Choosing a Physician is an
important decision. Thus, our goal is to assist you in making that decision.
First of all, when selecting a Physician, you may want to begin your search
several different ways:
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Ask family, friends, neighbors and/or co-workers. |
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Contact your local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for reputable Physicians that specialize in the area of medicine that you have a need for. |
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Contact your city, county or state medical agencies for names of qualified Physicians. Contact and ask for referrals from medical associations. Many are listed in this publication. |
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Ask your family doctor. He or she is in constant contact with all kinds of health care professionals and will be able to provide you with recommendations. |
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Consumers' Research Council of America has compiled a list of Physicians throughout the United States by utilizing a point value system. This method uses a point value for criteria that we deemed valuable in determining top health care professionals.
The criteria that was used
and assessed a point value is as follows:
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Experience: |
Each year the Physician has been in practice |
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Training: |
Education and Continuing Education |
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Professional Associations: |
Membership in Professional Medical Associations |
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Board Certification: |
Completing an approved residency program and |
Similar studies have been done with other professions using a survey system. This type of study would ask fellow professionals who they would recommend. We found this method to be more of a popularity contest. For instance, professionals who work in a large office have much more of a chance of being mentioned as opposed to a professional who has a small private practice. In addition, many professionals have a financial arrangement for back-and-forth referrals. For these reasons, we developed the point value system.
Since this is a subjective call, there is no study that is 100% accurate. As with any profession, there will be some degree of variance in opinion. If you survey 100 patients of a particular Physician on their level of satisfaction, you will undoubtedly hear that some are very satisfied, some moderately satisfied and some dissatisfied. This is really quite normal.
We feel that a point value system takes out the personal and emotional factor and deals with factual criteria. We have made certain assumptions. For example, we feel that the more years in practice is better than less years in practice; more education is better than less education, being board certified is better than not being certified, etc.
The Top Physician list that we have compiled is current as of a certain date and other doctors may have qualified since that date. Nonetheless, we feel that the list of top Physicians is a good starting point for you to find a qualified family health care specialist.
No fees, donations, sponsorships or advertising are accepted from any individuals, professionals, corporations or associations. This policy is strictly adhered to, ensuring an unbiased selection.
Immunization is a method of developing resistance within the human body for specific diseases using microorganisms that have been killed or modified. Immunization is also known as vaccination or inoculation. Immunization has drastically reduced the number of serious and deadly diseases. The success of vaccines speak for themselves. In 1962, the year before measles vaccine was introduced, there were over 500,000 cases reported. Currently less than 100 cases per year are now reported. The number of cases of Meningitis in the United States for children and infants has dropped 96% since the the vaccine was introduced in 1988.
A vaccine may consist of a living organism that have been purposely weakened or altered. The microorganisms have been modified enough so that the human body will create immunity and not get the actual disease. The theory of vaccinations are based on the ability of a person's immune system to respond much faster and more effectively to a microorganism the second, third or fourth time that the immune system confronts the invading organism. Some immunizations protect a person for their entire life. Many other vaccines, such as Tetanus, require booster shots at required intervals to provide continued protection.
The American Academy of
Pediatrics and the U. S. Public Health Service recommends a series of
immunizations beginning at birth. For your convenience we have provided a Recommended Childhood Immunization Chart in a separate chapter. Check with your Pediatrician for any
risks and side effects associated with the vaccines that could affect you child.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a disease that affects the liver like other types of Hepatitis.
Hepatitis A is a caused by a virus found in feces and bowel movements and is
spread through personal contact, or drinking and eating contaminated food or
water.
Unlike Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A does not cause long-term illness or liver damage. Signs of Hepatitis A include fever, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, tiredness, dark urine and jaundice (yellowish tone to the skin and eyes). Blood testing is required to determine which type of Hepatitis is present.
Hepatitis A vaccine requires two doses. The first dose can be given to children two years of age or older and the second dose should be given six to eighteen months after the first dose.
Hepatitis BHepatitis B is spread through contact with body fluids and blood of an infected person. This disease is also spread by sharing personal items like toothbrushes and razors with an infected person. Another way that this disease is spread is through unprotected sex and needle-sharing associated with drug use.
You can protect your child by getting them vaccinated with three doses of the Hepatitis vaccine. A newborn should get the first vaccine between birth and two months old, the second vaccine between one and four months and the third vaccine between six and eighteen months of age.
HIB (Haemophilus Influenza Type B)
HIB disease was the leading cause of bacterial Meningitis in
children under five years of age. Approximately 12,000 children contracted Meningitis
(inflammation of the covering of the brain) as a result of HIB. About 25% of these children
suffered permanent brain damage and close to 5% died.
HIB is a bacterial disease that is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. When the bacteria enters the blood system or lungs it is then called "invasive" HIB disease. This type of HIB can cause complications that lead to Pneumonia, Arthritis and Epiglottitis. Most of the time this type of HIB occurs in children under the age of five.
Great success has be realized with the Haemophilus Influenzae Type B vaccine. The first vaccine came out in 1985 and soon afterward the disease began to disappear. In 1985 there were over 20,000 cases of HIB and now there are only a few hundred cases per year.
Children should get three to four doses of the vaccine: The first dose is recommended at two months
of age, the second dose at four months and the third dose between twelve and fifteen
months of age. Children who are over five years old do not need the HIB vaccine.
Polio
Polio is caused by a virus that
resides in the throat and intestinal tract. Polio is spread through contact with
feces and bowel movements of an infected person. Polio was one of the worst
diseases in the past century. In 1916 it had killed over 6000 people and had
left over 27,000 paralyzed. Today, there is no Polio in the United States but it
is still common in other parts of the world.
Some children who get Polio become paralyzed. This type of Polio is called paralytic Polio. It can start out like a common cold, and soon the victim will develop severe muscle pain. Paralysis starts within the first week and most often affects the muscles in the legs. Some children can recover but most will become permanently disabled. Once contracted there is no treatment for Polio.
Children should get four doses of IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine). The first dose should be administered at two months of age, the second dose at four months, the third dose between six and eighteen months and a booster between four and six years of age.
DtaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus
and Pertussis)
DtaP is three vaccines,
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis, combined into one. A child needs five DtaP
vaccines for maximum protection. The first three shots
should be given at two, four and six months of age, the next vaccine at fifteen
to eighteen months and a booster between the ages of four and six.
Diphtheria is a bacterial disease that resides in the mouth, throat and nose of an infected person. The disease is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. This disease was a major cause of childhood sickness and death. In 1920 over 150,000 were infected with Diphtheria and about ten percent of them died. Today there are only a few cases a year.
Tetanus is a bacterial disease that can live anywhere and can be found in soil, dust and manure. Tetanus enters the body through cuts and scratches on the skin. It can get through even a tiny pin-prick but it is more common with deep puncture wounds or cuts. Tetanus produces a poison in the body that causes muscle spasms in the arms, neck, legs and stomach. It has been known to cause such powerful muscle contractions that it will actually break a child’s bones. Tetanus is not contagious.
Pertussis, also known as
'whooping cough', is a very contagious disease and is common in the United
States. It is caused by a bacteria that resides in the mouth, throat and nose.
Pertussis is spread via the air by coughing and sneezing. This disease causes
such severe coughing that it can continue until the air is extracted from the
lungs, causing a person to make a loud ‘whooping’ sound as they gasp for
air. Children have be known to turn blue from lack of air, vomit and experience
problems eating and drinking.
Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial disease that kills more people in America
each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. This disease is
the leading cause of bacterial Meningitis. Over 200 children die from invasive
Pneumococcal disease each year.
This disease is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. There are over 90 strains of the Pneumococcal bacterium. Pneumococcal disease is the leading cause for all middle ear infections in children. It is becoming more resistant to antibiotics, making the vaccination increasingly important.
Children should get four doses
of the vaccine. One dose at two, four and six months of age and the last dose
between twelve and fifteen months. It will not prevent all, but many of the ear
infections caused by the Pneumococcal bacteria.
MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella)
The MMR is a combination of three vaccines
in one, Measles, Mumps and Rubella. This vaccine works well and should protect a
child for the rest of their lives. Children should get two doses of the MMR
vaccine. The first dose should be given at twelve to fifteen months of age and
the second dose at any time twenty eight days or more later.
Measles is a deadly disease that kills over one million people a year through out the world. Most children get a rash and a cold and need to stay home for a few days. Approximately ten percent of children with Measles get an ear infection, and five percent will get Pneumonia.
Measles is caused by a virus that spreads very easily to any child that is exposed it. Measles is airborne and is contracted through coughing, sneezing and close-contact conversation. Before the Measles vaccine in 1963 there were over 500,000 cases reported each year and over 3 million cases went unreported. Today there are only a few hundred cases a year.
Mumps is a virus that is spread through the air via coughing, sneezing or close-contact conversation. Children get Mumps through others who are already infected. Common signs of Mumps is swelling of the cheeks and jaw and many sufferers get a headache and fever. Approximately ten percent of children who get Mumps also get Meningitis, but generally Mumps is a mild disease.
Rubella is also
known as 'German Measles' and '3 day measles'. Rubella strikes children,
teenagers and adults who have not been vaccinated. The Rubella vaccine was first
licensed in 1969. Prior to that, in 1965, there were 12 ½ million people who
contracted the disease. Today there are only a few hundred cases reported per
year . The biggest threat of Rubella is to unborn babies; If a woman gets
Rubella during the first few months of pregnancy there is an 80% chance that the
baby will have some type of birth defect.
Varicella (Chicken Pox Vaccine)
Chicken Pox is caused by a virus and can be spread very easily from person to
person. The virus is airborne and is contracted through coughing, sneezing and
close-contact conversation. Chicken Pox is generally a mild disease but serious
problems can still occur. The Chicken Pox blisters can become infected and as a
result, some children contract Encephalitis (infection of the brain).
A single dose of the Varicella vaccine is recommended for children between the ages of 12 to 18 months. Children who miss this vaccination can still get it up to the age of thirteen. Data suggests that the vaccine is 70 to 90% effective in preventing Chicken Pox and 95% effective in preventing a serious outbreak of the disease.
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Many symptoms of a thyroid disorder are common symptoms of other health conditions. These symptoms do not mean that you have a thyroid disorder, but you should be aware of them so you can determine if you should be tested by your Physician. |
Some common symptoms include:
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A high or low pulse
rate Fatigue and exhaustion |
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| When a woman is
pregnant and her hyperthyroidism cannot be controlled and regulated by any other means. |
| When breathing and
swallowing is difficult due to enlarged thyroid nodules. |
| When cancerous cells have been discovered near or on the thyroid gland. |
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| Thyroid Lobectomy: | The removal of
approximately one quarter of the thyroid gland |
| Subtotal Thyroidectomy: | The removal of
approximately one half of the thyroid gland |
| Total Thyroidectomy: | The complete removal
of the thyroid gland |
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Most thyroid patients resume work within seven to fourteen days following surgery. Generally, the only major restriction will be no swimming. You will be encouraged to move about as soon as possible. Eating and drinking can be a discomfort and a soft diet is usually prescribed until it has had time to heal. Thyroid replacement drugs will almost always be prescribed for the remainder of the patients life. It is common to be tested a month after starting hormone replacement drugs to make sure that you are not taking too much or too little. A patient following this surgery should carefully watch for signs of hypothyroidism which symptoms include fatigue, feeling run down, depressed, muscle cramps and weight gain. Good patient/doctor communication and patient follow-up is essential for a good and complete recovery. |
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The angioplasty method is a less invasive procedure as compared to a bypass surgery. Angioplasty has less risk and the recovery period is much quicker. Your cardiologist will tell you if you are a good candidate for this procedure. The cardiologist will take into consideration your age, severity of the blockage and your overall physical condition. Angioplasty procedures have been performed for the past 25 years. Results show that patients are doing better today because of advanced drug therapies and new advanced techniques that are better able to detect the exact locations of the blockages. In the early 1990's surgeons started using stents. Stents are tiny wire mesh tubes which are inserted permanently at the location of the blockage. The use of stents have been highly successful in reducing the possibility of arterial collapse and the renarrowing of the artery which is called restenosis. Seasoned doctors who perform this procedure are able to install stents in one or more arteries with a high degree of success. |
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During a bypass procedure the heart-lung machine
takes over the functions of the heart and New advances in bypass surgery are continuing. A minimally invasive bypass surgery technique is being tested with promising results. This new procedure requires the surgeon to work on the front of the heart through a four inch incision while it is beating slowly. Another type is that the heart is stopped and a surgeon uses a fiberoptic scope that is passed through a 4 ½ inch incision and the surgeon works on all sides of the heart by viewing a video image. This less invasive procedure would be less expensive and requires a much shorter hospital stay. |
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Many surgeons prefer not to
operate on teenagers until they have completely stopped growing. The actual procedure usually takes between one and two hours. Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia depending on what procedure you and your surgeon have decided upon. The skin of the nose is separated from the bone and cartilage and then is sculpted to the desire shape. Many times the incisions are made on the inside of the nose and it depends on each particular surgeon and what needs to be exactly done. You will experience facial discomfort for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours. It is common for your face to feel swollen and to have a headache. It is usually recommended to stay off of your feet for the first 24 hours and get proper rest. By applying cold compresses, swelling and aching will be reduced to a minimum. Slight bleeding will occur and blowing your nose is a no-no for the first week. |
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The arthroscope is inserted through a very tiny 1/4" incision into the joint. The incision is called a portal. Other portals in the immediate area are used for the insertion of other medical instruments used in the surgical procedure. An Arthroscopic Surgeon can correct and diagnose a variety of problems such as ligament tears, arthritis and other joint-related problems. The portals leave very little scars and many times are unnoticeable. |
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Laparoscopic surgery is preferred since
abdominal muscles are not cut. This results in a much quicker recovery
and sometimes requires only one night in the hospital. However, an open
surgery is sometimes required due to problems. They call this an open
surgery because it requires an incision that is 5 to 9 inches long in
the abdomen. This is considered a major surgery with up to a one-week
stay at a medical facility.
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A vasectomy makes men sterile by keeping the sperm out of the fluid that is discharged through the penis during sex. The sperm are the male's reproductive cells in men. When sperm meet with a woman’s egg, pregnancy results. The sperm passes through tubes called vas deferens to other glands and mixes with seminal fluids to make semen. A vasectomy blocks the vas deferens so the semen does not contain sperm. Without the sperm a pregnancy can not occur. Men consider a vasectomy for the following reasons:
This simple surgical procedure takes about twenty minutes to perform. Your family doctor or local hospital can assist you in finding a surgeon to perform this procedure. Most men will recover with little to no time off work. Many of theses procedures are scheduled on a Friday and the patient can return to work the next Monday morning. |
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The actual procedure is fast and
virtually painless. First, anesthetic eye drops are put in your eye.
After a few moments the eye drops will start numbing the nerves of the
eye. A suction ri At that point the suction ring and the microkeratome are removed. The next instrument used is the excimer laser. This laser uses a cool ultraviolet light beam to precisely remove very minute pieces of tissue from the cornea to actually reshape it. A properly shaped cornea will focus light into the eye and onto the retina, resulting in clear vision. The last step is folding back the cornea into its original position. The eyes heal very quickly and vision will improve immediately. When opting for this procedure, finding a Physician is very important. Even with the highly technical and sophisticated excimer laser and microkeratome, the Physician is still the most important part of the procedure. Therefore, choosing a Physician should take a lot of thought and consideration. Many consumers can be fooled by the clever advertisements they hear on the radio or see on TV. For instance, it is common for vision correction facilities to advertise that they have performed over 20,000 procedures. Although this may be true, it does not mean that the Physician performing your surgeries has done all 20,000 procedures. Therefore, find out how many surgeries the actual doctor performing your surgery has done. We suggest that he or she has done a minimum of 300. We also suggest asking your family Physician or friends for any recommendations when searching for the right surgeon.Also, feel free to ask your Physician questions; Most healthcare professionals don’t mind. Here are a few questions you may consider asking:
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What is an Allergy?
An allergy is a reaction of the body to foreign substances such as dust, pollen,
insect bites, drugs, animal fur, animal excretions, smoke, plants, feathers,
cosmetics, chemical pollutants, and various kinds of foods. It is estimated that
over 40 million Americans suffer from some type of allergies. It is common for
people to think that they have a cold or flu, only to find out that they have an
allergy. Many times the symptoms are very similar.
Symptoms generally include watery
eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy skin, rash and upset stomach. Most
allergies are reactions to substances that are generally harmless. When your
immune system reacts to an allergen that has been absorbed into the body, the
body now treats the allergen as a harmful invader and causes the white blood
cells to produce antibody molecules called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). When this
series of events happens it causes the body to release Histamine, which can
cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, sneezing and itching.
Diagnosis of Allergies
Allergies are diagnosed from the patient's medical history, skin and patch tests
to help identify the allergen. Physicians inject common allergens just below the skin in separate
sections to see which substance is causing redness and swelling . This test
determines which allergens the person is sensitive to.
Physicians inject common allergens just below the skin in separate
sections to see which substance is causing redness and swelling . This test
determines which allergens the person is sensitive to.
Mold
Allergies
Mold allergies are very common. The sources of mold in the home are found where
there is moisture. Common places are in damp basements, closets, refrigerator
drip pans, house plants, air conditioners, humidifiers, garbage pails, shower
stalls, toilets, old foam rubber pillows, and plumbing leaks. Humidity promotes
the growth of various molds.
Weight control
is an important part of our culture. We are reminded daily in our society that
being overweight is not "in" or fashionable. Just look at TV or any
type of media advertising and you will soon see that being thin and in good
shape is what is popular.
Your primary goal should be to have a healthy body. Healthy bodies come in
different shapes and sizes. Weight control is just a part of having a healthy
body. Other factors include your diet, nutrition and the amount and kind of
exercising you are getting. Displayed later on in this chapter is a height/weight chart that will
serve as a guideline. When you see your family doctor, they
will check your height, weight, and blood pressure, blood lipids, (cholesterol,
triglycerides), and blood sugar (for people with diabetes). All of these involve
medical conditions related to weight. Proper weight control and weight
management can help provide for a healthy body. Obesity is basically a
medical condition that signifies the excess storage of body fat. It is normal
for the body to store fat tissue under the skin and around joints and organs.
Fat is essential for good health because it provides energy when the body
demands it and provides insulation and protection for vital organs. It is the
accumulation of too much fat that poses the health problems of obesity. These
health problems include diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease and
arthritis. The United States has one of
the highest percentages of obese adults. It is estimated that over 36% of adults
in America are obese. Obesity is most common among minorities, especially
minority females. Over 50% of African-American and Mexican-American women are
obese. Over 20% of children between the ages of 6 to 17 fit in the obese
category. A primary concern of obesity
is the risk of developing disease. Obese people are twice as likely to develop
high blood pressure and over 70% of heart disease cases are linked to excess
body fat. Obese women are twice as likely to develop breast cancer and 40% more
likely to develop colon cancer. Close to 80% of Type II or non-insulin dependent
diabetics are obese. Obesity is partially
determined by genetic makeup. Research has revealed that basal metabolic rate
and the size and number of a person's fat cells help in determining the amount
of weight loss that is possible. When calories from food intake equal the amount
of energy that the body requires to function the weight remains the same.
However, when more calories are consumed than the body needs, the body will
store the extra calories, resulting in weight gain. Diets are the most common
treatment for obesity. There seem to be countless diets that are promoted and it
is recommended that your weight control diet be supervised by a your family
doctor. Most health care professionals will recommend a diet that consists of
1200 - 1500 calories per day. People who are over 40 pounds overweight may
require a more aggressive approach and may be put on a restricted diet of 500 to
800 calories per day. There many types of weight
loss medications on the market today but there are also many side effects that
include insomnia, anxiety and irritability. Your family doctor can evaluate your
particular condition, health issues and can recommend weight-loss
medications under the right circumstances. Used correctly, they can be very
effective in the treatment of overweight people. Exercise should be an
important part of your weight management plan. Calorie reduction alone is not a
complete plan will not result in long-term weight loss. Regular exercise is a
long-term plan for continuing weight reduction. Exercise will also improve some
of the medical conditions associated with obesity which include high cholesterol
levels, high blood pressure and diabetes. A long-term exercise plan
sometimes requires lifestyle and behavior modification, which can be hard for
many obese people to accept. Successful weight management plans require strong
discipline to control eating urges and to implement exercise plans. New habits
need to be learned and many old bad habits need to changed, such as food types
consumed and unproductive eating habits. When choosing an exercise
program, the person should consult their family doctor. The exercise program
will be designed around the person's work capacity, which will be determined by
your doctor. Exercise tests using the treadmill or stationary bicycle are the
most common ways to determine and measure work capacity. Once your work capacity
has been determined, an exercise program can be recommended. The formula will
include what your training heart rate should be and how much intensity should be
expended during your workout. An exercise program can be
the most important part of your weight management program because it will give
you so many other added health benefits. Many studies show a direct correlation
between physical fitness and mental achievement. The following
charts provide healthy weight ranges for different body sizes and builds: MEN
Diet
Exercise
WOMEN
Height
Small Frame
Medium Frame
Large Frame
4' 10"
102 - 111
109 - 121
118 - 131
4' 11
103 - 113
111 - 123
120 - 134
5' 0"
104 - 115
113 - 126
122 - 137
5' 1"
106 - 118
115 - 129
125 - 140
5' 2"
108 - 121
118 - 132
128 - 143
5' 3"
111 - 124
121 - 135
131 - 147
5' 4"
114 - 127
124 - 138
134 - 151
5' 5"
117 - 130
127 - 141
137 - 155
5' 6"
120 - 133
130 - 144
140 - 159
5' 7"
123 - 136
133 - 144
143 - 163
5' 8"
126 - 139
136 - 150
146 - 167
5' 9"
129 - 142
139 - 153
149 - 170
5' 10"
132 - 145
142 - 156
152 - 173
5' 11"
135 -148
145 - 159
155 - 176
6' 0"
138 - 151
148 - 162
158 - 176
Height
Small Frame
Medium Frame
Large Frame
5' 2"
128 - 134
131 - 141
138 - 150
5' 3"
130 - 136
133 - 143
120 - 134
5' 4"
132 - 138
135 - 145
140 - 153
5' 5"
134 - 140
137 - 148
144 - 160
5' 6"
136 - 142
139 - 151
146 - 164
5' 7"
138 - 145
142 - 154
149 - 168
5' 8"
140 - 148
145 - 157
152 - 172
5' 9"
142 - 151
156 - 160
155 - 176
5' 10"
144 - 154
151 - 163
158 - 180
5' 11"
146 - 157
154 - 166
161 - 184
6' 0"
149-160
157 - 170
164 - 188
6' 1"
152-164
160 - 174
168 - 192
6' 2"
155-168
165 - 178
172 -197
6' 3"
158-172
167 - 182
176 - 202
6' 4"
162-176
171 - 187
181 - 207
Pregnancy
begins when a male's sperm fertilizes a female's egg and it implants in the
lining of the female uterus. Pregnancy affects the female's hormonal patterns
and this results in one of the first signs of pregnancy, a menstrual period.
Other symptoms include breast swelling and tenderness, fatigue, frequent
urination, nausea, mood swings and weight gain.
A normal pregnancy lasts approximately forty weeks, or 280 days, after the beginning of the last menstrual period. Sometimes a woman goes into labor before the expected date of birth, resulting in a premature birth. Approximately seven percent of pregnancies result in premature births. Births are considered premature when the baby is delivered prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy.
There are three stages of
pregnancy, referred to as trimesters. Since there is forty weeks of pregnancy
they are divided into three equal parts.
First
Trimester
The first 14 weeks of pregnancy are referred to as the first trimester.
The first signs of the pregnancy may be nausea, tenderness and increased size in
the breasts, and color of the areola.
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2 weeks |
The sperm and egg join in the fallopian tube. |
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3 weeks |
The
unborn baby is only one-sixth of an inch long but is rapidly developing. |
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4 weeks |
The
menstrual cycle has stopped. |
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5 weeks |
The
embryo is the size of a raisin. |
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6 weeks |
On the
26th day the heart begins to beat. |
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7 weeks |
Hands
and feet are shaped like little paddles. |
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8 weeks |
Unborn
baby is now called a fetus. |
|
9 weeks |
Organs,
muscles and nerves begin to function. |
|
10 weeks |
The
fetus weighs 1/3 ounce. |
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11 weeks |
Major
organs are fully formed, including liver, kidneys, intestines and lungs. |
|
12 weeks |
The
brain is fully formed and baby can feel pain. |
Second Trimester
The second trimester is filled with tremendous growth and development. The mother should
start to feel better and have more energy.
|
13 weeks |
Baby now has unique fingerprints. |
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14 weeks |
Muscles lengthen and become organized by |
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15 weeks |
Baby now has taste buds. |
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16 weeks |
Fetus weighs six ounces and is 5 ½ inches long. |
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17 weeks |
Circulatory
system and urinary tract are working. |
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18 weeks |
Fetus now weighs 6 ounces. |
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19 weeks |
With ultrasound the baby's sex can now be determined. |
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20 weeks |
Baby
can hear. |
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21 weeks |
Fetus
now has a white sticky coat |
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22 weeks |
Fetus
is now 7 ½ inches long. |
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23 weeks |
Fetus
is 8" long. |
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24 weeks |
Baby practices breathing by breathing in amniotic fluid. |
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25 weeks |
Fetus weighs 1-1/4 pounds. |
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26 weeks |
Fetus makes breathing movements. |
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27 weeks |
Fetus
weighs 2 pounds. |
Third Trimester
During the final trimester the mother will probably gain 9 to 13 pounds and will probably feel tired and need to rest more frequently.
|
28 weeks |
Baby can open his eyes and suck his thumb. |
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29 weeks |
Fetus weighs 3 pounds. |
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|
30 weeks |
Brain growth is now very rapid. |
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31 weeks |
Baby’s lungs and digestive tract are near maturity. |
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32 weeks |
Baby
weighs 4 pounds. |
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|
33 weeks |
concluded that
women are seven times more likely than men to develop a thyroid problem.
Age is also another major factor. Women at the age of sixty have a one in
five chance of having a thyroid problem. The post-partum and menopausal
periods are times when a woman is most vulnerable to thyroid disorders.
The angioplasty
procedure is an invasive method of opening blocked arteries that are
restricting and impeding blood flow. When the balloon is inflated, the
plaque blocking the interior arterial wall is compressed and remains
compressed, clearing space so the blood flow volume can increase.
lungs. This is
done so the heart can be carefully stopped and the surgeon can work in a
blood-free environment. The heart-lung machine keeps oxygen-rich blood
flowing through the body. It receives the blood and removes the carbon
dioxide and other waste products, warms and/or cools the blood and adds
oxygen as it pumps the blood through the patient's body. At the
conclusion of the bypass surgery, the heart is restarted and the
heart-lung machine is disconnected.
Each
case is individual and needs to be discussed in detail with your
surgeon.
ng
is then placed
over the center of the cornea. The suction creates pressure in the eye
which is required for the microkeratome to function properly. The
microkeratome is a highly sophisticated instrument that is of paramount
importance in the LASIK procedure. The instrument has an extremely sharp
blade that moves back and forth at a very high speed. It actually shaves
a thin layer of the cornea and folds the cornea back. The part of the
cornea that is uncut acts as a hinge.
