Naah Allotey is an experienced, empathetic and talented practitioner who has dedicated her career to one of the most important subjects of all: family health. Over the years she's done it all - from wound care to patient safety to research, pediatrics, primary care and beyond.

After spending some time working at a variety of prominent healthcare organizations in both New Jersey and New York, Naah Allotey settled into her current role as a nurse practitioner at Harlem Hospital in New York City - a facility that just so happens to be the largest in and around the Harlem area. 

One particular subject that she is passionate about takes the form of anemia. This is a condition in which a patient doesn't have the healthy blood cells in their body that are necessary to carry enough oxygen to various tissues. Someone with anemia often feels not only tired on a regular basis, but weak as well.

If you or a loved one believe that you may be dealing with the impact of anemia, there are a few key warning signs that you'll want to watch out for.

The Symptoms of Anemia: Breaking Things Down

One of the most important things about all of this to understand is that the symptoms of anemia will ultimately vary from person-to-person. While there are a few hallmarks that most people will experience, there are also symptoms that you may never go through. Still, they're all important to watch out for. Taken individually, they may not seem like much. But if you have multiple symptoms at the same time, it could be an indication that something much larger and more severe is going on.

By far, one of the most important symptoms of anemia to watch out for is a constant sense of fatigue. It's easy to write off fatigue as "I didn't sleep well last night" or "the temperature is too hot outside and it is taking a lot out o me." But for most people, this is usually the symptom that manifests itself first.

With fatigue will come a general sense of weakness. Some people may even experience a shortness of breath - even if they've been stationary for awhile and haven't been particularly active.

Other important symptoms of anemia to be aware of include a patient with pale or otherwise yellowish skin, sudden chest pains that don't seem to go away, and headaches - especially if you weren't prone to them in the past.

More severe symptoms of anemia include sudden dizziness or lightheadedness. This is an important one, as again it's all too easy to write it off as something innocent like standing up too fast or going through a sudden drop in your blood pressure.

Finally, someone with anemia will likely exhibit hands and feet that are cold to the touch.

Again, just because you don't have all of these symptoms doesn't mean that you're free from anemia, says Naah Allotey. But if you see multiple start to appear, and if they start to impact your quality of life, it's definitely time to see a medical professional to see what can be done about it.

Acupuncture is one of the most popular traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) that is widely used for a range of conditions. It is done by inserting a solid, metallic, thin needle into the skin at different pressure points along the meridians. Needles can be manipulated manually or through electrical stimulation.

A patient may feel varied sensations at various acupuncture points also depending on what is happening from a health perspective. Additionally there are different ways to insert the needle to induce different effects. A patient seeing a skilled acupuncturist does not need to worry about pain in general.

Two Main Schools Of ThoughtThere are two main schools of thought regarding the big question of: how does acupuncture work? The original school of thought agrees with the concept of TCM, which is based on the flow of energy (qi) and the school of thought which emerged from the 1970s, led by doctors such as Dr. Felix Mann which is a scientifically based system known asmedical acupuncture today. Let's examine a little these two different schools of thought.

1 - Traditional AcupunctureIn order to understand the traditional acupuncture model we need to have a basic appreciation of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concept of disease.

Disease in TCM is considered to occur when there is a lack of harmony between the interactions or functioning of qi, yin, yan, xu?, zang-f?, meridians as well as/or possibly an imbalance between the human body and its environmental surroundings.

To cure the disease the TCM practitioner needs to identify the pattern of disharmony, which for example can also be caused by an invasion of damp, cold or wind. Proponents of this ancient healing practice believe that the body contains at least 350 acupuncture points that lie along the 12 meridians or channels of the body.

Once the pattern is identified in TCM it is commonly treated with acupuncture and/or herbs.

A traditional acupuncturist will carry out a traditional diagnosis and know which points to insert the acupuncture needles to have the best result. Expert acupuncturists can determine the root cause of a disease by inspecting the patient's tongue, breathing, smell of breath, sound of the voice and strength of the pulse. The intensity of acupuncture treatments given to patients vary depending on the results of the diagnosis.

2 - Medical AcupunctureMedical acupuncture is best explained in the concept of neuroscience. It is believed that acupuncture plays a vital role in treating and preventing the onset of diseases by accessing and stimulating the acupuncture points in the body.

There is quite a bit of research which shows that acupuncture promotes overall health and fitness by stimulating the central nervous system to produce chemicals and hormones to the spinal cord, brain and muscles of the body.

These chemicals can either lessen the intensity of pain or trigger the production of other hormones and chemicals that can help in regulating the body's internal functions and processes. The increased production of chemicals and hormones helps in stimulating and enhancing the body's natural restorative, therapeutic and healing abilities thereby promoting a healthy emotional and physical being.

When the needles are inserted into the acupuncture points, it stimulates the nerve fibres to send nerve impulse to the spinal cord. It further stimulates the production of endorphins such as dynorphin and enkephalin that inhibit pain.

When the nerve fibres are stimulated, it also sends nerve signals to certain areas of the mid-brain that is responsible for the production of enkephalin which is a precursor to the production of monoamine transmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin. These monoamine transmitters play vital roles in suppressing the transmission of pain signals. Meanwhile, serotonin is scientifically proven to have anti-depressant effects to the brain aside from the fact that it reduces the intensity of pain.

Acupuncture is also beneficial in the production of adrenocorticotropic and beta-endorphin hormones. Endorphins provide immediate pain relief while adrenocorticotropic stimulates the adrenal gland to produce cortisol which is known for its anti-inflammatory effects.

Japanese v Chinese AcupunctureJapanese and Chinese have different ways of conducting acupuncture. After a thorough investigation, a Japanese acupuncturist checks the pulse to determine where the needles should be inserted. Meanwhile, a Chinese acupuncturist checks the pulse once and examines the tongue to find out the activities that are taking place inside the body.

The Chinese believed that a disruption in the natural flow of energy or qi in the body can trigger the onset of different kinds of diseases. Furthermore, the lack of harmony between the mind and the body can cause an imbalance which can commence the development of diseases.

As well as different approaches and schools of thought, there are also a variety of different types of acupuncture.

Managing pressure at a young age is not something most people deal with. The majority of people feel that growing up as a teenager is tough but, in reality, the same number have no idea what that means compared to a teenager who finds herself in the midst of being a celebrity and all the attention that comes with it. That was the case for Andrea Jaeger who, at the age of 14, became a tennis star and lived 24/7 in the limelight until her sports window was completed.

Mental Growth Under Fire

One of the key things that happens to a young person in a high-pressure situation is a tremendous amount of mental fire. That pressure can reshape and form a personality that never goes back to where it was under normal progression. It’s not a negative thing per se, but it is a tremendous amount of dynamics that shapes the person for their life forward. Some develop a tremendous amount of resilience from the experience. Others, however, find themselves struggling for years to adapt.

Channeling for a Bigger Contribution

For Andrea Jaeger, her pressure turned into an ability to focus social energy on a good cause. Today, Jaeger leads Little Star Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to help a combination target of families, medical providers, communities, and schools. Having supported an organization that has now been providing help for over 36 years, Andrea Jaeger had one of her biggest challenges to date during COVID. The pandemic shook people, challenging Jaeger to keep her organization functional and purposeful. And that was on top of the existing challenge of running a multi-program organization that helped give people financial assistance, education, scholarships, therapeutic care, medical assistance, and more.

Laurels Don’t Matter Compared to Bigger Goals

One thing that Andrea Jaeger realized over the years with her work was that all the fancy laurels don’t matter that much versus making a real change for society. Helping children with cancer made a difference, especially if it helped them survive and live a full life. Yes, there were events at the White House, awards, and recognition for her past work. However, for Andrea Jaeger, what matters today is finding ways to help fellow people live a better life overall, helping children in need, and helping the Little Star Foundation find ways to help even more.

Andrea Jaeger made her first impression on the world as a teenage professional tennis star, but today she’s doing far more important work. With the Little Star Foundation she’s reached far more lives intimately and powerfully. That goes well beyond anything that Andrea Jaeger achieved in sports or personal celebrity reach. While she’s not the star on television anymore or a sports magazine, Andrea Jaeger does know she is making a difference in many people’s futures. And that’s a far greater reward overall.

When you read an article about chiropractic care, you will often encounter the term vertebral subluxation. To help you understand this term and what it is all about and how it is related to chiropractic, here is a brief discussion for you to read on.

What are Chiropractic Vertebral Subluxations

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), chiropractic vertebral subluxation is a lesion or dysfunction in a joint or motion segment wherein the alignment, range of motion and physiological function are altered even though the connection between joint surfaces remains intact.

According to Frieman chiropractic specialists, there are several causes why an individual suffers from vertebral subluxations and these are the following:

How to Diagnose Chiropractic Vertebral Subluxations

There are several ways to determine whether a person has spinal or joint lesions. The latest technology being used today, such as those found at the Frieman Chiropractic clinic, include the thermal scan and Surface Electromyography Scan (sEMG).

Thermal scan is used to measure the differences in surface temperature between the left and right sides of the spine, while sEMG scan is used to measure the amount of electrical activity in the muscles along your spine. With the help of this technology together with a thorough examination of the patient, chiropractors will be able to determine the severity of the problem and the necessary chiropractic care to be done.

Most Frequently Asked Questions about Subluxations

The following are some of the most frequently asked questions by many patients who want to know whether they are suffering from chiropractic vertebral subluxations:

Q: Does the thermal scan or sEMG scan hurts?

A: No, this scan doesn't hurt at all. In fact, it is completely pain free.

Q: Why are these tests important?

A: As mentioned earlier, these tests are all important since they help the chiropractors properly diagnose the presence of spinal or joint lesions. They work by providing accurate diagnostic information that are not commonly diagnosed by other health care specialists.

Q: What benefits can a patient get from these tests?

A: In addition to accurate diagnostic information, these tests are essential to determine whether the condition of your spine has already improved. In this case, chiropractors will adjust your care treatment, ensuring that your body gets the right kind of care.

Are you looking for a Chiropractor? Do you expect more than a person who is not only good with spine but excels in every joint pain? If you'd like to find a Chiropractor who uses a more holistic or absolute approach to serving you to make you feel good, then here are some points that can help you out.

Selecting a chiropractor is a very delicate matter. Chiropractors have unusual styles and approaches, and you will need to experience comfort with your new chiropractor. If you live in a metro, for instance, Chicago, you will have a wide range of chiropractors to choose from. This will make it easy to find one who incorporates unusual techniques as well.

Here are five steps that will help you find the appropriate Chicago chiropractorto meet your needs:

1) Decide on the accurate type of chiropractor you want

What exactly do you want from your prospective chiropractor? If you are reading this, you desire for a chiropractor who does more than the basics, instead providing a more customized or holistic approach.

2) How much you can travel to see the chiropractor?

In a big city, you can come across many chiropractors. You can find one of them near your house, workplace, or in the heart of the city. However, it is easy to poise your desire for ease with a chiropractor that provides you with the right care.

3) Research is important

Researching for the ideal doctor is necessary. You can check out the websites and read about whatever they are offering. Searching them through Google can ensure you to get the best in the market and make sure that you are likely to get treated from the best doctors.

4) Take an appointment from eventual chiropractors

Such a meeting will help you get a sense of how contented you are with an exacting chiropractor. You can also find out whether they are the correct person to facilitate you with your precise concerns. Many chiropractors center on the spine only, but an only some will also aid you with shoulder pain, knee pain, and more.

5) Make sure they offer the modalities you want

Since you are seeking for a chiropractor who provides more than the basics, check that other modalities they offer, for instance massage therapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy, traditional orthotics and more, and to what degree they are incorporated in their patient care.

In many minor locations, it could be rather tough to find such an incorporated practice. Though, if you live in a large city, such as the Chicago area, where you can get many options to choose Chiropractor in Chicago, you'll effortlessly find one who fits the bill as long as you recognize what you're looking for.

Transcription services are being hired by businesses and organizations around the world these days. Using these services helps them in saving precious money and time.

Transcription has been around for quite a long time now and is still going strong. Basically, transcription is documentation of information in a given format. As all of us know, every business and organization needs to keep a record of its operations. However, the problem with documentation is that it consumes a lot of time and manpower that can be more productively used otherwise.

Another problem that the organizations face with documentation is that it slows down their speed, which can adversely affect their interests and prospects. Hiring the services of a dictation service provider can be an answer to this problem.

These services have experienced a significant growth during the last decade. The emergence of the internet has played a major role in the growth of transcription industry. Today, whole world has turned into a global village because of the internet.

Now it has become possible for companies and organizations in any country to maintain a record of their proceedings by hiring the services of a company regardless of its location. This helps the businesses in meeting the challenges of a fast paced world in a better way and in saving a lot of money and time.

It is a very serious job and requires an extremely responsible approach. As these services have huge experience in this field, it is only wise to outsource the job to them as a minor negligence can result in huge losses for a business establishment. Any good transcription service usually specializes in transcribing business meetings, speeches, etc.

Transcription services have successfully been used for a long time by medical and legal professionals too. The best part of outsourcing transcription work to these service providers is that they are very affordable and save a business important time, which is the key to success in today's scenario.

Once the recording part is done, it is then sent over the internet to a dictation service providing company where it passes through a team of professionals, which includes transcribers, proof readers, editors, etc.

There have been many viewpoints revealed regarding what actually is a halfway house. Opinions on this are often inquired by the ones who are going through hazardous addiction situations in life or people who read about them in the news. Well actually the fact is that halfway house can be called as a type of recovery housing to help addicts through a way of sober living. Halfway houses are particularly designed by keeping in mind the transitional living patterns that helps people in moving back to their society which before was made limited due to drug addictions. In today's scenario there are many halfway houses which are being run and managed with specific purposes to aid addicts in leading a drug free life.

Sober living is one way of leading through transitional living patterns that assists addicts in recovering their life out of drug addiction through proper treatment and support of caring professionals. At halfway house along with sober living amenities, there are counseling and meeting sessions conducted to boost the moral of the addict and sustain their road to recovery. Recovery housing is a crucial part of sober living that is a coping mechanism to suppress the urge of the addiction and build up a strong support for the addicts. In the course of sober living it is very important for the patient to have an active role in the entire transitional living time that in return gives them a higher chance of succeeding their stay in the halfway house.

Life in a halfway house is a aspiration for sober living, is definitely an awakening experience for the addicts. The reason behind transitional living changing their lives is that during the course of substance addiction, an addict is used to live in a daze, away from his society, friends and family. However with the help of halfway house and sober living one can easily come out of these dark clouds of addiction and approach the world as a confident and fearless person.

So to take a step forward in the way of Transitional Living you must seek out for an appropriate halfway house or recovery housing. These places hold well trained staff to accurately assist those going through severe substance addiction troubles and helping them in overcoming their shortcomings.

Each of the halfway houses runs on certain rules and regulations that have to be abided by every patient who wants to get into sober living for getting relieved with their addiction habits. So you must choose one of the recovery housing based on your condition and requirements and show them a strong commitment for the inner change in yourself. To select best halfway house you can take the assistance of your friends or acquaintances or even search on the internet. After analyzing all your prerequisites choose the best halfway house that fits into your requirements and lead a sober life through adequate sober living patterns. With the transitional living changes in your life you will for sure reinforce positive behaviors in your life and undergo new development to lead a drug free life.

Plasma is the liquid part of human blood that constitutes 90% of water and proteins. This substance is responsible in binding all the blood components together and distribution of various substances in the human body. It makes up to 10% - 12% of the blood and contains substances like nutrients, clotting agents, albumin (it is a major protein of human blood) etc.

This substance not only work wonders in the human body alone, but also can be useful in developing various therapies, vaccines and medication to treat the patients that are suffering from chronic diseases by extracting it from human body. This substance is stored in frozen state when taken out from the human body and is used for making medicines for treating patients.

There are various Plasma Donation Center set up in the United States where people can go for Donating Plasma. These Plasma Donation Centers use specially designed equipment that separates this substance from the blood and then returns the rest of the blood to the donor. The actual procedure takes about one hour, but the entire donation process generally lasts an hour and a half from start to finish. All healthy fit adults can donate this live saving substance either for money or as for a human cause. These Plasma Donation Centers also pay to the donors for donation from their body, so it can be a safer way to earn money for people who are looking to make some extra dollars. However there are some exceptions for the donors who are Donating Plasma at these centers.

Here are few of the donor requirements that these Plasma Donation Centers look for:

Donors must be most preferably males, as females are weak when compared to men.Donors must be at least 16 years of age or above. Parental permission is required for 16 year young donors.Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds. Also, the body weight determines the quantity you can donate, so more the body weight the more one can donate. However, those with a high level of fats in their blood will not be accepted as a donor.Donors must have an adequate blood iron level.Donors must have clear medical records. Prior to your donation, a complete medical history will be taken along with physical examination of blood and other sugar levels of the body.People suffering from asthma, diabetes, AIDS, hepatitis, jaundice or leukemia cannot be accepted as donors.Persons who have undergone a surgical procedure of any kind are not applicable for donating plasma, as there should be a waiting period after surgery before one can do any such donation. Prior to which they are not accepted for donations.Patients who have active illness, even a cold or flu, cannot donate until they are completely well.Donors must give donations for every 28 days of the prior one. There must be minimum gap of such time in each donation.

However, donating plasma is somewhat like donating scalp hair to make natural wigs. Plasma, like hair, is part of your body that will grow back without repercussion. Though donating of this substance can result in little of dizziness and weakness to the donors. It is recommended to take huge intake of liquids o juices before and after the donation.

Certainly, you should not lightly make a decision to become a donor. Check whether you are healthy enough and have rich and sufficient diet intake before donating. Also ask yourself if any of the ethical concerns about donating plasma trouble you. If you can balance the benefits and the drawback both, then go donate it!