fatigue and nausea. In the absence of timely treatment, the patient can die in a matter of hours.

Thousand of people are injured each day while on the job. Under workers’ compensation laws, employees are entitled to receive paid medical treatment for injuries sustained on the job. When an injured employee seeks medical treatment, the worker must report that the injury occurred on the job. The health care provider will have the forms necessary to initialize the claimant’s medical treatment under a workers’ compensation claim. The injured worker can usually see a doctor or licensed health care provider, including pharmacy, of their choosing.

An injured employee’s treatment does not have to be from a medical doctor. For example, if an employee sustained a back injury while unloading boxes on the job, they may choose to seek treatment from a chiropractor or acupuncturist. No referral from a medical doctor is needed. The health care provider may be able to refer the injured worker, as needed for additional examination or treatment, such as physical therapy or massage treatments. The injured workers can also fill prescription medications at the pharmacy of their choosing.

The majority of injured employees that seek medical treatment require just a few visits to a health care provider for their on the job injuries. However, more serious injuries can require months or even years of treatment to reach a point of medical stability, or the point of maximum recovery for a permanent injury. In a workers’ compensation claim, when an employee suffers a permanent injury, there are limitations as to the amount of treatment they can receive.

Once an injured employee has undergone a course of treatment, they may be scheduled for a disability rating examination, also called an Independent Medical Examination, or insurance medical examination or evaluation (“IME”). An IME is a medical examination scheduled and paid for by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer or the state agency that administers workers’ compensation claims. Typically IMEs are used to determine the nature and extent of the injuries of the employee, a permanent disability rating, if any, and if additional medical treatment is warranted.

The doctor(s) performing the IME typically specializes in the area of injury the injured worker has sustained. It could be a neurologist, an orthopedist, a physical rehabilitation specialist, or a chiropractor. The examining doctor uses a percentage estimating how much the injury affects the employee’s ability to work. Under workers compensation laws, the employee may be eligible for a permanent partial disability rating or temporary total disability rating, depending on the severity of the injury.

Injured workers may wish to seek counsel from a workers’ compensation attorney prior to an IME. Following an IME, medical treatment can be denied for the employee, leaving them responsible for payment of future medical treatment. If the claim is denied or has already settled, the injured worker will be responsible for payment of all future medical needs. With the escalating costs of medical expenses, employees should be very careful not to settle their workers’ compensation claims prematurely.

Healthy Tips for Children

The three most important factors that are necessary for the kids to remain healthy include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and proper rest. As the habits that we learn during our childhood stays with us throughout our life, it is necessary that parents teach these three factors to children as soon as possible. However, you do not need to force them to learn these habits, rather set an example for them by following these things yourself. Let us look at each factor in detail. Read more on healthy habits.

Nutrition Tips for Kids – Healthy Diet
At a very young age itself, teach the kids to eat all types of food, like fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, diary products, etc. Their meals should be divided into five to six small meals throughout the day, rather than just three meals. Cultivate the habit of eating breakfast as it is said to be the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast, helps their body to develop energy for the physical as well mental activities of the day. It has been reported that children who eat breakfast regularly gain good scores in school and do well in extra curricular activities too. Read more on healthy eating and importance of breakfast for children.

Parents should also see to it that children have a healthy lunch while they are at school. Though there are many schools which provide lunch, the nutritious value of these foods is a topic of controversy. Hence, it will be best to pack them foods that are high in vitamins and minerals. Other than lunch, also make sure that you provide them with a healthy after school snack, as this is a time where they are likely to indulge in junk food. Dried and fresh fruits, yogurt, cereal bars, etc. are good choices for a healthy snack. Next comes the dinner, or evening meal, which should be converted to time spent with the family. Eating together at least once in a day will help the parents interact with their children and also to keep control on their eating habits. Talking to them about the nutritional facts about healthy foods is also a good way of instilling healthy food habits in children. Though too much of junk food does harm to the child’s body, there is no need to restrict them completely. You can actually make it a reward, where one week of healthy diet can be rewarded with a treat of their favorite foods. Read more on healthy snacks for kids and healthy foods.

Fitness Tips for Kids – Exercises
One of the most important health tips for children, after a healthy diet, will be to stay physically active. Now, children do not need to sweat it out at the gym like adults to maintain their body weight. Rather just playing with their friends will be more than enough. Parents should see to it that their kids do not spend their entire time in front of the television or playing video games. They should encourage them to take part in sports and other physical activities like aerobics, dancing, etc., so that their body gets the required exercise. Arranging games for them and their friends regularly at home in which they have to run around and play is a good idea. Making them do some simple and fun exercises like walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling at least for an hour in a day will also help to prevent childhood obesity. Read more on effects of television on children and effects of video games on children.

Health Tips for Kids – Proper Rest
Rest and sleep are two most important factors to keep the child healthy. Children require 9-13 hours of sleep as per their age group. Lack of sleep in children can cause some problems like lack of attention at school, feeling sleepy during the day, poor academic performance, etc. Hence, parents must ensure that children receive sufficient sleep, as well as afternoon naps in the case of very small children. It will be a good idea to fix sleeping and waking times for the kids and also make sure that these are followed strictly. Read more on importance of sleeping in human life and lethargy in children.

How to Become a Physical Therapist

Educational Requirement to Become a Physical Therapist
As physical therapy jobs are in much demand, and are extremely well paying, it is a popular career choice for many. To become a qualified physical therapist, one needs to have an excellent educational track record in undergraduate programs. Undergraduate programs must include anatomy, medical assisting, trigonometry, computer skills, humanities, geometry, chemistry, physiology, and/or health education in order to seek admission in a physical therapy graduate program. Admissions in physical therapy programs are highly competitive, and some states have entrance exams as well.

The U.S. recognizes only those physical therapists who have earned their graduate, masters, or doctoral degrees from an accredited physical therapist educational program. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 200 accredited physical therapist programs that offer graduate, masters and doctoral degrees. There are primarily four methods of earning a physical therapy degree; direct entry masters in physical therapy degree, transitional masters in physical therapy degree, direct entry doctorate in physical therapy degree, and transitional doctorate in physical therapy degree. Physical therapy programs are highly intensive, and also provide hands-on clinical experience in the field of biomechanics, human development, anatomy, and therapeutic procedures.

Licensing Requirement to Become a Physical Therapist
In the U.S., passing a physical therapy license exam and obtaining a license is essential to practice as a physical therapist. While most states have their own specific requirements, some general licensing rules are followed in most states. Physical therapists have to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). They are also required to pass state exams in the state they wish to practice in. These exams are regulated by the state’s regulatory board. For foreign students passing in an English proficiency test is also a mandatory requirement. To appear for the licensing exam; national and state, the aspirant must provide relevant documents obtained from the accredited programs he/she has undertaken. As a policy, these credentials are evaluated and approved by a state-appointed credentialing agency.

Physical therapists work in hospitals, rehabilitation, orthopedic centers or practice privately. The salary of a physical therapist can range anywhere between $40,000 to $86,000, and is currently rising with each passing year. The salary depends on the location, specialization, and experience. Employment in this sector is expected to increase much faster than average as more and more specialized and advanced centers come up. For all education, licensing and career profiling updates, one can always refer to the American Physical Therapy Association website. Besides the above requirements, before becoming a physical therapist, aspirants also need to polish their interpersonal communication skills, and have compassion for helping other people.