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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Problems with teeth at birth
High heels may lead to foot injuries
Antidepressants help fight HIV, cancer
Respiratory disorders
Health Notes
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Problems with teeth at birth
Yes, it’s true that a few new-born babies can have one or two teeth. Sometimes, the teeth appear within a few days of birth. Generally, these teeth are located in the anterior region of the lower jaw. Medically, the teeth present at birth are called ‘natal teeth’ and those erupting a few days later to within a month of birth are known as ‘neonatal teeth’. The presence of neonatal teeth is more common than natal teeth.
There are various unfounded beliefs and notions associated with the presence of these teeth. A study by this author of children born with these teeth involving 43 families at the Oral Health Sciences Centre, PGI, Chandigarh, found that 21 families had no notion attached to the presence of these teeth. Nineteen associated these with ill omens and superstition. The notions expressed with conviction were (i) not at all good to have teeth at birth, (ii) bad for the family, (iii) not good for maternal uncle, (iv) bad for parents, (v) not good for both mother and child. Interestingly, the presence of teeth at birth was considered a good omen by only three families, expressed as (i) children born with teeth are strong and do not die of illness, (ii) lucky for boys but not for girls, and (iii) irrespective of sex, presence of lower teeth is a good omen, while upper teeth are a bad omen. The main problem with teeth in the newborn or just-born babies is that these can pinch the mother’s breast during feeding, causing her pain and sometimes injury. Babies with teeth may also involuntarily injure their own tongue, which in the new born is very soft and not yet roughened (keratinised). Instinctive sucking and repeated rubbing of the tongue by the infant over the calcified teeth may result in an ulcer on the tongue. In almost all cases, these teeth are milk teeth. Normally, the first milk tooth appears at about six months of age. Imagine these teeth erupting six months earlier! As a result, their roots are rudimentary, not developed at all. The teeth, particularly the ones present right at the time of birth, are, therefore, very shaky, and in danger of getting detached on their own and being swallowed, or accidentally dropping into the windpipe. If these teeth are very shaky, the dentist may decide in favour of extraction, which does not affect the final alignment of the permanent teeth. If these teeth are not very shaky, not likely to get detached by themselves and the mother has no problem in breast-feeding, the dentist may decide to keep them. The sharp cutting edges may, however, be rounded to avoid injury to the mother and to the baby too. There are records of babies born with teeth in early Greek and Roman history. The superstitions concerning this phenomenon at that time varied from claims that such children were exceptionally favoured by fate to the belief that they were doomed. Louis XIV, Mazarin, and Richard III are quoted as examples of the former. In Poland, children born with teeth were considered to be monsters and bearer of misfortune. All these beliefs are, of course, irrational. The writer is head, Dental Unit, The Apollo Clinic,
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High heels may lead to foot injuries
Wearing high heels makes the dainty ladies look elegant and tall, but their round-the-clock usage has some drawbacks. Standing tall leads to foot pain and foot deformities. Wearing high heels in one’s 20’s and 30’s is easy to bear, but this leads to various problems when one reaches 50 years and beyond. The common cause is the loss of fat in the sole of the foot, osteoporosis of bones, etc.
Our feet are designed to provide balance and strength during walking and running even over uneven surfaces. Wearing high heels alters the biomechanic of the lower limbs completely, preventing its normal functioning. Thus, wearing high heels for short periods may help the cause to some extent. The problems commonly confronted are: High heels can cause painful bunions — a long protusion/ hump at the ball of the big toe causing deformity wherein great toe moves towards other toes. High heels could lead to the formation of corns and calluses. These are thickened layers of dead skin due to the constant friction of shoes on the skin. Wearing high heels also leads to hammer toes wherein the affected toe curls under, leaving the top to rub against the shoes. Wearing high heels for prolonged periods leads to the shortage of the calf muscles causing calf pain and tendoachilles (pain at the back of the heel). High heels increase the risk of stress fractures and osteoarthoritis of the feet. The following measures can help protect the feet: Long/pencil heels could make one prone to lose balance. Falling off a high heel could cause serious injuries like ankle sprain and heel pain. Thick/ broad small heels help maintain stability. Towel curls — placing a small towel on the floor and curling it repeatedly using toes. Big toe pulls — placing a thick rubber band around both big toes and pull the big toes away from each other, holding for five seconds, repeating it 10 times. Marble pick-up — Place 20 marbles on the floor. Pick up one marble at a time and put it in a small bowl. This will help immensely. Conclusion: Experiencing constant pain in the foot/ leg muscles or noticing any deformity should alert the women wearing high heels constantly. Taking appropriate precautions and initiating early treatment can avoid life-long agony and pain. The writer is Director, Medical Services,
HPU, Panchkula.
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Antidepressants help fight HIV, cancer
London: Antidepressant drugs may help the immune system fight serious illness, research suggests. They enhance the activity of natural killer cells, key elements of the immune system, and could help the body combat infections such as HIV, and even cancer.
Natural killer (NK) cells are white blood cells which home in on infected or cancerous cells, releasing agents that induce apoptosis, or "cell suicide". NK cells are especially active against viruses. The research emerged from findings that stress and depression impair NK cell function and can accelerate the progress of HIV/ Aids. Scientists recruited depressed and non-depressed HIV-positive women and treated them with three drugs to treat stress and depression. Two, Citalopram and the "substance P antagonist" CP-96345 increased NK cell activity, while RU486 had no effect. The study leader, Dr Dwight Evans of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, said: "The findings show that natural killer cell function in HIV infection may be enhanced by selective serotonin re-uptake inhibition and substance P antagonism." The results are published in Biological Psychiatry.
—The Independent
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Respiratory disorders
Ageing causes many changes in the respiratory system. Pulmonary functions start declining after a certain period in young adults, and the major changes with ageing in lungs include decreased elastic recoil, stiffening of the chest wall and reduction in the respiratory muscle strength.
As age advances, there is some bending forward of the thorax at the spinal column and with lessened lung capacity and loss of the natural alveoli structure, residual volume increases. A little exertion makes an older person breathe at a higher rate per minute and he feels breathless. From the modern point of view, bacterial infection is the common cause of a number of chest diseases, but exposure to climatic changes, dust and food allergies also set a prelude to these problems. Whereas smoking tops the list of etiological factors of chronic bronchitis, emphysema and cancer in most of the elderly persons, lessened immunity and low vitality also make an old person to fall sick repeatedly. Alcoholism, malnutrition, diabetes, renal dialysis and treatment with immunosuppressive drugs are known to make such patients susceptible to tuberculosis. Though earliest manifestations in most of the lung diseases are the same, care must be taken in case there is severe breathlessness, fever or symptoms of hypoxia. The clinical picture of pneumonia in elderly is quite variable, but the most constant feature is an increase in the rate of respiration whereas older patients of asthma have a continuation of the disease acquired at a younger age. There are a number of herbal and herbomineral preparations which strengthen the respiratory system and also have curative effect. Mulethi, Kantkari, Pippali, Pushkarmool, Tulasi, Banafsha, Bansa and Somlata are some of the foremost herbs which are being used for centuries for mild or moderate respiratory problems. For expectorant and mucolytic action, classic ayurveda recommends herbal formulations like Shringyadi Churna, Talishadi Churna and the famous Sitopladi Churna to be taken with honey.
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Health Notes
Washington: Men are more likely than women to hit the bottle when they’re feeling upset. The finding is based on a study by researchers at Yale University of Medicine.
The study was conducted on 54 healthy adult social drinkers, 27 women and The researchers found that while women felt more sad and anxious when feeling negative, in men this was linked to increases in alcohol craving.
— ANI Scientists discover human
ageing gene in fruit flies Washington: Researchers from the University of Oxford and The Open University have found a gene in fruit flies that would give a fast and effective way to investigate important aspects of human ageing. Dr Lynne Cox and Dr Robert Saunders have discovered the human aging gene in fruit flies, which means the flies could now be used as a model to study the effects ageing has on DNA. “We study a premature human ageing disease called Werner syndrome to help us understand normal ageing. The key to this disease is that changes in a single gene (called WRN) mean that patients age very quickly,” said Dr Cox from the University of Oxford.
— ANI Understanding genetics
of schizophrenia London: American scientists have moved a step closer to unravelling how Working with mouse models at Columbia University Medical Center, the researchers discovered a previously unknown alteration in the production of microRNAs that may give rise to such deficits.
— ANI Nasal irrigation offers cheap way to fight allergies Washington: An American health expert suggests that nasal irrigation may be the best way to fight problems like allergies, nasal congestion, and stuffy noses. Dr Melissa Pynnonen, co-director of the Michigan Sinus Center and an assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s department of otolaryngology, has revealed that nasal irrigation involves rinsing the nose and nasal passages with a solution made specifically for the purpose.
— ANI
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Yes, it’s true that a few new-born babies can have one or two teeth. Sometimes, the teeth appear within a few days of birth. Generally, these teeth are located in the anterior region of the lower jaw. Medically, the teeth present at birth are called ‘natal teeth’ and those erupting a few days later to within a month of birth are known as ‘neonatal teeth’. The presence of neonatal teeth is more common than natal teeth.
Washington:
Men are more likely than women to hit the bottle when they’re feeling upset. The finding is based on a study by researchers at Yale University of Medicine.
