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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Happiness is nobody’s monopoly EYESIGHT
Beware of electromagnetic radiation
Sleep deprivation is dangerous
Fish oil may help combat Alzheimer’s
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Happiness is nobody’s monopoly Or is it more a question of disposition, their nature, and character? Could it be that some people are genetically wired to be happy no matter what? Humanity, through its years of existence, has tried to crack the code to happiness, more so to define what it actually is. Fortunately for us, psychology in its serious research-based examination of human happiness has shown conclusively that happiness can be understood. Psychologists define happiness as a long-term sense of emotional well-being and contentment — a general “feeling” that one is happy. Thus, happiness is an overall feeling of satisfaction with life. Knowing what “happiness is” is important, but it is also important to recognise what happiness “is not”. Happiness is not “things”. Most people think of happiness as things like lots of money, my family life, a great career, having love, etc. But these things by themselves are not happiness. They can surely contribute to your happiness. In an attempt to understand what happiness is and how to attain it, one might end up wondering whether happiness is all that important that we are investing so much time and energy trying to understand it and making all the effort to augment it. But it is not all that futile as it seems because research-based evidence clearly points to its obvious benefits. A recent study found that people who are happy, lively and calm or exhibit other positive emotions are less likely to become ill when they are exposed to a cold virus than those who report few of these emotions. In that study, it was also found that when they do come down with a cold, happy people report fewer symptoms than would be expected from objective measures of their illness. If you’re not naturally a glass half-full person, you may be able to learn to be more optimistic — and improve your health.
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Stop negative self-talk. When you catch yourself thinking that you won’t enjoy an event or do well on a project, stop the thought. Instead, identify the positives in the situation. l
If you’re irritated with your spouse or partner, think back to those qualities that you found so attractive when you fell in love. Keep those qualities in the forefront of your mind. l
Find joy in your work. No matter what kind of job it is, find some aspect that’s personally satisfying. l
Surround yourself with positive, upbeat people. l
Deal with situations that you can control, and try to accept those you can’t. l
Put things in perspective. Life may take you on difficult paths. Try to find the adventure. A bump in the road is only temporary. l
Each day, write down three positive things that happened that day as well as speculations about why those good things happened. We all can find happiness if we try and work hard. So, never say that happiness is a word you can only dream of finding. Go, be happy and live a life you want.
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EYESIGHT Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), the laser-based vision correction surgery, corrects near-sightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia), and the hazy vision problem due to astigmatism. With more than 16.3 million patients having had LASIK worldwide till date, LASIK is the world’s most popular and most common surgical procedure. An average 95.4 per cent of LASIK patients have reported satisfaction with their new vision.This has been observed by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and reported in the first review of the world body of scientific literature based on the meta-analysis done by Dr Kerry Solomon of South Carolina. This was reported on March 13 on ophthalmology web.com. This survey examines nearly 3,000 peer-reviewed articles published in clinical journals from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia and goes back to literature published 10 years ago. In that time, there have been major technological advances such as wavefront-guided LASIK and the introduction of special lasers like Intralase to form a flap on the surface of the eye in preparation for the laser treatment. In conjunction with new surgical techniques, and better patient selection, modern- day LASIK has come of age. The reliability and effectiveness of the procedure have led to its adoption by the armed forces, in particular the US Navy, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with effect from September 21, 2007, for improving the vision of its front-line pilots and astronauts. The key findings from “LASIK: A Global Perspective on Patient Satisfaction”(the first survey on post-operative patient satisfaction): l
95.4 per cent of LASIK patients worldwide from countries such as the US, France, Iran, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom report satisfaction with the outcome of their procedure. l
Approximately the same percentage would recommend LASIK to a friend or would elect to undergo the procedure again. The first goal of the literature review is to assist in quantifying and qualifying aspects of LASIK patient satisfaction, the reports said. As the number-one elective procedure in the world, with one of the highest safety profiles, LASIK has grown all over the world but we as professionals look forward to continuing its advancement to improve the satisfaction level still further. The introduction of Intralase, which is a blade- free procedure using femtosecond laser to make a corneal flap has dramatically reduced the rate of complications, resulting in safer and faster visual rehabilitation. This has enhanced the patient satisfaction a great deal and made the procedure more acceptable. Intralase penetration is increasing the world over and but for its cost, it would have totally replaced the conventional laser which uses the blade (microkeratome) to make the flap. In India, there are 250 LASIK machines and even with a population which is three times that of the US population, yet we are doing one-tenth the number of the LASIK procedures done there. This analysis — “LASIK: a Global perspective on patient satisfaction” — goes a long way in quelling all the fears and apprehensions which the patients in the Indian scenario may have had. This will also remove misgivings that patients may have regarding the procedure and its outcome, as with the advent of Intralase, refractive surgery has become safer. Also other options like toric implantable collamer lenses help get rid of glasses in patients with high power or thin corneas. The writer is Chairman and Medical Director, Centre for Sight, New Delhi. email:
msachdev@bol.net.in
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Beware of electromagnetic radiation MRET (Molecular Resonance Effect Technology) refers to a gentle murmour that has begun to be treated in the world of science and technology as a guard against the harm caused to the human body by exposure to radiation. Radiation is caused by power lines, cellular phones, transformers and, in fact, all electrical devices that transmit signals or are plugged to the wall. Talking to this correspondent in Ludhiana recently, Dr Howard Fisher, scientific adviser to a company working on “Prevention from electromagnetic radiation”, said that “there is some light on the horizon towards a cure against the dangerous radiation. The discovery of Dr Smirnov’s MRET Shield Liquid Piezoelectric Crystal Polymer to generate random magnetic noise-field waves that will superimpose themselves onto the EMR (electromagnetic radiation) waves and render them harmless is among major breakthroughs in science, recently”. Dr Howard Fisher is also the author of critically acclaimed “The Invisible Threat: The Risks Associated with EMFs”. He said, “the process causes a bio-friendly wave that dramatically reduces the otherwise inappropriately triggered protective responses by the body”. The technology can be most effectively used on cell phones, PDAs, Bluetooths and other EMR emitting devices at home. In his presentation, later, Dr Fisher spoke about “scientific confirmation” to the fact that “EMFs (electromagnetic fields) can have a significant impact on the metabolic systems. These include elevated blood glucose levels, lipid levels, the neuro-regulatory system, decreased testosterone levels and sperm counts in males and a serious negative impact on the central nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems”. Dr Fisher also addressed the Royal Society of Medicine, London, on the invisible threat of the EMFs last year. Research indicates evidence to confirm a dose-effect relationship between electromagnetic fields and radiation from cell phones and genetic damage, cancer and toxic leakage into the brain. Children under the age of 16 are not fully grown and tissue undergoing growth phases are more vulnerable to the effects of information-carrying radio waves. The presentation pointed out that EMR causes headaches, heart diseases, fatigue, aches and greater risk of diseases like cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and brain tumours. A segment of our population suffers from a condition known as electrical hypersensitivity. They get a burning sensation from the cell and cordless phones. People also tend to feel radiation from the electric fields. The rest of the population might not be directly sensing radiation. However, this does not mean that they remain totally unaffected. Quoting research by Dr Leif Salford and his team on the impact of radiation from cell phones, it was pointed out that cell phone radiation at all levels causes significant blood brain barrier leakage. “When the blood-brain barrier is opened, the potential for brain disorders and diseases of different kinds is increased. Cell phones also show to decrease thinking abilities”, Dr Fisher added.
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Sleep deprivation is dangerous “Early to bed and early t o rise” no longer seems to make a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Today’s man is competitive and rearing to go and wealth takes prudence over health. Times have changed … so have people. So much to do and such little time. Always in a rush, always in a hurry to finish daily chores, new assignments and longing to do more to keep pace with others. Day seems short. Work spills in to the night with endless cups of coffees, long hours of the office, and sometimes returning home in the morning. Look at the call centres, where day and night means no different. In this race to move ahead, or at times even to sunrise, it is a question of the survival of the most efficient - (not the fittest!). Compromise is made on eating, exercising and sleeping. And the result is premature ageing, obesity, metabolic syndromes, diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart diseases and sleep disorders. Let’s talk about sleep. Sleep is restorative, a mature healer, a remedy for so many maladies. And where it is disturbed, havoc is wrought! I recollect Tolstoy’s story: “How much land does a man need?” And I ask “How much sleep does a man need?” “9 hrs would be just fine” But modernisation has reduced it to 7 hours. And competitiveness to five hours! It is not just the quantity but the quality of sleep that is equally important. A fragmented disturbed sleep can cause problems galore. And very often this may go unrecognised. This brings us to a little peep into what is sleep apnea and snoring and how lifestyle changes have increased its incidence. The Pickwickian syndrome has been an ancient malady. But its sinistorness and its implications have only recently been highlighted. But there are other sleep disorders and disturbed sleep syndromes. Why do sleep disorders occur? And what are they? Awareness and understanding of sleep disorders will go a long way in enhancing the quality of life and controlling co-morbid conditions like diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart diseases, strokes and sudden deaths. This apart, disturbed sleep at night(often unrecognised) and laughingly attributed to snoring may cause day- time sleepiness, forgetfulness, memory lapses, fatigue, personality changes and even sexual dysfunction. Sleep deprivation too is not without its share of problems. Whatever is away from nature can never do much good. Changing job styles, frequent travels, jet lags, odd working hours are all attributable factors. Even children are caught in the web — homework, projects and television! Not to be forgotten are the video games and PC’s and the endless games on the mobile. Not even the labourers are spared. Working hard during the day, television may be the only source of entertainment again at night eating into their sleep. But there are solutions to every problem. It all begins with recognising one. The remedial measures: Firstly, these is need to understand whether there is a genuine problem or the insomnia is due to excessive tea, coffee, alcohol, or other medications. Next is to assess whether sleep deprivation is the contributing factor. Further studies for analysing sleep-related disorders are now systematically done.
The writer is associated with Leelavati Hospital,
Mumbai.
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Fish oil may help combat Alzheimer’s London: Researchers at Aberdeen University have made a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s by finding that the disease can be combated with omega-3 oils. In the study, researchers found that the individuals whose diets are high in omega-3 oils — found in fish, walnuts and a number of seeds — do better in mental tests than those without the oils in their diets. The study also found a genetic link that explains why some fish oil studies have been inconclusive in the past. Alzheimer’s, a degenerative terminal disease for which there is currently no known cure, begins with short-term forgetfulness and leads to severe memory loss, personality changes and the inability to live an independent life.
— ANI
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Health Notes Washington: A study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found new evidence reaffirming the finding that people with low LDL cholesterol may be at greater risk for developing Parkinson’s disease. This research, led by Dr Xuemei Huang, has found that low LDL levels were present in a group of men of Japanese ancestry long before these men were diagnosed with Parkinson’s. “This finding gives us one more piece in the puzzle about the role of cholesterol in Parkinson’s disease. What makes these results especially useful is the fact that most of the men in this study were not taking cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins.”
— ANI
Soy compound may help combat breast, ovarian cancer
Washington: An oncologist at Tulane University School of Medicine has discovered that a compound found in specially grown soybeans may inhibit tumour growth in advanced breast or ovarian cancer cases. According to Matthew Burow, associate professor of medicine in the Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology at Tulane, this chemical called glyceollin can successfully fight the growth of estrogen-stimulated breast and ovarian cancers. For the study, he tested glyceollin on mice implanted with estrogen-dependent ovarian and breast cancer tumours. It was found that with time, the compound successfully stopped tumour growth by interfering with the tumours’ ability to respond to estrogen.
— ANI
New ‘seed’ therapy to detect breast tumours
Washington: An Indian origin physician at UT Southwestern Medical Centre has developed a new technique that can help in identifying breast tumours with more accuracy. In the new technique, small radioactive pellet, or “seed”, is implanted into a mass or suspicious lesion in the breast to pinpoint its exact location for surgical removal. “The new technique is less invasive for the patient and allows us to be more precise when removing possible breast-cancer tumours,” said Dr Roshni Rao, a surgical oncologist who specialises in breast cancer.
— ANI
Scientists create anti-cancer ‘warhead’
Washington: Scientists at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif, have made a breakthrough in the fight against cancer by developing a new model that could lead to safer and more effective cancer treatment and drug developments. The team of researchers led by Elfi Kraka, a chemistry professor and cancer researcher at University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif, have created an anti-cancer “warhead” that specifically targets the acidic signature of tumour cells without affecting healthy cells. Scientists for long have been trying to develop anti-cancer drugs based on enediynes, a powerful class of natural, tumour-fighting agents derived from soil bacteria.
— ANI
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Why do some people always seem happy, and others not? Is it really a question of circumstances? Are they happy because their life is better, because they have more luck, and they just don’t have as many worries and upsets?