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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Latest facial rejuvenation techniques
Knee arthritis: hope lies in early treatment
Poor trial results are ‘buried’
How salt can actually be good for you
India leading in diabetes: study
Health Notes
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Latest facial rejuvenation techniques
Facial aesthetics has been part of human culture from time immemorial. Many dermatologists and plastic surgeons are indebted to Plato for the so-called Golden Triangle — beauty is largely concerned with symmetry and proportion. It is a widely held view that a symmetrical face is more attractive. Youthfulness is linked to attractiveness; all the attributes of beauty are attributes of youth — smooth skin, large eyes and youthful face — and youthfulness is associated with energy, fertility, sexuality, power and economic stability.
Society has seen a spiralling growth in rejuvenating cosmetic procedures. Both social and economic factors have contributed to this escalation in demand. There is the modern culture of instant gratification, easy credit, mainstream acceptance and the obsession with cosmetic and aesthetic procedures — today’s so-called youthful culture. Facial ageing is a complex process that involves volume loss throughout the face. Ageing occurs in three dimensions, so the process of facial rejuvenation should be addressed similarly. Dermal fillers provide support for facial structures. When these fillers are used in conjunction with other agents like Botox, they reshape and rejuvenate the face. Regular treatments with these products mean that patients are assured of a more youthful look that is also relatively painless Eyebrow lift is the latest procedure used for periorbital (around eyes) rejuvenation since brow is an important part of one’s face. The brow reflect the emotional state of an individual — a raised brow portrays elation and positive feelings and a descended brow signifies negative feelings and depression. Elevation or arching of the eyebrow is possible with a small amount of Botox. This can be combined with a dermal filler which provides an aesthetically important curve along with a required necessary lift to the brow. Newer skin-tightening techniques like non-ablative radiofrequency produce dramatic results in the treatment of wrinkles and skin laxity. It tightens the skin and creates enhanced dermal collagen. It avoids surgery as well as post-surgery downtime. This is also the best procedure for those patients who wish to have tightening of the skin over the eyelids but are reluctant to undergo surgical blepharoplasty. Rejuvenation using the Foto Facial procedure leaves the skin clearer, smoother, brighter, healthier and younger in looks. It can safely rejuvenate the skin anywhere on the body. The result is different from that obtained after laser resurfacing, use of non-ablative lasers, chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Mesotherapy is the latest technique which involves microinjections of conventional homoeopathic medication and/or vitamins into the mesoderm or middle layer of the skin. The aim is to improve the ageing and sagging skin and to rejuvenate the hands and the neck. However, mesotherapy is a debatable addition.There is a lot of controversy regarding its safety, despite the fact that it is gaining popularity in the West. The writer is Chief Dermatologist, Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, Ludhiana.
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Knee arthritis: hope lies in early treatment
Arthritis (knee joint) affliction varies a great deal from one individual to another. To attain optimum benefits from a physical exercise regime, individualisation of the approach is ideal. However, the general view regarding the activities which could aggravate pain/disability should be passionately followed. Treatment is effective if initiated during the early stage of arthritis and the exercise regime conscientiously adhered to.
However, a few Do’s and Don’ts are also helpful. Do’s 1. Reduction in the body weight is extremely desirable in alleviating pain/discomfort in knee arthritis. An increase in the body weight of one kilogramme puts six times more load on the knee joint. 2. Movement diminishes the stiffness of the knee joint which sets in after the rest. If sitting for a long time is inevitable, bending and stretching of the legs is important. 3. Knee braces/supports in the cases of knee arthritis should only be used to provide stability to the joint. 4. Change your shoes if they are unable to absorb the shock, otherwise it travels to the knees through the foot and the shin. 5. As the muscles and ligaments hold the knee together, it is mandatory to stretch and strengthen the muscles on the front and back of the thigh vis-a-vis (quadriceps and hamstring). The following exercises are very useful: *
Place a round pillow or a rolled towel under the knee. Tighten the muscles of the leg without moving the knee and hold for a count of 15. Repeat 15 times. *
Sitting against the wall, lift the affected leg 6” above the floor and stay for a count of 10. Repeat 10 times. *
Tie a sandbag or a purse filled with coins over the ankle. Lie with the face down and lift the lower leg by bending the knee 6”-12” from the floor. Repeat 10 times. 6. On experiencing discomfort after exercise, application of ice for 5-10 minutes helps in decreasing discomfort to a large extent. 7. Individuals suffering from chronic knee pain, difficulty in walking/ jogging should switch over to non-weight bearing activities like cycling and swimming. 8. Aerobic activities — walking, jogging, etc — should be undertaken on a softer, even surface like grass. Don’ts Avoid deep squat i.e. bending below the knees increases stress on the ligament. Activities which exert pressure/load on the knee joint should best be avoided, e.g. running/playing tennis, etc. Sitting cross-legged also leads to pain/discomfort. It is best avoided. The chair seat level should be higher than the knee level to reduce the load on the quadriceps muscles. Avoid walking and jogging on concrete or hard surface which increases the load on the knee. When following these Do’s and Don’ts, individuals suffering from knee arthritis can indeed hope to perform day-to-day activities with care and live a less agonising life. The writer is a former doctor/physiotherapist, Indian cricket team.
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Poor trial results are ‘buried’
LONDON: Drug companies are placing depressed patients at risk by not publishing negative results from clinical trials and distorting the evidence doctors use to decide which drugs to prescribe.
New research published in The New England Journal of Medicine found nearly a third of the 74 industry-sponsored studies of antidepressants they examined were not published, most of which showed negative outcomes for the drug involved. Not only were positive results 12 times more likely to be published, but negative results were often written so as to convey a favourable outcome. Researchers warn that selective reporting of clinical trials can lead to misrepresentation of the benefits and risks of a drug and could mislead healthcare professionals into believing some drugs are more effective and less harmful than they actually are. —
The Independent
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How salt can actually be good for you
When it comes to matters of health, salt has got bad press. It's that cheap condiment and hidden food flavouring with the hidden health risks. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it can strain your heart and blood pressure, bringing that fateful day a little closer. Studies indicate it might also increase your risk of brittle bones and other ailments.
But some experts argue that salt could be just what we need for healing, health and longevity. Modern salt, they agree, is unhealthy. But common table salt has almost nothing in common with traditional salt, say the salt connoisseurs. Just look at the rose-coloured crystals of Himalayan rock salt, or the grey texture of Celtic salt - both pride themselves on traditional harvesting, avoiding heat treatment or refining methods - and you know you're getting something special, not least that when you taste them, they actually have flavour. And unlike the sodium chloride you find on most kitchen tables, unrefined rock salt contains more than 84 different minerals. "These mineral salts are identical to the elements of which our bodies have been built and were originally found in the primal ocean from where life originated," argues Dr Barbara Hendel, researcher and co-author of Water & Salt, The Essence of Life. "We have salty tears and salty perspiration. The chemical and mineral composition of our blood and body fluids are similar to sea water. From the beginning of life, as unborn babies, we are encased in a sack of salty fluid." — The Independent
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India leading in diabetes: study
Mumbai: India is the leading country for diabetes with 31.7 million cases in 2000 and the number is expected to rise to 79.4 million by 2030, followed by China with 20.8 million. The US is at the third position with 17.7 million diabetics, according to a study.
Dr Neal Barnard says that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2000, 171 million people had diabetes worldwide but it was expected to rise to 366 million by 2030. Diet changes can make drastic difference, sometimes eliminating the need for medication. Dr Barnard attributes this condition to “westernisation of diet” which has played a major role in this epidemic. “Instead of exporting meat diets to India, America would do better to ‘Easternise’ its own diet and if Americans learn to eat dal, rice, and palak they would be slimmer and healthier,” said Dr Barnard. He advocated plant-based diets which reduce blood sugar, cut cholesterol and reduce body weight rather than a diet with meat, fish, poultry, milk products, eggs, sugar and oils. — UNI
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Health Notes
The study was conducted by researchers at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and was led by De-Kun Li. The research is significant as it controls for the first time pregnancy-related symptoms of nausea, vomiting and caffeine aversion that till now had interfered with researchers finding how caffeine really affects the risk of miscarriage. — ANI
Study shows why sleep is so important for the brain
London: Researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health have found that sleep plays a crucial role in brain’s plasticity which is in turn an important foundation in learning and memory. The study conducted over rodents revealed that synapses, nerve cell connections central to brain plasticity, were very strong during waking hours and weak during sleep. Chiara Cirelli, study author and associate professor of psychiatry, elucidated that human brain uses up to 80 per cent of its energy on synaptic activity, constantly adding and strengthening connections in response to all kinds of stimulation. — ANI
Researchers identify genetic risk factors linked to lupus
London: A new study has identified multiple new genetic risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease. The large-scale genomic study, conducted by an international consortium of clinical scientists and genomics experts, including researchers from the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) and Universite de Montreal (UdeM), is the first of its kind to investigate the genetic basis of lupus. According to the researchers, lupus is caused by genetic variants that interact with one another and the environment. —
ANI
Mobile phone radiation
disrupts sleep
The researchers - from Wayne State University in the US and Sweden’s Karolinska Institute - say that participants who were exposed to mobile radiation during the study were found to experience headaches, change of moods, confusion, and trouble in sleeping. — ANI
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