A personal injury occurs if you have suffered some form of injury, either physical or psychological, as the result of an accident, you have the right to compensation. The process of collecting that compensation, however, relies on a series of other rights.
What you should do first:
If you have been hurt, you will first need to deal with the pain, shock and distress you may be feeling. After that, you may want to think about claiming compensation and getting practical, personal or financial support to deal with the injury and its after-effects. Even if you have not yet decided whether to claim compensation, you should collect evidence about the accident. For example, if you were injured after tripping on a damaged paving stone, you could take photos of the paving stone. Write down details of the accident as soon as you can, while they are still fresh in your mind. If anyone saw what happened to you, get their name and address.
If you visit a doctor for treatment, ask them to record the fact that you had an accident. Their records will be evidence that your injuries were caused by the accident, which will be helpful if you later decide to make a claim. For injuries that you can see, photographs of the injury will also be helpful. Make sure you have a note of the date the photos were taken.
If your accident happened at work:
You should tell your employer about the accident straight away. By law, your employer must keep a record of most types of accident. If you are self-employed, you must record the accident yourself. You or your employer should also report the accident to the Health and Safety Executive or the local authority environmental health department, if this is necessary.
If you think your employer may not properly record the accident, write to them giving brief details of the accident, and keep a copy. You may be able to receive certain types of benefit after an accident at work. To claim them, you must fill in a form from your local Jobcentre Plus.
If your accident was a on the roads:
If you are hurt in a road accident, you must tell the police and, if your car was involved your insurance company. The insurance company may refuse to pay out if you do not report the accident.
If your accident was during medical treatment:
If you were injured when being treated, for example, by a doctor or in hospital, different rules apply.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer:
First and foremost, you have the right to hire the personal injury lawyer of your choosing. This includes the right NOT to deal directly with the other party insurance company. Many of your other rights are best protected by exercising this right wisely, since your attorney will be the primary champion of your rights. In choosing an attorney, you should seek someone who will:
Your Relationship with Your Personal Injury Lawyer:
You will have to work with and make decisions with your attorney as your case progresses. For instance, you will have to provide information to help your attorney prove liability in your case. You will have to make decisions about alternatives to litigation like mediation and binding arbitration.
In fact, your case may have a positive impact on society. Often litigation forces a manufacturer to remove a dangerous product from the market, or to make changes to increase the safety of the product. Landowners are encouraged to put up fencing or clean up hazardous areas when faced with litigation and news of that litigation impacts other manufacturers and landowners as well. Our legal system was designed to allow individuals like you to recover for your losses, and to hold companies even insurance companies accountable.
For more details on Personal Injury rights visit us at www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk
For information on Books visit at: www.lookbookstores.com
Friday, December 29, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Mesothelioma and its Treatment
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura, but it may also occur in the peritoneum or the pericardium.
Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is via exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos. It comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades; eating away at the lining of your lungs and developing into a deadly cancer. Dust that was inhaled in clouds of white powder, dust that was carried home on the clothes of the men who built this country, dust that was cleaned from the clothes by the wives and children who supported their sole provider at home, dust that was packed around the heating systems in houses and offices and schools, dust that carried a deadly price; and dust made a fortune in blood money for the companies that produced it.
The Different Types of Mesothelioma
A disease that has only started to come to light in recent years, mesothelioma is a cancer that normally presents itself in malignant form and results in tumours in and around vital organs of the body. The definition of the word mesothelioma is literally cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the sac that lines and protects vital organs such as the heart and the lungs, and this disease causes the cells of the lining to become abnormal and malignant.
The result of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma comes in three forms:
Pleural Mesothelioma:
The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the lungs and the protective lining and cavity of the lungs. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma result from pleural effusion, which is a build up of fluid between the lung lining and the chest cavity. Sufferers of pleural mesothelioma may experience some or all of the following symptoms: difficulty in breathing, difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, weight loss, fever, coughing up of blood, and rasping.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
A rarer form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the stomach and abdomen. The cancer can start in the abdominal area and spread to other parts of the body, but the tumours that press against the wall of the abdomen can cause some or all of the following symptoms: abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, breathing problems, chest pain, bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever, and blood clotting abnormalities.
Pericardial Mesothelioma:
The last and the rarest of the mesothelioma types is pericardial mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the heart and the cavity that surrounds the heart. The tumours affecting pericardial mesothelioma patients can cause some or all of these symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, persistent coughing, and palpitations.
Treatment of Mesothelioma:
The most common treatments are:
Surgery
A surgical procedure, known as pneumonectomy, can be used for pleural mesothelioma and involves the removal of the diseased lung. An extra-pleural pneumonectomy may be necessary depending upon the spread of the disease, and this may involve the removal of parts of the diaphragm as well as the lung. There is a high risk factor with this surgery, and its viability is dependant upon the patient’s overall health, smoking habits and the extent of the asbestos exposure. A pleurectomy is another type of surgery that may be used, and here part of the chest, abdominal lining and surrounding tissue may be removed.
Radiation treatment
Radiation treatment, which gives the benefit of treating the affected area without exposing the healthy cells and tissue, is another treatment used to treat mesothelioma. This is a speedy and commonly used method for many types of cancer, as well as mesothelioma. It works through the placements of radioactive sources in the affected area, which then give out radiation to kill off the abnormal cells. The radiation continues to transmit for around a year, working to destroy the tumour. Radiation therapy can be used alongside surgery, or if the patient is not well enough for surgery can be used alone.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatments can be administered in the form of pills or injected medication. The downside of chemotherapy is that the drugs used can contain high toxicity levels and can therefore make patients quite ill. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight loss and physical fatigue. There are also a number of post-chemo drugs that are used to alleviate the side effects of the chemotherapy. Because chemotherapy drugs are not targeted towards a specific area, they are left to make their way through the body and find the affected area. This means that they are also able to affect tissue and cells that are unaffected by the disease, which can again cause side effects.
Palliative Therapies
Palliative Therapies may also be used on mesothelioma patients. These therapies entail draining excess fluid from the patient through the use of a needle and suction. To prevent further fluid accumulation drugs may be fed through a tube into the chest following the fluid drainage.
For more details on Mesothelioma visit us at www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk
For details of Books visit: www.lookbookstores.com
Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is via exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos. It comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades; eating away at the lining of your lungs and developing into a deadly cancer. Dust that was inhaled in clouds of white powder, dust that was carried home on the clothes of the men who built this country, dust that was cleaned from the clothes by the wives and children who supported their sole provider at home, dust that was packed around the heating systems in houses and offices and schools, dust that carried a deadly price; and dust made a fortune in blood money for the companies that produced it.
The Different Types of Mesothelioma
A disease that has only started to come to light in recent years, mesothelioma is a cancer that normally presents itself in malignant form and results in tumours in and around vital organs of the body. The definition of the word mesothelioma is literally cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the sac that lines and protects vital organs such as the heart and the lungs, and this disease causes the cells of the lining to become abnormal and malignant.
The result of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma comes in three forms:
Pleural Mesothelioma:
The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the lungs and the protective lining and cavity of the lungs. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma result from pleural effusion, which is a build up of fluid between the lung lining and the chest cavity. Sufferers of pleural mesothelioma may experience some or all of the following symptoms: difficulty in breathing, difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, weight loss, fever, coughing up of blood, and rasping.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
A rarer form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the stomach and abdomen. The cancer can start in the abdominal area and spread to other parts of the body, but the tumours that press against the wall of the abdomen can cause some or all of the following symptoms: abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, breathing problems, chest pain, bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever, and blood clotting abnormalities.
Pericardial Mesothelioma:
The last and the rarest of the mesothelioma types is pericardial mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the heart and the cavity that surrounds the heart. The tumours affecting pericardial mesothelioma patients can cause some or all of these symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, persistent coughing, and palpitations.
Treatment of Mesothelioma:
The most common treatments are:
Surgery
A surgical procedure, known as pneumonectomy, can be used for pleural mesothelioma and involves the removal of the diseased lung. An extra-pleural pneumonectomy may be necessary depending upon the spread of the disease, and this may involve the removal of parts of the diaphragm as well as the lung. There is a high risk factor with this surgery, and its viability is dependant upon the patient’s overall health, smoking habits and the extent of the asbestos exposure. A pleurectomy is another type of surgery that may be used, and here part of the chest, abdominal lining and surrounding tissue may be removed.
Radiation treatment
Radiation treatment, which gives the benefit of treating the affected area without exposing the healthy cells and tissue, is another treatment used to treat mesothelioma. This is a speedy and commonly used method for many types of cancer, as well as mesothelioma. It works through the placements of radioactive sources in the affected area, which then give out radiation to kill off the abnormal cells. The radiation continues to transmit for around a year, working to destroy the tumour. Radiation therapy can be used alongside surgery, or if the patient is not well enough for surgery can be used alone.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatments can be administered in the form of pills or injected medication. The downside of chemotherapy is that the drugs used can contain high toxicity levels and can therefore make patients quite ill. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight loss and physical fatigue. There are also a number of post-chemo drugs that are used to alleviate the side effects of the chemotherapy. Because chemotherapy drugs are not targeted towards a specific area, they are left to make their way through the body and find the affected area. This means that they are also able to affect tissue and cells that are unaffected by the disease, which can again cause side effects.
Palliative Therapies
Palliative Therapies may also be used on mesothelioma patients. These therapies entail draining excess fluid from the patient through the use of a needle and suction. To prevent further fluid accumulation drugs may be fed through a tube into the chest following the fluid drainage.
For more details on Mesothelioma visit us at www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk
For details of Books visit: www.lookbookstores.com
Friday, December 22, 2006
Various forms of Influenza Viruses
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). In people, common symptoms are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal particularly in young children and the elderly. Sometimes confused with the common cold, influenza is a much more severe disease and caused by a different type of virus. Similarly, the unrelated gastroenteritis is sometimes called "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu".
Types of influenza virus
The influenza virus is an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, which comprises the influenzaviruses, Isavirus and Thogotovirus. There are three types of influenza virus: Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B or Influenzavirus C. Influenza A and C infect multiple species, while influenza B almost exclusively infects humans.
The type A viruses are the most virulent human pathogens among the three influenza types and cause the most severe disease. The Influenza A virus can be subdivided into different serotypes based on the antibody response to these viruses.
Influenza B virus is almost exclusively a human pathogen, and is less common than influenza A. The only other animal known to be susceptible to influenza B infection is the seal. This type of influenza mutates at a rate 2-3 times lower than type A and consequently is less genetically diverse, with only one influenza B serotype. As a result of this lack of antigenic diversity, a degree of immunity to influenza B is usually acquired at an early age.
The influenza C virus infects humans and pigs, and can cause severe illness and local epidemics. However, influenza C is less common than the other types and usually seems to cause mild disease in children.
PATHOGENESIS AND DISEASE
Spread
The virus is spread person to person via small particle aerosols (less than 10μm diameter) that can get into respiratory tract. It can also survive for a short time on surfaces and can be spread by this route if the virus is introduced into the nasal mucosa before it loses infectivity. The incubation period is short, about 18 to 72 hours.Virus concentration in nasal and tracheal secretions remains high for 24 to 48 hours after symptoms start and may last longer in children. Titers are usually high and so there are enough infectious virions in a small droplet to start a new infection.
Site of infection
Influenza virus infects the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. The cells die, in part due to the direct effects of the virus on the cell, and also possibly due to the effects of interferon. Cell death at later times may also result from the actions of cytotoxic T-cells. As a result, the efficiency of ciliary clearance is reduced, leading to impaired function of the mucus elevator; thus there is reduced clearance of infectious agents from the respiratory tract. Gaps in the protective epithelium provide other pathogens with access to other cells; however, viremia is very rare.
Recovery
Interferon may play a role by decreasing virus production. Many of the symptoms of uncomplicated influenza (muscle aches, fatigue, fever) are associated with the efficient induction of interferon. The cell-mediated immune response is important in viral clearance. The antibody response is usually not significant until after virus has been cleared. Repair of the respiratory epithelium begins rapidly, but may take some time to complete.
For more details on Influenza Viruses visit us at www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk
For information on Books Visit: www.lookbookstores.com
Types of influenza virus
The influenza virus is an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, which comprises the influenzaviruses, Isavirus and Thogotovirus. There are three types of influenza virus: Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B or Influenzavirus C. Influenza A and C infect multiple species, while influenza B almost exclusively infects humans.
The type A viruses are the most virulent human pathogens among the three influenza types and cause the most severe disease. The Influenza A virus can be subdivided into different serotypes based on the antibody response to these viruses.
Influenza B virus is almost exclusively a human pathogen, and is less common than influenza A. The only other animal known to be susceptible to influenza B infection is the seal. This type of influenza mutates at a rate 2-3 times lower than type A and consequently is less genetically diverse, with only one influenza B serotype. As a result of this lack of antigenic diversity, a degree of immunity to influenza B is usually acquired at an early age.
The influenza C virus infects humans and pigs, and can cause severe illness and local epidemics. However, influenza C is less common than the other types and usually seems to cause mild disease in children.
PATHOGENESIS AND DISEASE
Spread
The virus is spread person to person via small particle aerosols (less than 10μm diameter) that can get into respiratory tract. It can also survive for a short time on surfaces and can be spread by this route if the virus is introduced into the nasal mucosa before it loses infectivity. The incubation period is short, about 18 to 72 hours.Virus concentration in nasal and tracheal secretions remains high for 24 to 48 hours after symptoms start and may last longer in children. Titers are usually high and so there are enough infectious virions in a small droplet to start a new infection.
Site of infection
Influenza virus infects the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. The cells die, in part due to the direct effects of the virus on the cell, and also possibly due to the effects of interferon. Cell death at later times may also result from the actions of cytotoxic T-cells. As a result, the efficiency of ciliary clearance is reduced, leading to impaired function of the mucus elevator; thus there is reduced clearance of infectious agents from the respiratory tract. Gaps in the protective epithelium provide other pathogens with access to other cells; however, viremia is very rare.
Recovery
Interferon may play a role by decreasing virus production. Many of the symptoms of uncomplicated influenza (muscle aches, fatigue, fever) are associated with the efficient induction of interferon. The cell-mediated immune response is important in viral clearance. The antibody response is usually not significant until after virus has been cleared. Repair of the respiratory epithelium begins rapidly, but may take some time to complete.
For more details on Influenza Viruses visit us at www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk
For information on Books Visit: www.lookbookstores.com
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A knife, called a microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma, the middlesection of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced.
The surgery improves the vision in patients who have nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK surgery usually takes less than one minute per eye. Treatment involves reshaping the cornea - the protruding portion of surface of the eye - to improve vision.
Advantages of LASIK surgery
• The LASIK technique takes less than 30 minutes to perform and is very effective.
• The technical advancements incorporated in the LASIK technique eliminates the clinically significant risks leading to visual impairment after a refractive surgery.
• Most surveys show that 92-98% of people who undergo the surgery are satisfied with the results.
Disadvantages of LASIK surgery
• The LASIK surgery, done on the most sensitive part of the eye and is not reversible.
• Even after a LASIK surgery, a person may require reading glasses during midlife.
• The surgery is usually not covered by insurance policies.
• Additional surgery or ' enhancement' may be required to enjoy the best possible result of a LASIK.
Best Candidate For LASIK
A large percentage of nearsighted, farsighted, and astigmatic patients are potential candidates for LASIK. Patients who are 18 years of age or older, have healthy eyes that are free from retinal problems, corneal scars, and any eye disease are suitable. Along with being medically suitable, the best candidates are people with a lifestyle or occupation in which they are dissatisfied with their contact lenses or glasses. By having an evaluation, examination, and consultation with you, the doctor will be able to determine if you are a good candidate.
After LASIK Surgery
• The moments after a major life-altering event are usually filled with joy, laughter, and camaraderie, but this usually doesn’t happen after surgery. LASIK surgery is no different than any other surgery, but its drawbacks may be a little different than others.
• The results of LASIK surgery are much akin to the results of being pestered by a pet day after day. Instead of the healing of bruises or incisions, LASIK surgery is accompanied by more burning and itching of an area that you are completely unable to scratch or cool. At this point, any touching of the eye could undo everything the surgery just repaired.
• Your vision will be blurry because of the watering and tearing up of your eye, but you cannot under any circumstances touch your eye. The eye may appear dry or bloodshot for several days, if this occurs you should consider taking time off of work. If you experience severe pain from LASIK surgery at any time you should contact your surgeon.
• Within 24-48 hours after your surgery you should have a post-operative exam to make sure everything is healing well. At regular intervals after the LASIK surgery up to six months you should continue seeing your doctor for checkups.
• At the first visit after LASIK surgery your doctor will remove the shield and make sure your eye is responding correctly to the surgery. You will not be able to use contact lenses for sometime to keep from further irritation and you may have to use drops or artificial tears to help with lubricating the eye.
For more details on LASIK visit us at www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk
For information on Books visit: www.lookbookstores.com
The surgery improves the vision in patients who have nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK surgery usually takes less than one minute per eye. Treatment involves reshaping the cornea - the protruding portion of surface of the eye - to improve vision.
Advantages of LASIK surgery
• The LASIK technique takes less than 30 minutes to perform and is very effective.
• The technical advancements incorporated in the LASIK technique eliminates the clinically significant risks leading to visual impairment after a refractive surgery.
• Most surveys show that 92-98% of people who undergo the surgery are satisfied with the results.
Disadvantages of LASIK surgery
• The LASIK surgery, done on the most sensitive part of the eye and is not reversible.
• Even after a LASIK surgery, a person may require reading glasses during midlife.
• The surgery is usually not covered by insurance policies.
• Additional surgery or ' enhancement' may be required to enjoy the best possible result of a LASIK.
Best Candidate For LASIK
A large percentage of nearsighted, farsighted, and astigmatic patients are potential candidates for LASIK. Patients who are 18 years of age or older, have healthy eyes that are free from retinal problems, corneal scars, and any eye disease are suitable. Along with being medically suitable, the best candidates are people with a lifestyle or occupation in which they are dissatisfied with their contact lenses or glasses. By having an evaluation, examination, and consultation with you, the doctor will be able to determine if you are a good candidate.
After LASIK Surgery
• The moments after a major life-altering event are usually filled with joy, laughter, and camaraderie, but this usually doesn’t happen after surgery. LASIK surgery is no different than any other surgery, but its drawbacks may be a little different than others.
• The results of LASIK surgery are much akin to the results of being pestered by a pet day after day. Instead of the healing of bruises or incisions, LASIK surgery is accompanied by more burning and itching of an area that you are completely unable to scratch or cool. At this point, any touching of the eye could undo everything the surgery just repaired.
• Your vision will be blurry because of the watering and tearing up of your eye, but you cannot under any circumstances touch your eye. The eye may appear dry or bloodshot for several days, if this occurs you should consider taking time off of work. If you experience severe pain from LASIK surgery at any time you should contact your surgeon.
• Within 24-48 hours after your surgery you should have a post-operative exam to make sure everything is healing well. At regular intervals after the LASIK surgery up to six months you should continue seeing your doctor for checkups.
• At the first visit after LASIK surgery your doctor will remove the shield and make sure your eye is responding correctly to the surgery. You will not be able to use contact lenses for sometime to keep from further irritation and you may have to use drops or artificial tears to help with lubricating the eye.
For more details on LASIK visit us at www.halfvalue.com and www.halfvalue.co.uk
For information on Books visit: www.lookbookstores.com
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