14 Eylül 2012 Cuma

Weight loss percentage calculator, Knowing how to calculate

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Knowing how to calculate weight loss percentage can really be a morale booster for your rough times because your actual results can only encourage you to perform more of the taken actions - like jogging, dieting or others.

It can also help you stay on track and not exaggerate with anything, as we do know that anything done in excess can harm your body. It can help you set goals and achieve them step by step.

But how do we calculate weight loss percentage? Is it a difficult math task? No way! It's a pretty basic formula. First of all you'll need to remember your initial weight.
Secondly, you'll need your actual weight at this point.
Now, the formula goes like this:

((IW-AW)/IW) * 100= weight loss percentage

In this formula IW is your initial weight and AW is your actual weight at this point.
It's not as complicated as it initially seems: practically all you do is subtract the actual weight from the initial weight and divide the number obtained by your initial weight. Multiply the result with 100 and you'll get the exact percent.

Now you can see that it's pretty basic - but opening a lot of possibilities. For example, you can measure your weight once a week and create an Excel table which instantly calculates the weight loss percentage for you. This can really help you keep track of your progress and can be a real motivation booster as I previously mentioned.

With this you can also create a weight loss percentage graphic - actually drawing your progress at certain points.

Well, if you fully understood how this works, you can conclude that now you know how to calculate weight loss percentage. If not, try to re-read the article more carefully.

How to Use Weight Loss Calculator

There is always fear and anticipation by most people on weight loss program when they start using the calculator. Their fear is based on the fact that they may not have lost any weight especially if they're been banging on foods during midnight, or not strictly following the diet recommendation. But definitely, the calculator is a must have for individuals who are dead serious about losing weight and staying healthy.

The number of calories you consume in your diet has a direct correlation to your weight. Many people count the calories in order to maintain a healthy weight or lose the extra pound. A pound of body weight is equal to 3500 calories, but very few people consume this number of calories daily. In order to achieve your ideal weight, it is important to calculate the number of calories your body needs to stay at your current weight. And if this is known, what remain is to monitor or maintain your ideal weight.

There are many websites online that you can quickly and easily complete the calculation of how many calories you need. All you have to do is enter your height and weight and click enter. The result will be the number of calories for your present weight.

Although the most popular and widely used method of assessing body weight is jumping on the bathroom scale. Measuring body weight on a scale is probably so trusted a method because it is widely used, but it not reliable.

You can assess your body weight by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI). This simple calculation compares your weight to your height to see if you're in a healthy weight range. This is a great starting point as it will quickly give you an indication of where your weight should be and because it works on range. BMI does not take into account your actual body fat. The best way to assess your body weight is not through BMI whose readings lead to many inaccuracies. Rather the body percentage calculator is the best instrument.

The body fat percentage calculator takes in the measurement of your weight in pounds, inches in certain areas of your body ( such as neck, waist, and thigh), you gender, your bone mass and your muscle mass. For example a woman who is 150 lb. at 5' 6 is not necessarily overweight. Her body fat percentage may be only 17%, and that her weight is made up mostly of 145 pounds of lean muscle which weigh more than fat. The body fat percentage readings always give more accurate result than BMI. You could be 150 lb. of pure muscle and BMI will read you as being overweight. The body fat percentage calculator also takes into account differences in biological sex. Women naturally have an extra layer of fat that helps them in pregnancy that men don't have. This is one of the reasons why many women have problems losing weight since it is a natural function of the body

A healthy reading for women sits between 18%--29%, anything over is considered obsessed. A lean woman should be no more than 12%, otherwise her body fat stores are insufficient and can lead to medical problems. A lean man should be between 4%--10%, and a healthy man should be between 11%--25%.

The body fat percentage calculator is the best way to accurately assess your weight loss. As you trim down and the activity becomes easier, you'll burn fewer calories and it will be necessary to maintain the same Daily Calorie Deficit.

Excisional Skin Biopsy for Melanoma

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Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which are found predominantly in skin but also in the bowel and the eye. It is one of the less common types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths. Melanocytes are normally present in skin, being responsible for the production of the dark pigment melanin.

Around 60,000 new cases of invasive melanoma are diagnosed in the US each year, more frequently in males and in Caucasians. It is more common in Caucasian populations living in sunny climates than in other groups, or in those who use tanning salons. According to a WHO report about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per year.

Excisional skin biopsy is the management of choice for melanoma diagnosis; this is where the suspect lesion is totally removed with an adequate ellipse of surrounding skin and tissue. The preferred surgical margin for the initial biopsy should be narrow in order to prevent the disruption of the local lymphatic drainage.

The biopsy will include the epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous layers of the skin, enabling the histopathologist to determine the thickness of the melanoma by microscopic examination. This is described by Breslow's thickness. Large initial excision will disrupt the local lymphatic drainage and can affect further lymphangiogram directed lymphnode dissection.

A small punch biopsy can be utilized at any time where for logistical and personal reasons a patient refuses more invasive excisional biopsy. Small punch biopsies are minimally invasive and heal quickly, usually without noticeable scarring. Thus, a small punch biopsy in representative areas will give adequate information and will not disrupt the final staging or depth determination.

For large lesions such as suspected lentigo maligna, or for lesions in surgically difficult areas (face, toes, fingers, eyelids), a small punch biopsy in representative areas would be enough. In no circumstances should the initial biopsy include the final surgical margin, as a misdiagnosis can result in excessive scarring and morbidity from the procedure.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) tests are often used to screen for metastases, although many patients with metastases have a normal LDH; extraordinarily high LDH often indicates metastatic spread of the disease to the liver. It is common for patients diagnosed with melanoma to have chest X-rays and an LDH test, and in some cases CT, MRI, PET or PET/CT scans.

Although controversial, sentinel lymph node biopsies and examination of the lymph nodes are also performed in patients to assess spread to the lymph nodes. Sometimes the skin lesion may bleed, itch, or ulcerate, although this is a very late sign. A slow-healing lesion should be watched closely, as that may be a sign of melanoma. Some patients with metastatic melanoma do not have an obvious detectable primary tumor.

Be aware also that in circumstances that are still poorly understood, melanomas may 'regress' or spontaneously become smaller or invisible; however the malignancy is still present. Amelanotic melanomas do not have pigment and may not even be visible. Lentigo maligna, a superficial melanoma confined to the topmost layers of the skin is often described as a 'stain' on the skin.

The treatment includes surgical removal of the tumor, adjuvant treatment, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy.

5 Myths About Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer

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Sara spends much of her summer near the beach. She lives in a mild climate and is very athletic. She loves to swim, bike and play games outdoors. Sara knows the dangers of the sun and so she opts for tanning salons to get her 'golden glow' while being sure to apply sunscreen every day before heading out.

Joseph lives in a cooler, northern climate. The summers can be very humid, but most of the year is mild or even below freezing during the harshest winter months. The beach has never been much of a draw for him and he spends most of his time doing indoor activities or at his job. Joseph doesn't worry about sunscreen and only had one sunburn that he can remember and that was when he was a child.

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Which of these examples do you most associate yourself with? Did you know that Sara and Joseph are both at risk of developing skin cancer? We have all heard the warnings about the dangers of sun exposure. We know all about the importance of wearing sunscreen and hats. But are YOU protected from skin cancer? Consider these myths and facts:

MYTH ONE: Tanning Beds are Safer than the Sun

20 minutes of exposure in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to four hours in the sun. Although sun beds use UVA rather than UVB rays, 'The Skin Cancer Answer' states that 'UV-A penetrates more deeply into the skin than UV-B, can cause skin cancer, and may suppress the immune system.'

MYTH TWO: Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is Protection

85 percent of UV rays can even make it through on cloudy days. That means you are equally at risk in the car, walking the dog or letting your children out to play at any time of year - even when you're not at the beach. Of course, you are usually less attired at the beach and so covering up is recommended even when wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off with sweat and water and should always be applied every two hours or after getting wet.

MYTH THREE: Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will Protect You

Sadly, skin cancer can take 20 or more years to develop. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that most people receive about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of melanoma later in life. Taking better care now will reduce the risk, but not eliminate the damage already done.

MYTH FOUR: Having a Tan Means You're More Protected

Dark skinned individuals are less likely to develop cancer, but tanned skin is actually damaged skin. Repeated tanning injures the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.

MYTH FIVE: You Can't get Burned on Overcast Days

Just because the sun is hidden by some cloud does not mean that you don't need protection from the harmful effects of the suns rays.

So how do you plan to protect your family this year? Some suggestions are to limit exposure to the sun - especially for infants. Examine your skin for early signs of damage. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply it at least 30 minutes before exposure and every two hours after that. Teach your children good safety habits and be sure you and they are covered up when outdoors. Have fun and be safe.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Surgery for Melanomas

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Nevi are so common that they have a wide range of classifications. Blue nevi occur very deep in the dermis. Compound nevi are very dark in color and are slightly raised. Intradermal nevi are usually flesh-colored and raised. Intramucosal nevi occur in the mouth or genital area. Nevi of ito and nevi of ota are found on the shoulder or face, which are flat and brownish in appearance.

Clark’s nevi are also called dysplastic nevi. They tend to stem from abnormal cell growth and can be pre-cancerous. These moles tend to be larger with irregular borders and coloration. As a result, they look like melanomas, and are often removed to confirm the diagnosis. Dysplastic nevi do not morph into melanomas, but are markers of risk when there are many of them.

Epidermal nevi usually appear on the upper half of the body. The recognized cause of these nevi is genetics. Giant hairy nevi are often very large and hairy and are unsightly. In terms of health, they can pose a risk as melanoma may be present in approximately 10-15% of the cases. Spitz nevi usually occur on children. They are often reddish in color and are raised.

Diagnostic punch or excisional biopsies may appear to excise the tumor, but further surgery is often necessary to reduce the risk of recurrence. Complete surgical excision with adequate margins and assessment for the presence of detectable metastatic disease along with short- and long-term followup is standard.

Often this is done by a wide local excision with 1 to 2 cm margins. Melanoma-in-situ and lentigo malignas are treated with narrower surgical margins, usually 0.2 to 0.5 cm. Many surgeons consider 0.5 cm the standard of care for standard excision of melanoma-in-situ, but 0.2 cm margin might be acceptable for margin controlled surgery (Mohs surgery).

The wide excision aims to reduce the rate of tumour recurrence at the site of the original lesion. This is a common pattern of treatment failure in melanoma. Considerable research has aimed to elucidate appropriate margins for excision with a general trend toward less aggressive treatment during the last decades.

Mohs surgery has been reported with cure rate as low as 77% and as high as 98% for melanoma-in-situ. Melanomas which spread usually do so to the lymph nodes in the region of the tumor before spreading elsewhere. Attempts to improve survival by removing lymph nodes surgically were associated with many complications but unfortunately no overall survival benefit.

Although controversial and without prolonging survival, sentinel lymph node biopsy is often performed, especially for T1b/T2+ tumors, mucosal tumors, ocular melanoma and tumors of the limbs. A process called lymphoscintigraphy is performed in which a radioactive tracer is injected at the tumor site in order to localize the sentinel nodes.

Further precision is provided using a blue tracer dye and surgery is performed to biopsy the nodes. Recently the technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy has been developed to reduce the complications of lymph node surgery while allowing assessment of the involvement of nodes with tumor.

As with other skin abnormalities, moles are classically removed by laser, surgery, or electrocautery. Most of these treatments require multiple visits to the doctor. Surgery, the option doctors commonly offer, involves cutting out the mole. The resulting wound requires stitches, which will in turn leave a scar.

Information About Skin Cancer

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Cancer that is formed in the tissues of the skin is known as Skin Cancer. It is one of the most common kinds of cancer that affects men and women. This cancer affects about a million people every year and there are many factors that cause this including excessive sun exposure, tanning, weak immune systems, etc. Read on to get a complete awareness of this most common form of cancer and on steps to prevent it.

How is skin cancer caused?

When the skin cells modify and multiply in an abnormal fashion, the uncontrollable growth causes the development of a mass known as a tumor. This tumor that occurs in the skin is also known as a lesion and these cancerous growths are malignant in nature which causes the destruction of adjacent cells leading to random growth. These tumors flow through the blood stream and affect other remote organs also during the advanced stages of skin cancer.

Types of skin cancer

Skin cancer is divided into two kinds depending on their ability to spread around. The two types of skin cancer are non-melanoma and melanoma. Non-melanoma includes the type basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in it.

1. Melanoma - The cancer that affects the melanocytes or the skin cells that create the pigments.
2. Basal cell carcinoma - The cancer that affects the lower part of the epidermis or the outer layer of the skin.
3. Squamous cell carcinoma - The cancer that affects the squamous cells or the flat cells that form the skin surface.

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma normally do not spread to other parts of the body whereas melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer which spreads to other parts of the body. The major ratio and the most common type of skin cancer are the carcinoma types with the aggressive melanoma forming the least portion.

Symptoms of Skin Cancer

The symptoms of skin cancer are skin changes which take time to heal along with ulcers. Sometimes skin discoloration and changes to moles on the skin can also been seen. The most common symptom is a small lump that is shiny and pale in color or a firm red lump. Some types of cancer also are associated with rough and scaly patches or flat scaly patches of red or brown color. Also beware of any new suspicious growth and consult a physician in such cases. Though these growths are most of the times painless, they can also be painful at times.

A smooth round bump is normally developed on the head, shoulder or neck with signs of crusting and bleeding with development of the tumor in cases of basal cell carcinoma. In squamous cell carcinoma, a thick red color patch along with ulcer and bleeding can be developed. Brown or blackish lesions are formed in cases of melanomas. The lesion exhibits change in size, color or shape as a symptom of the melanoma becoming malignant.

Diagnosis of Skin Cancer

This cancer is diagnosed by the physician in two main methods. The first and the most common method is the skin examination. In this method the doctor looks out for any abnormal growth or irregularity in the skin. This can be followed by a biopsy in case of finding any abnormal growth. In case of biopsy, the affected area or abnormal growth is well studied under a microscope to check for the presence of cancerous cells.

Treatment of Skin Cancer

Surgery is one effective method for the treatment of non-melanoma cancer types. The complete procedure of surgical treatment begins with surgery and includes follow-up methods of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In the surgical methods, the lesion and a calculated amount of tissues around it is removed so as to make the body tumor free. The Moh's micrographic surgery is one effective technique that is used for this process.

Prevention of Skin cancer

Early diagnosis and detection can help treat skin cancer before it turns dangerous and hence self evaluation of your skin on a regular basis is a must on a frequent basis. Look for any kind of abnormal changes, discoloration or growth in your skin. You can also undertake a doctor visit once a year to detect any signs or symptoms of cancer. In certain cases of high-risk situations, you can consult a skin specialist on a regular basis to screen for this cancer.

Skin cancer can be prevented by adopting a few basic tips which can be very useful in your daily life.

1. Use Sunscreens - 90% of the skin cancers are known to be caused by harmful UV radiations and sunscreens are the best protector when you are someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. UV rays damage our cell DNA structure and modify them making them cancerous. Minimize outings during the time when the sun is at its brightest. Also try to maintain your presence within the shade where ever possible. But even if you are in a shade, remember to wear your sunscreen,
2. Avoid excessive tanning - Artificial lights as in tanning beds, lamps and booths, all contain UV rays and increase the chances of melanoma.
3. Wear protective dressings - Though sunscreens do protect, you can consider wearing protective dressings like a hat or sunglasses, which can protect your eyes and facial skin from the sun.
4. Avoid childhood sunburns - Most of the times, a burn during your childhood can increase your risk of being affected with skin cancer along the years as you grow. Thus it is required that you monitor kids when they are in the sun reducing their exposure.
5. Eat healthy - A weak immune system is a ready agent for skin cancer. Make sure that you include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables so as to improve your body's immunity power.

People who run a higher risk of Skin cancer

Though many people are equally exposed to the chances of this cancer, there are a few who run a higher risk. Individuals with a family medical history of skin cancer or those who possess fair skin tone and freckles run a higher risk. Also people who are addictive to tanning and spend a lot of hours outdoors in the sun along with a weak immune system also possess equal risks of getting this cancer.

Symptoms of Melanoma

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The most important warning sign for melanoma is any change in size, shape, or color of a mole or other skin growth, such as a birthmark. Watch for changes that occur over a period of weeks to a month. Use the ABCDE rule to evaluate skin changes, and call your health professional if you have any of the following changes.

A is for asymmetry. One half of the mole or skin growth doesn't match the other half. B is for border irregularity. The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred. C is for color. The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black are present. Dashes of red, white, and blue add to the mottled appearance.

Changes in color distribution, especially the spread of color from the edge of a mole into the surrounding skin, also are an early sign of melanoma. D is for diameter. The mole or skin growth is larger than 6mm or about the size of a pencil eraser. Any growth of a mole should be of concern. E is for evolution. There is a change in the size, shape, symptoms, surface, or color of a mole.

Signs of melanoma in an existing mole include changes in the following aspects. (1) Elevation, such as thickening or raising of a previously flat mole. (2) Surface, such as scaling, erosion, oozing, bleeding, or crusting. (3) Surrounding skin, such as redness, swelling, or small new patches of color around a larger lesion. (4) Sensation, such as itching, tingling, or burning. (5) Consistency, such as softening or small pieces that break off easily.

Many other skin conditions have features similar to those of melanoma. Melanoma can develop in an existing mole or other mark on the skin, but it often develops in unmarked skin. Although melanoma can grow anywhere on the body, it often occurs on the upper back of men and women and on the legs in women.

Less often, it can grow on the soles, palms, nail beds, or mucous membranes that line body cavities such as the mouth, the rectum, and the vagina. On older people, the face is the most common place for melanoma to grow. And in older men, the most common sites are the neck, scalp, and ears. They are so common that they have a wide range of classifications.

Later signs of melanoma include a break in the skin or bleeding from a mole or other colored skin lesion, and pain in a mole or lesion. Symptoms of metastatic melanoma may be vague and include: swollen lymph nodes, especially in the armpit or groin; a colorless lump or thickening under the skin; unexplained weight loss; gray skin; ongoing cough; headaches; seizures.

Call your doctor immediately if you have been diagnosed with melanoma; you have difficulty breathing or swallowing; you cough up or spit up blood (hemoptysis); you have blood in your vomit or bowel movement ; your urine or bowel movement is black, and the blackness is not caused by taking iron or Pepto-Bismol.

Laser and electrocautery treatments are not always effective because they only reach the outermost layers of the skin, while moles penetrate very deep into the dermal tissue, often beyond the reach of these treatments. Surgery, the other option doctors commonly offer, involves cutting out the mole