There is often a negative connotation attached to volunteering for clinical trials. You may be referred to as a "human guinea pig" by people who do not understand how this process works. What others misunderstand is that a "human guinea pig" denotes someone who did not give his/her permission to be part of a science experiment. Clinical trials are not like that at all. Here is more about how these trials work, and why volunteers participate.

 There's nothing worse than back pain, especially when the pain is caused muscle spasms. One of the problems is that you can never tell when the spasms are going to occur. One thing is almost certain, though. If you've had one bout of lower back muscle spasms, chances are good that you'll have more. However, with medical care, and at-home intervention, you can reduce the chances of your muscle spasms turning into a continual pain problem.

The warmer temperatures may be the perfect time for playing around in the water, but it doesn't mean that you can forget to take care of your eyes. Regardless of where you enjoy swimming or what type of water activities you will be enjoying – be it swimming in the local community pool or the lake, surfing in the ocean, river rafting, partaking in deep sea diving or something else entirely, you are probably going to spend some time under water.

Those with a prosthetic limb or device might feel a little concerned about traveling by air because of the security precautions enforced by the TSA. While it's true that those with a prosthesis may take a little more time than most to get through security, the TSA should permit anyone to travel by air with a prosthetic device provided that they adhere to all applicable security precautions.  The following are four mistakes to avoid when you fly with your prosthesis to make the process of going through security as quick and painless as possible:

LASIK is arguably one of the greatest achievements in modern optometry. The procedure can be intimidating for even those who have worn contact lenses for years. This guide will help you understand some of the basic dos and don'ts that every eye doctor wants you to be aware of before the procedure. Before LASIK Surgery Do not drink caffeine before your appointment. Caffeine can dry out your eyes and also make you jittery during your LASIK session.

Since you are making plans to retire, you obviously want to get the most money that you can as you sell your medical practice, which means that planning ahead will be essential. However, your discretion when you are making those plans can also impact the offers that you're likely to receive in the coming months, as will your ability to show acceptable profits for at least three years before the practice goes on the market.

Now that summer is here, your kids are going to be busy outside. If they're active, the chances are good that they may injure themselves at least once this summer. Typical childhood injuries such as scrapes, cuts, and bruises, can be handled quite easily with a first-aid kit – which you should have handy at all times during the summer. However, your kids will also be at risk for more serious medical problems, especially if you don't take the proper precautions.

If you're ordered by your doctor to get an MRI, you may be a bit nervous about it. This is a thorough test that is frequently necessary for many medical conditions. One of the biggest challenges that many individuals face is struggling with a feeling of claustrophobia when having this done. The process of getting an MRI will require you to be in a small space for a certain amount of time.

Most people take their hands for granted until pain prevents them from completing routine tasks. When the nerve that passes through your wrist becomes restricted, you experience burning and pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. The surgical release of the tendon restricting the nerve can provide relief, but preparing for surgery can be a challenge. To ensure that your recovery process goes smoothly, here are three things that you should do to prepare for your carpal tunnel release surgery in the future.

Laser energy offers a non-invasive alternative to traditional liposuction. Conventional liposuction involves making small incisions and inserting a thin tube called a cannula, to remove fat deposits. It requires that you be put to sleep under general anesthesia and takes a couple of weeks to recover. Laser liposuction, on the other hand, is a technique that utilizes laser energy to break up fat deposits so that the body's natural systems remove them.