Countless people hear ringing or other noises in their ears, even when no external sound is present. Others around them cannot hear these noises, but this is a common problem. Up to 20% of individuals today struggle with tinnitus, many of them older people.

Age-related hearing loss is one cause of tinnitus, but it may also result from an ear injury or a problem within the circulatory system. Most people don’t realize that tinnitus treatment involves treating the underlying cause. If this cause cannot be identified, a doctor may attempt to use treatments that reduce or mask the noise. The tinnitu’s then becomes less noticeable.

Tinnitus Symptoms

Tinnitus symptoms vary by person. Many people describe it as a ringing in their ears. However, some people experience roaring, hissing, clicking, or buzzing. They may also hear a humming noise. Subjective tinnitu’s only impacts the person who is experiencing the symptoms. The noise may be a low roar or a high squeal. For some people, only one ear is affected. Other people hear these noises in both ears. Severe tinnitus can lead to an inability to concentrate or hear external sounds. The symptoms may be present continuously or come and go.

Seeking Treatment

Many people find that their tinnitus does not bother them until it worsens. It is time to see a doctor when it interferes with daily life. In addition, people who develop tinnitu’s after an upper respiratory infection should see their doctor if the symptoms continue for more than a week. Any hearing loss or dizziness that comes with the tinnitu’s should lead to an immediate visit to a doctor. Men and women who are becoming anxious or depressed because of their tinnitus should also seek medical help.

What Causes Tinnitus?

Hearing loss is the main cause of tinnitus. The tiny hair cells in the inner ear move when sound waves reach the ear. As they do, electrical signals move from the ear to the brain, and the brain converts the signals into sound. When these hairs are damaged, random electrical impulses reach the brain, leading to tinnitus. However, other things may also bring about these symptoms.

An ear infection or a blockage in the ear canal changes the pressure in the ear and brings about tinnitu’s. Any person who has suffered a head or neck injury may develop tinnitus if their inner ear or hearing nerves were affected by this trauma. Typically, only one ear is affected in this case. Certain medications may also lead to the development of tinnitus. For those who already have this condition, the use of these medications can worsen it.  When the person stops taking this medication, the symptoms usually disappear. Other less common causes of tinnitus include muscle spasms in the inner ear, TMJ, and Meniere’s disease.

Risk Factors

Certain factors put a person more at risk of developing tinnitu’s. Repeated exposure to loud noises, age, gender, and tobacco or alcohol use all increase a person’s risk of developing this condition.  Furthermore, certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure or obesity, can also lead to tinnitus.

Any person experiencing symptoms of tinnitu’s should see their doctor. The doctor will do a complete physical exam and possibly order tests to determine the underlying cause. Once a diagnosis has been received and the root cause has been identified, a treatment plan can be developed to help address the symptoms the person is experiencing so their quality of life will improve.

Healthcare facilities are increasingly turning to locum tenens providers to help them provide the care their patients need and expect. Doing so gives them a flexible, cost-effective solution for covering staffing shortages, temporary increases in patient volumes, and other situations. Locum tenens providers can fill both short-term and long-term staffing needs as well as both planned and unexpected ones. 

That said, recruiting, credentialing, and hiring locum tenens providers can seem complicated and even overwhelming on the surface. As such, many healthcare facilities shy away from this route, and they miss out on numerous benefits as a result. Better understanding the locum tenens process and having the right resources to draw from can help you reap the full rewards of this staffing solution. 

Delving Deeper into the Locum Tenens Process

Your first step in the locum tenens hiring process is to determine your specific needs and expectations. How long will you need a temporary staff member? What are the qualifications for the position you’re looking to fill?

Your reasons for hiring a locum tenens provider are important here as well. Do you need someone to fill in for a permanent staff member during a vacation or maternity leave? Did someone unexpectedly leave your facility? Are you restructuring or opening a new department? Answering those questions and determining exactly what you need in a locum tenens provider will help you get the process started and ensure you find the right candidate for the job. From there, you can move forward.

VMS Software

Once you’ve determined your needs and goals, the previously mentioned resources come into play. VMS software is one of the most helpful. It can connect you with highly qualified candidates who are looking for assignments to fill. With the right platform, you’ll have access to databases from multiple staffing agencies, which greatly improves your chances of finding the perfect provider for your facility. 

Reviewing Candidates

Once the software provides you with a list of candidates, you’ll need to sort through them to determine which ones might best meet your needs and expectations. Keep in mind that basic qualifications aren’t the only factors to consider. You’ll need to know whether the candidates are available when you need them, willing to come to your area, and a good fit for your team. You’ll eventually narrow down your options to a select few. 

Credentialing

Credentialing is another crucial step in the locum tenens process. As is the case with all medical professionals, you’ll need to ensure the candidates you’re most interested in meet all education, training, and licensing requirements and other prerequisites for the industry and your facility. This process can be complex and time consuming, but VMS software can cover it for you. 

Negotiating and Contracts

Next, you’ll need to discuss your terms and possibly negotiate them with your potential locum tenens provider. Some of the terms you may end up negotiating are the pay, schedule, and job responsibilities. Once the two of you agree on the terms of the assignment, you’ll sign a formal contract. 

Onboarding

When the time comes for your locum tenens provider to start working with your team, he or she will complete the onboarding process. You’ll provide comprehensive orientation materials, set up the provider with IT and EMR training and access, and carry out other measures. A solid onboarding process will smoothly integrate your locum tenen’s provider into your team and set him or her up for success with your facility. 

Benefiting From Locum Tenens Providers

Locum tenens providers can bring numerous benefits to your facility. Understanding how the recruiting and hiring process works can help you make the most of these invaluable members of the healthcare field. At the same time, making full use of the resources available to you, including VMS software, can make the entire process faster and simpler and enable you to take full advantage of all the potential benefits of making locum tenens providers part of your team.

Dr. Dan Sperling

Most men give little thought to the walnut-sized gland hidden deep in the pelvic bed. It’s called the prostate gland, or simply the prostate. They overlook the fact that the prostate is a major part of their sexuality, both reproduction and pleasure. It manufactures and secretes the fluid that carries sperm out of the body during ejaculation (orgasm). 

Thus, the prostate can give life. But a disease called prostate cancer can disrupt life—or even take it away. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-skin cancer in men, affecting 1 out of 8 men during their lives. Estimates say that nearly 300,000 U.S. men will be diagnosed this year, and 35,000 men will die from it. Yet, when caught early, PCa treatments average 10-year success rates over 95%. That’s good news—but even better is the news that what you eat can reduce your risk for developing it.

How to eat to preserve prostate health

There’s a very large body of international research on the connection between Healthy Diet and PCa. Let’s start with the negative, or what to eat if you want to up the odds that you’ll get PCa. Here are the dietary no-no’s that studies have connected with getting PCa:

1. High consumption of red meat, and meat cooked at high temperatures, and processed meats. Red meat contains natural biologic compounds, plus added chemicals, that increase cancer risk in general; cooking at high heat causes changes into molecules that are known to be cancer-causing; and processed meats (smoked meats, salami, bacon, etc) are known carcinogens.
2. Saturated fats and trans fats are linked with aggressive PCa and death from PCa.
3. Dairy products that contain both saturated fat (butter, whole fat milk) have been shown to increase PCa risk.
4. Anything that contributes to obesity, because obesity itself is linked with chronic inflammation, and prostate inflammation plus fat in the pelvic tissue surrounding the prostate lead to mutations in healthy prostate cells that become cancerous.

Now that you know what NOT to eat, let’s look at foods that promote prostate health. In general, these foods are considered anti-inflammatory, that is, they don’t foster a stressful internal inflammatory state that irritates normal cells and taxes the immune system:

1. Plants and plant-based foods. Did you know that some people call the natural biochemical compounds in plants “nutraceuticals” because their minerals and molecular compounds are like Nature’s own pharmaceutical. They have a medicinal effect. When you think of plants, what comes to mind? Vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains—pretty much anything edible that grows out of the ground. If you think about it, all the animal meat you eat comes from plants! Our food animals are raised on food sourced from vegetation. Why not skip the “middle animal” and go directly to the plants? They are simply healthier for your prostate.
2. If you still want meat, eat poultry and fish. Studies with men who were already diagnosed with PCa found that those who ate chicken and fish had less chance of the cancer becoming worse than those who ate red meat. Other research connects white meat with less risk of cancer in general, but with the warning that continuing to eat red meat cancels this effect. The bottom line is, replace red meat with poultry and fish.
3. Unsaturated fats are, for the most part, sourced from plants (e.g. olive oil, avocado oil, seed or nut oils). One exception is omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, which are very heart-Healthy Diet. Unsaturated fats help reduce cholesterol and inflammation in the body, so they are not only good for the prostate but more broadly for cardiovascular health. 

At this point, you probably noticed that anti-inflammatory diets have the same principles and foods as heart-healthy diet. This is no coincidence. There’s a saying that what’s good for the heart is good for the prostate, and vice versa. By this principle, transforming your nutrition, whether quickly or gradually, gives you the best chance of a long and healthy life, and protects your prostate gland against prostate cancer for your entire lifespan.  

The choice is simple, though weaning off eating habits that include things like fast food, rich desserts, seared steak, gravy, etc. may be thornier than you think. Nevertheless, give it a try. The prostate you save will definitely be your own.

NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.