February 6th 2008 · Read More · Comment(1)
The effect of Mobiles phones on the health with reference to the brain cancers is under discussion for quite some time. It is reported by BBC that a recent study in Japan suggests that mobile phone usage is not a risk factor in causing the brain cancers. This Japan based study got published recently in British Journal of Cancers, in this study the researchers have compared 322 brain cancer patients and 683 healthy people and have reached a conclusion that mobile phone usage has no relation with brain cancer.
Some time back, a similar study was conducted in 13 countries coordinated by International Agency for research on Cancer (IARC). It was a multicentric international study and was named INTERPHONE. At the start of study, it was recognized by IARC that certain electromagnetic fields (at extremely low frequency) were possibly carcinogenic. The study was started with the aim to know the reality with scientific methods. This scribe happened to read the results of the study carried out in Lyon France. The results suggested that no significant increased risk for glioma, meningioma or neuroma (all are brain tumors) was observed among cell phone users participating in Interphone. In the same report, it was suggested that the statistical power of the study was limited, and in order to know the complete picture, data from heaviest users, therefore need to be verified in the international INTERPHONE analysis. The similar point of concern was voiced by Dr. Lesley Walker, of the charity Cancer Research UK, who said: “So far, studies have shown no evidence that mobile use is harmful, but we can’t be completely sure about their long-term effects.”
Here, it must be noted that in this connection, the largest study to date, involving 420,000 people ailed to find any evidence of a cancer trend even after 10 years of use.
From the discussion above, it can be concluded that the data available to date about harmful effects of mobile phone usage in incomplete and inconclusive so it is better to play safe.
January 9th 2008 · Read More · No Comments
At times you might have noticed in babies that they stop breathing. This in medical terms is known as Apnoea and in this article; I will try my level best to make you understand in layman language to what apnoea is and what should be done in such emergencies?
It is reported t hat apnoea attack affects approximately 500 babies a year. This qualifies it as an important issue for health education for all those who are related to babies directly and indirectly.
Defining apnoea
In simplest possible terms, apnoea can be defined as a situation in which air flow to the lungs has stopped. This situation can arise because the baby stops breathing, or because the windpipe or airways have become blocked. In some cases the both these factors combine and give rise to such a situation.
Effects of apnoea
It is believed that irregular breathing and short apnoeic stops are not significant and have no adverse impact on the young babies but the situation may start getting out of control with prolonged bouts.
Data available with Foundation for the Study of Sudden Infant Deaths (FSSIDS) suggests that sometimes babies stop breathing for prolonged periods and the oxygen levels in the blood drop with cyanosis (change of color to blue) due to increased CO2. They may also become floppy and may choke or gag and this is termed as Apparent Life Threatening Event (ALTE).
The reasons of ALTE
In quite some cases this condition is believed to be associated with inhalation of vomit. It is also thought that it may be due to some identifiable disease or condition such as an infection but we can not deny the fact that in about half of the cases a cause is not found. It appears a funny initially that in some instances a baby somehow forgets how to breathe with outcomes that are not funny but painful.
What steps should be taken?
In cases where the baby experiences such an instance, vigorous stimulation and resuscitation are the important steps to help the baby start normal breathing. The process to do it is a bit tricky and it is recommended by FSSID that all parents should take a course in stimulation and resuscitation prior to the birth of their child.
January 4th 2008 · Read More · No Comments
Diabetes is a hormone disorder that can cause problems with the kidneys, legs and feet, eyes, heart, nerves, and blood flow. If left untreated, these problems can lead to kidney failure, gangrene and amputation, blindness, or stroke. Diabetes is on the increase, probably because people are living longer, getting fatter and leading increasingly inactive lifestyles.
There are two types of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes - also known as insulin-dependent or immune-mediated diabetes - is a disease that destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin. Insulin is needed to control blood sugar levels. Without insulin death is inevitable. Type 1 sufferers, who typically develop the condition as children or young adults, are usually unable to produce any insulin at all. They need to boost their insulin levels, either by regular injections or by wearing a pump which dispenses the hormone under the skin. It cannot be administered as a pill because it would be destroyed by the digestive process before it had a chance to work.
What are the symptoms?
Type 1 diabetes often appears suddenly. Signs and symptoms are:
- High levels of sugar in the blood
- High levels of sugar in the urine
- Frequent urination (and/or bed-wetting in children)
- Extreme hunger
- Extreme thirst
- Extreme weight loss
- Weakness and tiredness
- Irritability and mood swings
- Nausea and vomiting
What causes Type 1 diabetes?
The cause of the disease is unknown, although there is evidence that it might be inherited. Other environmental factors and illnesses seem to trigger the disease.
Can Type 1 diabetes be controlled?
People with type 1 diabetes can live happy, healthy lives provided they follow a diabetes treatment plan. Blood sugar levels must be kept as close to normal as possible through insulin injections, regular exercise and control of diet. Blood and urine tests will show if the disease is under control. The presence of ketones in the urine indicates that there are problems.
Type 2 Diabetes:
Type 2, or non-insulin dependent diabetes is the most common form of the disease. It usually occurs in people who are over the age of 45 and overweight. Type 2 sufferers do not make enough insulin, or are unable to make proper use of it. Without enough insulin, the body cannot move blood sugar into the cells. Sugar builds up in the bloodstream and causes health problems.
What causes Type 2 diabetes?
Again the cause of the disease is unknown, but is probably inherited. As with type 1 diabetes, other factors appear to trigger the disease such as obesity.
What are the symptoms?
Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly. Most people who get it have increased thirst and an increased need to urinate. Many also feel tired, irritable and nauseous. Some people have an increased appetite, but they lose weight.
Other signs are:
- Repeated or hard-to-heal infections of the skin, gums, vagina, or bladder
- Blurred vision
- Tingling or loss of feeling in the hands or feet
- Dry, itchy skin
The symptoms can be so mild that they go unnoticed. They may also be confused with signs of ageing. It is thought that millions of people worldwide suffer from type 2 diabetes without realising it.
What is the outlook?
Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by keeping blood sugar levels as close as possible to normal. This can be done by regular exercise and diet control alone. Losing weight helps some overweight people to bring their blood sugars into the normal range.
Courtesy BBC
December 30th 2007 · Read More · No Comments
When we talk about baldness, in most of the cases, we refer to male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia or alopecia androgenetica. Alopecia is broad term that literally means loss of hair in both males and females. Other forms of alopecia are, alopecia areata, loss of some hair from the head, alopecia totalis, loss of all hair from head. The most serve for my hair loss is alopecia universalis that involve loss of all body hair.
Male pattern is characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead, known as “receding hairline”. Receding hairlines are usually seen in males above the ages of 25.
Causes of baldness
The most important factor responsible for the androgenic alopecia is genetic. It is an established fact that baldness runs in families and the environmental factors has little to do with hair loss. Both maternal and paternal side of the family can affect an individual by causing alopecia.
Apart from it, the other most important factor responsible for baldness is interplay of hormones. It is believed that men with androgenic alopecia typically have lower levels of total testosterone, higher levels of unbound/free testosterone, and higher levels of total free androgens including DHT.
The baldness can have some other factors behind it too like fungal infections, the trauma, chemotherapy, traction etc.
Treatment of baldness
As for as treatment of baldness is concerned, treating the cause helps improves this condition. It is believed that treatment of alopecia has very little success rate. Since the most important factor responsible for this is genetic so drugs can have a very little impact. Some of the sufferers may benefit from the available drugs in the market but it is not always true in all the conditions. Few such examples of clinically proven treatments are finasteride and topically applied minoxidil that work by stopping the further loss of the hair and re-grow them.
In cases where fungal infection is responsible for the baldness, Ketoconazole can benefit such individuals.
Apart from the above mentioned treatment modalities, hair transplantation stays as a mainstay with many sufferers around.
December 26th 2007 · Read More · No Comments
Depression is a common and it is effects a great number of people around the globe. It is reported that it affects one in five Britons at some point in their life with a lot of financial burden that amounts to 8 billons pounds.
The depression can be characterized by profound feeling of sadness or loss interest along with a broad range of symptoms. Anyone, regardless of age, race and status can stay a victim to this condition. The loss of interest and hopelessness associated with this condition manifests itself by decreasing quality of life.
It is widely accepted that the symptoms of depression are different in different individuals so it leaves this condition hard to diagnose.
Understanding depression
As mentioned above, anyone can suffer from depression. The commonest symptoms are as under:
- Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
- Feeling useless, inadequate, bad
- A sense of self hatred, constant questioning of thoughts and actions and a constant need for reassurance
- Feeling vulnerable and being oversensitive to criticism
- Sense of guilt
- Loss of energy and the ability to concentrate and be motivated to do even the simplest tasks
- Harming oneself
- Sudden loss or gain in weight
- Sleep disruption or a need to sleep very long hours
- Agitation and restlessness
- Loss of libido
- Physical aches and pains
The severity of depression can vary, in extreme cases, suicidal tendency can develop and many a cases the sufferer may stop taking food and end up starving to death.
It is reportedly said that women are more prone to suffering from depression but suicidal tendency is more in men than in women. In most of the cases, the sufferers need medical advice and treatment to control these bouts.
Causes of depression
Depression is a complex disorder; therefore, it is not an easy task to give a simple explanation of the causes behind this clinical condition. The etiology of depression is multi-factorial.
In many cases, the tendency for this condition runs in families so it is said that it has a genetic component but it gets triggered by some stressful event in life. Apart from this, it is established that it occurs due to some chemical imbalance in brain.
Individuals who have low esteem, a pessimistic outlook on life and difficulty coping with stress are more prone to depression.
Treatment of depression
It is believed that people suffering from depression require medical advice and treatment. In recent years, the market has been saturated by a range of new drugs called anti-depressants. These include Prozac which is thought to stimulate the growth of brain cells in an area of the brain called the dentate gyrus. Other types of drugs may also be used to treat depression.
Other ways of treating depression include psychotherapy, which aims to uncover the reasons for depression and help the patient to find ways of overcoming them. Self help groups may also offer people a forum for talking about their condition and sharing it with others so that they do not feel isolated and alone.
In extreme cases, a person with depression may need to be treated in hospital, for example, if they are threatening or have attempted to commit suicide. If the person is deemed a risk to himself or others, he may have to be committed to hospital.
Besides psychotherapy and a course of anti-psychotic drugs, people in hospital may be offered or forced to undergo electro-convulsive therapy. This involves applying electric currents to the brain. The treatment is controversial, but safety procedures have been improved in recent years. Some psychiatrists are against its use, particularly without the patient’s consent, but others believe it can be effective in dealing with life-threatening depression.
December 20th 2007 · Read More · Comment(1)
Migraine is a condition characterized by severe headache with other physical symptoms. The physicians around agree that in most of the cases this condition is seen in women though men also suffer from migraine. The exact figure of women to men suffering with this condition is very difficult to ascertain even than it is estimated that around 17 per cent of women and 6 per cent of men have experienced migraine at some point in their lives. In case of women, most of them relate it with their physiological hormonal cycle.
Types of Migraine
In most of the cases, the migraine can be categorized on the basis of presence of sensory warning called aura preceding or accompanied with it hence we can say that there are two types of migraine, migraine without aura named common migraine and migraine with aura called classical migraine.
Migraine without Aura (common migraine)
This consists of a severe, throbbing headache, usually located on one side, with abdominal symptoms including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dislike of food, constipation or diarrhoea. This affects about nine out of 10 sufferers.
Sufferers may also experience sensitivity to smell, light and noise, which leads them to rest in a quiet, darkened room.
Migraine with Aura (classical migraine)
As mentioned earlier, the headache is preceded by visual disturbances such as flashing lights, zig zag lines and blind spots, or tingling limbs. The average length of a migraine attack is 22 hours and sufferers generally feel washed out for another one to two days afterwards. The average number of attacks per sufferer is 13 per year.
Causes of Migraine
The exact cause of this ailment is still unknown but a good deal of information is available. It is proven that it has got something to do with the chemical changes in the body and blood vessels and nerves are involved in etiology of the Migraine headache.
Apart from this, the known triggers for this condition are given below:
- Hormonal changes in the body
- Excessive sleep
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Certain foods like cheese and alcohol
- Emotional imbalance
- Sensory stimuli like bright lights
- Changes in weather
- Certain medication
Risk Factors
It is established that migraine is so inherited. If both your parents are suffering from migraine, you are prone to migraine. Even if one of your parents is suffering from migraine, you are at a relative risk.
Females who are young are also considered on risk when it comes to migraine.
Treatment
The medication for the Migraine is available and it can be categorized in two
- For pain relief during attack
- For prevention
For pain relief most over the counter drugs like aspirin and paracetamol can work well but in cases where these drugs fail to provide the pain relief, drugs specific for Migraine are prescribed by the practitioners. These include Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Ergots, Triptans, Butalbital combinations and opiates.
For prevention, cardiovascular drugs like beta blockers, anti-depressants, anti-seizure drugs, Cyproheptadine and Botox are prescribed.
Recent advancement
Recently, it is reported that a French team found some clues regarding the causes of migraine headache.
December 16th 2007 · Read More · No Comments
If your skin is dry, itchy, red and sore you might be a victim of Eczema. In severe condition, the situation may end up with bleeding and ulceration. It is reported that around seven million of people are suffering from this condition in UK only.
Eczema is a group of inflammatory skin disorder that may manifest itself through symptoms mentioned above. Here it is imperative to mention that none of conditions categorized as Eczema are contagious.
Types of Eczema
There are several different types of Eczema and most common among this group is atopic or allergic Eczema and it runs in families, other types include contact dermatitis, Seborrhoeic eczema, Varicose eczema and Discoid eczema. All these types of eczema have different reasons of occurrence hence require different treatment modalities and it leaves proper diagnosis as single most important thing as for as treatment is concerned.
Symptoms
The main symptom in eczema is itching and in most of the cases this leads to worsening of the situation due to scratching and in severe cases the skin may bleed and turns red and dry. Eczema can occur any where in the body and the symptoms may very from person to person.
Treatment
In most of the cases the eczema subsides by the age of 25 years and to that time management of the condition is required. In course of treatment of eczema, most important consideration to avoid factors that trigger this discomfort. Some physicians agree that emollient creams, lotions and soap substitute can with help flare-ups by preventing the drying of the skin that triggers the itching. Steroid creams and lotion can also help by lessening the inflammation. They work by tuning down the body’s immune response to triggering factors. In some cases, where necessary, oral steroids are also prescribed. Apart from this where infection is seen, antibiotics may be given.
Prevention
In case of atopic eczema, there is no cure because it is due to genetic factors. In other cases we can prevent the flare ups by washing gently with soap substitutes. Not only this but avoiding any factor that results in dryness of the skin is important. Girls and ladies particularly need to stay conscious with applying make up that can leave the skin dry.
December 10th 2007 · Read More · No Comments
Back pain has remained on of the major issues with so many people around. It is reported that 17 million Britons suffer from back pain. It is one of the factors affecting the quality of life. It is has an immense cost since those who suffer from back pain tend to miss the workdays. This article is an attempt to understand this clinical condition.
Behind the scene
Pain is considered as a symptom not disease it can have many causes. In order to understand the back pain, we need to understand the anatomy of the related structures. In back, the major structure is spine; the spine is made of for small bones called Vertebrae, a total of 33 vertebrae are present in spine arranged together with disc in between that helps in prevention of the friction between these bones. It is a very delicate and complex structure. The spine has many other structures associated and it is supported by an array of muscles and ligaments. Many nerves are also attached that are responsible for efferent and afferent signals from brain to body and back.
Causes of back pain
As I mention earlier the spine is delicate and complex structure, it leaves the spine very sensitive to physical insults. It is very difficult to say that what causes the back pain but in most of the cases, the high level of physical activity resulting in spasm, strain and any such trauma can trigger this painful state. Apart from this inflammation of the joints commonly known as arthritis, disc prolapse and other degenerative disease of spine stay as the major cause but such conditions are relatively rare. The physical trauma is considered the prime cause.
Factors responsible for this condition
It is an established fact that the back pain is on its all time rise, the main factors responsible for this surge is life style these days. It is a reality by now proven on the basis of scientific data that the current inactive life style of the individuals is the culprit since comparatively; the problem of back pain is less common in countries like Pakistan and India where people are more active in their day to day lives.
Treatment
In most of the cases, the treatment stays with physiotherapy. In case of the back pain, the primary concern is pain free state and for that matter many health professionals rely on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) but their prolonged use is also of concern.
Prevention
In case of the back pain, one can minimize the chances of occurrence by regular exercises and activity that can bring strength to the muscles of the back. It is further suggested by the physiotherapists that maintaining the proper posture in day to day activities like lifting objects from ground, carrying weight, sitting and walking can help a lot.
December 5th 2007 · Read More · No Comments
There are many myths surrounding cataract. Patient gives you a proper analysis of the disease that’s so common among. There are a variety of reasons due to which a person can develop cataracts, including long-term ultraviolet exposure, exposure to radiation, secondary effects of diseases such as diabetes, and advanced age; they are usually a result of denaturation of lens proteins. Family history may also play a role because of which a person can get cataracts at an earlier age. It may also be due to an eye injury or physical trauma. Cataracts may be partial or complete, stationary or progressive, hard or soft. There are various types of cataracts — nuclear, cortical, mature, hypermature. Dr Cyres Mehta answers some of the frequently asked questions by people suffering from cataract.
What is cataract? Is it white water or a pearl in the eye?
Cataract is nothing but clouding of the lens in the eye. The protein in the human lens (just like a camera lens) coagulates and denatures. A good example is clear egg white which becomes white when exposed to heat. Captivated by the white pearly appearance of the lens, ancient doctors named this ‘motia’ or pearl. Incidentally, the Arabic word for cataract is Mai Abiyat or white water, which is an accurate description.
Does cataract occur only in old people?
Cataract can occur at any age! It can occur in newborn babies as well, due to infections like rubella. The mother can contract the disease while the baby is in the womb due to metabolic disorders like galactosemia. Those taking medicines like steroids, undergoing radiation for cancer and working in a steel mill where the eye is exposed to infrared rays can also suffer from cataract. Finally, any blow to the eye usually results in cataract.
Can cataract be cured by eyedrops?
To make a quick buck, non-medical practitioners float the idea of miracle eyedrops which will dissolve the cataract. They put dilating drops in the eye, which allows more light to enter the eye. The person sees marginally better for a few hours in some cases. The truth is that it’s an irreversible chemical reaction that can only be treated by surgery.
Should cataract operations be avoided in summer?
In the olden days, after a cataract operation, the patient’s head was immobilised between sandbags and he was not allowed to turn or move for a month. Naturally, summer was a bad idea as the patient could not take a bath for a month. Today, the cataract can be removed through an incision as small as 0..7 mm and the person is mobile instantly.
I will get a big painful injection before surgery?
Just eye drops are put on the eye and the patient is conscious during surgery, and feels no pain, only a little pressure at times.
Will the lens that’s put in the eye be removed?
The lenses today are injected into the eye through a two mm tunnel which seals instantly and needs no stitches. The lenses are made of acrylic plastic which does not react with the body and theoretically should last much longer than the patient. Lenses implanted even 30 years ago show no sign of ageing.
Will the patient have to wear spectacles for reading after surgery?
Modern lenses can be of multi-focal design. So, the patient need not wear spectacles for reading.
Will the patient have to be housebound for a month?
As the small opening seals instantly, the person can go back to normal life. This naturally depends from case to case and is best decided by the surgeon.
December 2nd 2007 · Read More · No Comments
Yesterday when I was watching the Dawn News, I happened to see an interview of a lady named Julia. She was there to introduce this problem of stammering and Stammering Association Pakistan. She gave away this web address and I wrote it down with a thought to visit it as soon as I am online but forgot to do so. Today when I am came online, it clicked my mind, I typed the URL and I was there. The web page opened and I found a request for support on main page asking for assistance for carrying the message across. So, this post is meant to get the word around about this important and neglected problem of all the times.
What is stammering?
Wikipedia defines stammering as, “a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables, words or phrases, and involuntary silent pauses or blocks in which the stutterer is unable to produce sounds.” It is a proven fact that it has genetic component related but how it comes in interplay is not yet known that’s why one can’t find any cure but management programs. There is a myth related to it that it is some psychological disorder but this notion has no reality.
Stammering Association Pakistan
Stammering Association of Pakistan has just started its journey. Since there is no cure available for this disorder, Stammering Association Pakistan aims to provide a forum for stammerers where they will work together to achieve the stammering management goals.
My opinion
To me the cause of this association appears just and I feel like supporting them. They have taken this step to help many of those around us who really need help and by just spreading this message we can play our part. I feel it as our collective responsibility. If you feel the way I am feeling, please help spreading their message by all possible means. I hope such an act can really create some difference in lives of many who are suffering silently!!!