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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Eyesight
Cancer: a few basic queries
Health Notes
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Eyesight Magnifying glass was discovered accidentally by the glass blower. The quest to see better began here. The first spectacles were used in China more than 2000 years ago. And the view has only become better since. From the days when patients had limited options for correcting their eye-sight defects, to the dawn of the era of “total refractive solutions”, the emphasis today has shifted towards a qualitative improvement in vision. Over the past few years, fast evolution has occurred in field of refractive procedures. The refractive surgeon is now able to provide a tailor-made solution to the patient’s unique requirements. However, this would require increasing the capabilities which implies an increased liability on the part of refractive surgeons and refractive surgery centres to acquire the equipment required and master the techniques for these newer procedures. Common errors: For those not in the know of things, differences in the shape or size of your eyes can cause situations that affect the way you see things that are nearby or far away. These conditions are referred to as refractive error. Various types of refractive errors can occur, which are classified as myopia (near-sightedness), hypermetropia (far-sightedness), astigmatism and presbyopia. Myopia or near-sightedness is very common in which people have difficulties seeing objects at a distance. They need to use a minus lens to see clearly. Hypermetropia or far- sightedness is also common where people have difficulty in focusing at a short distance, but can see objects at a far distance clearly. They need plus lens to see clearly. Astigmatism means that the cornea is oval-shaped like a football instead of spherical like a cricket ball, resulting the blurred vision at distant or near. This often occurs along with near-sightedness or far- sightedness. Presbyopia is a condition in which focusing for near objects is reduced. It generally affects people over the age 40 years, and there is a need to wear reading glasses for this. Refractive solutions: Medical technology has advanced rapidly and now a variety of solutions are available to treat these eye conditions. From simple spectacles to modern contact lenses and further onto advanced refractive surgeries, people have corrective options to suit every condition and budget. Although LASIK has revolutionised refractive surgery and is widely accepted, refractive surgery is no longer something just for risk takers or for the rich and the famous. In this day and age, the mantra in refractive surgery is “fit patient to the procedure” and not the other way round. It means that the refractive surgeon should be well versed with the various refractive procedures available and based on the specific requirements of the patients, use one or more procedures to provide spectacle independence. But even as more options are being made available and costs are reducing, safety should remain the most important criterion for any procedure. Undeniably, there’s a lot of cutting-edge research going on to develop newer products and technologies for refractive procedures. Newer research in both LASIK and lens-based procedures holds promise for the future and has target cases to cater to. We are seeing a convergence of technologies and procedures, and if one procedure is not adequate for a patient, then we can have a judicious combination of two procedures. This case is known as “bioptics” which essentially is a combination of Phakic intraocular lens implantation followed by an ensuing laser refractive procedure like LASIK. In the coming year, we may see an increase in the use of multiple procedures to achieve spectacle independence. The patients need to update themselves on recent developments in refractive surgery. We have procedures which improve the vision sharpness and depth perception. These have led to very big levels of the patient’s satisfaction. But they need to be careful about the surgeon and refractory surgery factor. The deciding factors should be the surgeon’s ability to mix and match the procedure to suit their specific and unique requirements. With far better results being achieved with various procedures, ophthalmologists are now much more aggressive in offering you personalised vision corrective solutions, tailor-maid and suited to your needs. The writer is Chairman and Medical Director, Centre for Sight, New Delhi. E-mail:
msachdev@bol.net.in
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Cancer: a few basic queries Question: How does cancer spread? Answer: Cancer is a serious disease and can affect any part of the body. It is caused by very rapid and irregular multiplication of the cells. The daughter cells are not like their mother cells. The cancer cells have the characteristic of getting separated from the main tumour mass. The separated cell can travel to distant parts of the body either through direct extension or through the blood and lymphatic streams. These cells start multiplying over there and produce what is known as secondary deposits or metastasis. Q: What is the cause of cancer? A: The exact cause of cancer is not known, although world-wide research has been going on in this direction. Cancer is caused by constant irritation by some factors and some of the known factors being tobacco in any form, radiation, chemical agents, hereditary factors, faulty diet and a few chronic diseases. Q: What are the danger signals? A: There are seven danger signals of cancer as described by the WHO. These signals do not mean that the person has cancer, but they only caution that in case he or she continues to have these in spite of normal treatment, then one should visit a specialist to rule out the possibility of cancer being responsible for these. The danger signals are the following: Change in bowel or bladder habits. A wound that refuses to heal. Unusual bleeding or discharge from any source. Thickening or swelling anywhere in the body. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing. Obvious change in mole or wart. Nagging cough or hoarseness of voice. Q: How is cancer treated? A: Cancer is treated by a multimodality treatment schedule and this comprises surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy. The patient may require all the modalities of treatment or only a few of these. Q: How can a woman suspect cancer of the breast in herself? A: Cancer of the breast can be suspected by the presence of any of the following: Swelling in the breast or in the armpit; bleeding from the nipple; ulceration or wound of the breast skin; thickening of the breast skin so that it looks like orange peel. Q: What are the important factors in the treatment of cancer? A: The following are the important factors in curing cancer: Earlier the treatment started the better is the outcome; the specialist treating the patient should be competent; and the patient requires to attend the doctor regularly even after the completion of treatment so that if the cancer comes back it can be treated properly. The writer is a former Professor and Head, Department of Surgery,
PGI, Chandigarh.
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Health Notes Washington:
A recent study has revealed that overdoses from prescribed painkiller drugs are responsible for more deaths in the US than that by cocaine and heroin. Scientists from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, claim that as sales of a group of painkilling drugs called opioids, which includes Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Methadone and Fentanyl, have increased, drug-related deaths have risen in turn. In 2002 over 16,000 people died in the US due to drug overdoses, and it was found that a majority of the deaths were caused by opioids, heroin and cocaine.— ANI
Gene to prevent osteoarthritis
Washington: Researchers claim to have identified a gene in mice that is responsible for preventing the onset of osteoarthritis and skeletal deformities. Experts at the Rhode Island Hospital who conducted the study, said the matrilin-3 gene played a role in early bone development. It controlled bone mineral density in adulthood and was responsible for preventing osteoarthritis later in life. While earlier studies have revealed that mutations in matrilin-3 as being responsible for certain skeletal disorders and hand osteoarthritis, this latest study has for the first time demonstrated that the loss of gene led to osteoarthritis, a joint disease caused by deterioration of cartilage, which usually occurs later in life.
— ANI
Cancer drug harmful for heart
Washington: Scientists at the Thomas Jefferson University have discovered that Gleevec, the breakthrough cancer drug, may be toxic to the heart. The study follows up on 10 patients who developed severe heart failure after taking Gleevec. “We found that the molecular target of the drug, the Abelson tyrosine kinase (ABL) protein, serves a maintenance function in cardiac muscle cells and is necessary for their health. While cancer is treated effectively, there will be some percentage of patients who could experience significant left ventricular dysfunction and even heart failure from this,” said Dr. Thomas Force, the lead researcher and a doctor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.
— ANI
Effective diet for weight loss
Sydney: The world’s first 12-week trial of its kind conducted by Australian researchers has found that a high carbohydrate diet based on low glycaemic index (GI) foods is the most effective in helping lose weight, especially for women. The theory behind low GI diets is that rapidly digested, high GI carbohydrates cause fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels, contributing to hunger and preventing the breakdown of fat. Foods with a low GI include breakfast cereals based on oats, barley and bran, wholegrain and sour dough breads and Basmati or Doongara rice, whereas foods with a high GI include potatoes and white bread.
— ANI
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