What an EMG Test Involves

An EMG test will determine if you have a deadly neurological disease, as well as many benign conditions. But exactly is involved during an EMG test? (Does it hurt?) I sat in on an EMG test that was recently done on my mother, and it’s actually a very fascinating invention of medical technology.

The EMG test on my mother took about an hour, maybe a tiny bit longer, but some of that time was spent by the doctor pausing to explain things related to her suspected condition (pronator syndrome or carpal tunnel syndrome). The doctor will place very small sticker-like patches on the patient’s body, at the location of the symptoms. He’ll then attach recording electrodes nearby these stickers. The electrodes are attached to a computer that’s a little bulkier than a laptop.

Preceding the actual testing, the doctor will type a lot of things into the computer. To measure nerve conductivity, the doctor must provide an electric shock to the patient with a two-pronged device about the size of a cell phone. When he delivers the shock, the result appears on the computer screen as a jagged horizontal line with a plus sign. Moments later two more images (jagged horizontal lines or sine waves) will appear, one reflecting the muscle activity, and one reflecting nerve activity.

The computer also shows the number of milliseconds it took for the nerve impulse to be conducted. The doctor at one point said that 4 milliseconds was normal, and 10 milliseconds was abnormal; that 50 meters per second was normal, and 42 meters per second was slow.

The patient may not be able to see the computer when all this is happening; my mother was lying on her back while the doctor conducted the EMG test on her right arm first. He suspected pronator teres syndrome, but he also suspected carpal tunnel syndrome.

He was heavily favoring pronator teres syndrome, though he concentrated the initial testing at the wrist and fingers. He very soon announced that she had carpal tunnel syndrome. At this point it was not speculation; it was a 100 percent positive diagnosis, because the EMG test can determine 1) if nerves are firing normally, and 2) if numbness, tingling and strength loss are caused by a healthy nerve signal merely being blocked from arriving at its destination, as in my mother’s case of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The EMG test involves the doctor moving around the various stickers and recording electrodes, then administering a shock at various points higher up from where the recording devices are; in my mother’s case, many of the shocks were delivered to her forearm.

In between the adjustments with the stickers and electrodes, he placed a tape measure to her skin to measure the length of the nerves. The patient, if lying down and unable to see what the doctor is doing, will feel the doctor moving around the stickers and attaching the recording electrodes, then running a tape measure along the skin, and then the electric shock.

The voltage of the shock can be adjusted, and it can be very unpleasant, though it lasts a second. The other thing that the patient will feel is pin pricks. The needle is a little thicker than an acupuncture needle, and the doctor will place a needle at varying locations as part of the EMG test. In the case of my mother, it appeared at one point that he embedded the needle a quarter of an inch into her palm. The “poke” he did there hurt to high heaven based on my mother’s reaction, but again, it was only for a fraction of a second.

The doctor also had her press her arm against resistance a few times. Since all he needed was her arms, she was able to maintain any leg position she was comfortable with. An EMG test does not require the patient to be sedated.

So now you know what’s involved in an EMG test. If you are scheduled for an EMG test, there is nothing to be afraid of, as far as how the procedure feels on your body. If the idea of electric shocks and pin pricks has you unnerved (no pun intended), remember, this test is a godsend for doctors, and it has to be done to provide a diagnosis for your condition (or to rule out an imagined condition).

Do You Know What EMG Test Is? Have a look on EMG Test Instructions.

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ADD/ADHD: Symptoms in children and Treatment

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder that affects many people in the U.S. It is characterized by impulsiveness, inattention, and hyperactivity. Without appropriate diagnosis and treatment, ADHD can have serious consequences. The consequences may include academic failure, depression, relationship problems and impair social skills.

We may all occasionally experience a sense of restlessness, difficulty sitting still, paying attention, or controlling impulsive behaviors. However, there is a major difference when we experience these feelings and behaviors occasionally than when we experience them with such a persistent intensity that it interferes with our daily lives and relationships at home, school, and social settings.

In the past, it was believed that children with ADD or ADHD will eventually outgrow this disorder. This is because as children grows older and become adolescence, they become less hyper. However, many adults with ADD/ADHD know too well that many times, this disorder can follow well into adulthood. Individuals often experience relationship problems at work and in their personal lives, usually progressing further into depression if left undiagnosed and untreated.

Heredity may be connected to ADD or ADHD although not sufficient research has yet proven this. What are known to be factors associated with ADD/ADHD are difficulties during pregnancy, prenatal exposure to alcohol and tobacco, premature delivery, low birth weight, high body lead levels, postnatal injury to the prefrontal regions of the brain are all believed to be a contributing factor to developing ADHD in children.

ADD/ADHD symptoms usually are evident during childhood. Diagnostic criteria for determining ADD/ADHD characteristics are such that the behaviors are long lasting, evident for at least six months, and interfering with the quality of life of the individual suffering from it.

ADHD – Primarily Inattentive Type:

* Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.

* Has difficulty sustaining attention.

* Does not appear to listen.

* Struggles to follow through on instructions.

* Has difficulty with organization.

* Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort.

* Is easily distracted.

* Is forgetful in daily activities.

ADHD – Primarily Hyperactive/Impulsive Type:

* Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.

* Has difficulty remaining seated.

* Runs around or climbs excessively.

* Has difficulty engaging in activities quietly.

* Acts as if driven by a motor.

* Talks excessively.

* Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.

* Has difficulty waiting or taking turns.

* Interrupts or intrudes upon others.

ADHD – Combined Type:

* Meets both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.

Multimodal approach appears to be the best treatment for children and teens. Multimodal approach is when multiple treatments are sought and work together as a comprehensive plan. Some multimodal treatment approaches according to CHADD are as follows:

* Parent Training

*Behavioral Intervention Strategies

*Appropriate Educational Program

*Education Regarding ADHD

*Medication, when needed

Positive behavior modification can be critical. Positive reinforcement or when a child is rewarded for certain behavior appears to be the most important technique to help with ADD/ADHD.

For adults, treatment may or may not involve comprehensive approach. An adult based comprehensive approach includes healthcare professionals, spouse, family members and friends to help the adult with ADHD reap the best benefit from treatment. Medication is usually part of the treatment plan to help these adults gain more control and better organize their lives.

Update your self about ADHD Symptoms in Children.Keep intouch with latest news & updates of Symptoms of ADHD in Children.

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Diabetics Diet Plan And Metformin Weight Loss

In a world where image is all, being obese is very difficult. The world at large, especially women, are extremely figure-conscious. The stigma attached to being heavy or obese is something a child never outgrows and can result in an obsessive need to lose weight. This obsession translates into very harmful diets, including fasting and excessive use of weight loss medication.

Weight loss is the process by which body weight is lost, mostly by burning up fat. This can be either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary weight loss can be achieved by dieting, regular exercise, and changing lifestyle choices. Fasting for weight loss is not advisable, because many essential salts are depleted and dehydration can occur. These can be extremely hazardous and can result in fatality.

Trimming the fat

Even smart people fall prey to quick weight-loss programs. The conjectures about how actress Melissa Peterman lost her weight are many, even though she is reported to have said it was a result of exercising, eating right and getting advice from close friends. This kind of rapid and sudden weight loss can lead to gaining more weight back. It can also lead to various dangerous side effects, such as, increased risks of gallstone.

Many people, who have excessive fat deposited in their stomach region, are often prescribed Metformin. Metformin is an oral anti-diabetic drug that is primarily prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in overweight people. It has been found to also help non-diabetics to lose weight by reducing hunger by lowering insulin levels in the blood. Metformin is also an alternative therapy for those who gain excessive weight due to polycystic ovarian syndrome and for weight gain that result from antipsychotic causes.

A weight loss chart is a very useful tool in monitoring your weight loss. There may be many parameters in the chart. But basically it needs to record your current weight and the optimum weight you seek to achieve. By regularly recording your weight you will be able to see the progress of our weight loss regimen, and know how much closer you are to achieving the target weight.

Interesting facts!

It is estimated that about 50 million Americans will go on self-imposed diets this year. But only 5 percent will be able to retain their new figures.

The diet and weight-loss industry is booming. About $30 billion a year is spent by Americans on diet products and programs, including diet food and drinks.

Being obese can lead to serious health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, gallstones, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer

Going on very low-calorie diets unsupervised can deprive you of important nutrient source and this can be critical.

* There are no effortless weight loss plans. The only way is to reduce the number of calories you eat or to increase the number of calories you burn off through exercise. Most experts recommend a combination of both.

“crash” diets help you in quick weight loss, followed by a “rebound” weight gain once you resume normal eating. This is even more difficult to reduce.

A reduction of 500 calories per day will help you achieve that svelte figure. A total reduction of 3,500 calories is required to lose a pound of fat.

Does Metformin Weight Loss Helps?? learn how Metformin (glucophage)can help you lose weight via Metformin Side Effects.

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The Symptoms of Genital Herpes for Men and Women

Do I have herpes you wonder to yourself? If you’ve recently had unprotected intercourse, have been with an unfaithful partner, and notice some changes to your genital area, your first thought should be whether or not the changes are due to an STD, such as genital herpes.

Symptoms of Herpes for Men and Women

The symptoms of genital herpes in men and women are primarily the same. The main distinction for herpes symptoms for males and females is the different anatomy of each gender.

Herpes on the genitalia are characterized by lesions, usually oblong, that resemble sore. If you are intimate with an infected person, the herpes can be on the genitalia, inner thighs, and anus or wherever the infected person’s herpes comes in contact with.

The common symptoms of genital herpes for men and women are as follows:

-flu symptoms

-possibly a fever, especially if this is the first outbreak

-burning, itching, or other discomfort around the genital area

-lymph nodes that are swollen

-achy muscles

-Burning and/or pain when urinating

-possible discomfort or pain around the anus, buttocks, or inner thigh area

What is Genital Herpes Genital herpes is a virus and because of this the symptoms and signs of a herpes outbreak can resemble the same types of symptoms you would have with any other type of viral infection. The difference is you will possibly have these symptoms while also having lesions in and around the genitalia, i.e. penis, vagina, anus.

If you are feeling viral type symptoms associated with lesions to the genitals then you should seek medical attention. It may not be genital herpes, but it may very well be and a course of treatment should be started as soon as possible.

Is Genital Herpes Curable There is no cure for herpes but the signs and symptoms can be controlled better with various types of herpes medications.

Once you contract genital herpes you will have this condition for life. Many who have genital herpes say that the first outbreak is the worst and the first year of having genital herpes is harder to handle than subsequent years with the virus.

How Often Do Genital Herpes Occur

The outbreaks can happen once a year, once a month, or stay dormant for years. Genital herpes outbreaks can vary from person to person. Some people have outbreaks constantly, others only intermittently. Your doctor will help devise a treatment plan for you that will help suppress the symptoms and signs as much as possible.

It should be noted again that there is no cure for genital herpes. You should also be informed that even when you are not having an outbreak you can still spread the virus to others. It is important to always use a condom when having sexual intercourse. The condom is not guaranteed to prevent the spread of herpes because the virus is so small and can seep through the microscopic porous areas of the condom. Although using a condom is not always a full proof way of preventing the spread of herpes, it does help to prevent the spreading and should always be used when having sexual intercourse with a stranger, an unfaithful partner, or if your partner has a known diagnosis of genital herpes.

Recognize the Herpes Symptoms In Men.Discover the facts about Herpes Symptoms treatment.

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Common Misdiagnoses Due to Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Recently, I sent a couple of my family members to get tested for a gene called Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor. Reason being is the fact I was diagnosed with it myself and learned that it also may be genetic. My doctor wasn’t able to tell me that much about this gene due to the fact that it is pretty new to American Doctors. So I had to do most of the research myself to get any straight answers about this Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Gene. I did find that this gene has been associated with a wide variety of diseases and disorders. The majority of the problems that derive from this particular gene are also a lot of the common complaints that my family members have.

Luckily the family members that did get tested did not come back positive for Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Gene. Instead they came back with test results that revealed Deficiency. This would have been easily overlooked if it wasn’t for the fact that my family members had asked for extensive blood work to be done. Actually Vitamin Deficiency is one of the most common disorders that are overlooked by Physicians. It’s not that your Physician lacks common sense; it’s just that they have been conditioned to look for other ailments. The Prescription Drug Manufacturers target Doctors more then they target us. In fact I read a story written by a man who left medical school in the United States. His reasons had more to do with his morals then anything. In his story he explained that the majority of his classes and seminars focused on prescribing medication rather then preventive healthcare. He ended up moving over seas to do just that, focus on preventative healthcare, not writing out scripts all day.

So you may be wondering what conditions are linked with B12 Deficiency?

Here are the conditions that I was able to find, there may be more.

Pernicious Anemia

Atherosclerosis

The Early onset of Alzheimer’s disease

Muscle Tremors

Depression

Osteoporosis

Cataracts

Strokes at an early age

Infertility

Metabolic Syndrome

And, Dementia

Like I said before you would have to consult with your Physician to be sure if this is your problem. Especially if you have any of the conditions or symptoms associated with B12 deficiency. The Prescription Drug manufactures are actually counting on the fact that you will be misdiagnosed with the conditions Deficiency mocks. Having the correct diagnosis of B12 Deficiency can save you thousands of dollars in prescription costs. There’s a reason that the Drug Manufacturing Industry is a 275 Billion Dollar a year Corporation. It’s also the reason that Prescription Drug advertising is banned in every country except here in the United States. These countries are tired of people believing that they have all these complex issues that can be corrected by a healthy lifestyle.

Oh, I can’t believe I almost forget to mention this. In the beginning I mentioned that I had been diagnosed with Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Gene, which causes blood clotting. After looking into Vitamin, I learned that the deficiency is what led to the formation of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor. It can also be linked with many other blood clotting disorders as well.

Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin which means your body will flush out what it doesn’t need. So increasing your daily dose is safe as long as it is not in a form of a multi-vitamin that contains fat soluble vitamins.

Learn to recognize peculiar b12 Deficiency symptoms that are possibly indicative of even borderline B12 deficiency.Learn what to do about Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms And How To Treat them.

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Side Effects of 200 Milligrams of Lamictal

Lamictal is a drug that is used to treat bipolar disorder and seizures. I have been taking it for over two months now. If you are prescribed it, you will start out on 25 milligrams and gradually work your way up to 100 milligrams in five weeks. The gradual dosage increase protects you from adverse side effects of drugs like severe rash and migraines. I have been on it for over two months now and have worked my way up to 200 milligrams of this mood stabilizing drug.

I experienced different side effects every time I increased my dosage. I had trouble concentrating and felt dumb as a rock at 25 milligrams. The extremely vivid and horrifying nightmares began at 50 milligrams. I had terrible migraines and trouble driving at 100 milligrams. Now that I am on 200 milligrams, I feel like a different person entirely. Don’t get me wrong, Lamictal does have it’s positive aspects, otherwise I would not be still taking it. The good outweighs the bad for me.

I feel more relaxed and calm than I used to. I still get really angry at times and have little rage sessions, but these fits are no where near as frequent as they were before I took it. I don’t get depressed as often either, but I do find myself crying in the middle of the night sometimes for no apparent reason other than a feeling of hopelessness.

I have always suffered from insomnia, so this may have something to do with the night time depression. I am not taking the sleep aid, Geodone, that I have been prescribed because of the migraines and dry mouth it causes in the mornings. Sometimes I am afraid of going to sleep because it causes very lucid nightmares. Some of them are so real and horrifying that you wake up screaming and desperately searching for the nearest light switch.

Its affects several chemicals in your brain so having your dreams become strange is to be expected. I just don’t understand why they are all so violent. With my memory gone from it, I can’t remember the nightmares long enough to explain them in detail. I do remember waking up paranoid and terrified. I have thought of writing down my nightmares as soon as I wake up, but never remember to put a notebook and pen beside my bed. Go figure. My memory really is damaged.

I read at night to deal with the insomnia, but have had some difficulties. I have always been an avid reader. I used to be able to read a 500 page novel in a day, but now I have to constantly go back in the book to remember what I was reading in the first place. I can hardly get from one paragraph to the next without forgetting what I just read a page ago. This is extremely frustrating since I have never had a problem with my memory or reading abilities. I have been known to read more than one book at a time without confusing any of the plots are characters.

My vision gets fuzzy at times as well. I have noticed this disturbing side effect of 200 milligrams while working on my computer and reading. I know the difference between eye fatigue. I have experienced eye fatigue many times before and looking away from my computer screen or book for a few minutes always made it go away before. Now it comes and goes in episodes. |I don’t even have to be straining my eyes for very long for it to happen. Looking away doesn’t help either, because the entire room gets fuzzy. Even closing my eyes is disorienting.

If you are working your way up to 200 milligrams your side effects may be similar to mine or entirely different. From bipolar forums that I have visited, though, my side effects are being dealt with by many other Lamictal users.

Here’s a tip that took me a month and a half to figure out. Taking it at night before bed seems to reduce some of the symptoms. You will feel fatigued if you take it in the morning, but will go to sleep a lot better at night.

If you get discouraged with the side effects of medicine, then keep in mind that the benefits of Lamictal outweigh the negative side effects. It will eventually help you feel like you are in control of your emotions and your system will adapt to the medication once you reach the dosage that is right for you.

Learn Lamictal Side Effects, Adverse Reactions and Psychiatric Uses of Lamotrigine.Authoritative information on the use of lamictal rash.

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Do you know the Best Memory Supplements?

Brain supplements became increasingly popular in 2010. Together with the focus on managing your well being better in 2011, you can bet that supplements for your brain and memory will take a front seat! With all of that said, examples of the best brain supplements? Let’s look at a few of the top ones in this article. In future articles, we’ll discuss each one of these in more detail.

It should come as no great surprise that the best supplements for the brain are herbal, rather than being chemicals created in some lab somewhere. Drugs tend to be very strong and possess strong unintended side effects, whereas all natural herbs usually are more efficient, less severe on the body, and possess fewer uncomfortable side effects, if any. Many supplements for the brain that are herb based have no unwanted side effects at all.

Ginko Biloba is among the standard herbs used to improve thinking processes. Ginko has been utilized in Europe for a long time. The brain requires 20% of the total oxygen intake of the body, and Ginko has a tendency to improve overall circulation of the blood. There have been some studies that have not proven any connection, however. So, the jury is out, as they say, with regards to Ginko.

Most of the herbs which are getting used are antioxidants. Antioxidants help the body fight oxidation from free radicals, and also aid in fighting inflammation. Inflammation is viewed as a primary motivator behind several illnesses, Alzheimer’s, coronary disease, diabetes, and also various types of cancers. Antioxidants improve the immune system and tend to slow down aging.

Rosemary is among the best antioxidants around. Among the best diets you can eat is called the Mediterranean diet. Rosemary is usually an ingredient in Mediterranean cooking. Ginseng is yet another antioxidant, which is nearly as valuable as rosemary. Ginseng has been utilized in Asia for several years to combat aging and also to boost energy and memory. Both rosemary and ginseng appear to help depression.

Another group of extremely important supplements for body and mind are the omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3′s are not produced by the human body. You have to get them through your food intake. This is becoming more and more difficult, because of industrialized farming techniques. One of the better ways to get omega-3′s is to take a omega3 supplement, or other oil supplement which is loaded with omega-3′s.

Lee Cole is a avid health and fitness enthusiast. Read this article to learn more about brain supplements.

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Can EMG Test Miss ALS Diagnosis?

People fearful they have ALS may wonder if their EMG test missed it because it was done too early; the test results came out normal, but then, you still think you have ALS and begin doubting the test accuracy in detecting this fatal neurological disease. Every 90 minutes in America, someone is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and death typically occurs 2-5 years after diagnosis, usually due to respiratory failure.

To find out if an test can be done too early to diagnose ALS and thus miss it, I posed this question to Daniel Kantor, MD, President-Elect of the Florida Society of Neurology (FSN) and Medical Director of Neurologique, an organization dedicated to patient care, research and education.

Dr. Kantor responded:”There are two questions here. Can an be normal in a patient who eventually gets diagnosed with ALS, and can an early abnormal EMG in an ALS patient be misinterpreted as another disease process. The answer to both, is, unfortunately, yes.”

The first of these two questions mentioned above simply means that you can go in for an test that turns out normal — because you don’t have ALS. But by sheer coincidence, at some point down the road, you happen to develop this untreatable neurological disorder, and sooner or later you’ll be going in for a second electromyography, due to the new symptoms.

This is akin to a woman going in for a mammogram that doesn’t detect breast cancer – because she doesn’t have it. But five years later, a mammogram shows a suspicious mass.

The second question is that a person with ALS has an EMG, and the results are misinterpreted for another condition. But the scenario doesn’t end here. Dr. Kantor adds: “A person with ALS may have a normal EMG years before they become symptomatic, so theoretically an EMG early in the course of their ALS may appear normal (or mostly normal).”

So I then asked Dr. Kantor: What if they have the electromyography at the time they actuallystart having early symptoms? Assume that’s why they’d have the test in the first place; they’re having peculiar symptoms; at this point, then, could the EMG still “miss” the ALS and still show normal readings?

Dr. Kantor says,”Actually, no test is 100 percent, even x-rays. So, theoretically (but not likely), an EMG could fail to detect the typical ALS changes because the electrical signals are below the sensitivity of the machine. Other problems may cause an picture similar to ALS, and ALS may be misdiagnosed as another problem. Also, please remember , like any test, is not 100 percent and is very operator dependent.”

Do You Know What EMG Test Is? Have a look on Does EMG Hurt?.

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