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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Should asthmatics
take to sports? Why back pain in
pregnancy EYESIGHT
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Should asthmatics take to sports? One of the most common questions asked by an individual suffering from asthma is whether he/she can play sports. This is particularly an important concern among sports persons. Parents of asthmatic children are constantly worried about exercise leading to asthma worsening. To a great extent, it is true that exercise, especially when intense, is likely to precipitate symptoms of asthma and sometimes an acute attack. “Exercise-induced asthma” is a well-established diagnosis made in the presence of asthmatic symptoms in relation to exercise. Factually speaking, all asthmatics have some component of exercise-induced symptoms of variable degrees. How the exercise induces asthma is not precisely understood. The two more probable theories are related to the cooling and drying of mucosa of airways resulting from an increased amount of air which goes into the lungs after exercise. Both these effects cause narrowing of the airways through mucosal edema and muscle contraction. The end result is an increase in the obstruction to airflow, causing symptoms of asthma such as breathlessness, cough, wheezing and heaviness of the chest. This poses an immediate limitation on the continuation of exercise. In most cases, the symptoms of asthma may actually happen within minutes after the cessation of an exercise. For a routine understanding of the issues related to handle the exercise-induced asthma, one can separate out the group of patients who develop symptoms on routine physical activities such as playing, running around and exercising from those who take part in intense, competitive sports. While the mechanisms of symptomatic worsening and of control of symptoms are the same, the issues related to management are somewhat different. The vast majority of cases pertain to the first group of patients; for example, the asthmatic children and young adults around us, in almost every home. They must not restrict their physical activities because of asthma. Exercise is essential for the overall physical and mental development. The patients need to understand this basic fact. What is important is to control asthma with adequate, effective and regular medication for maintenance treatment, usually with anti-inflammatory agents such as the inhaled corticosteroids. Most individuals, who take adequate drugs and practice other measures as prescribed by their treating physician, can and should continue with their exercise and games. The sports persons and players who take part in competitive sports similarly need to control their asthma with a continued treatment plan. An important issue for the sports persons is related to the regulations regarding the use of asthma drugs such as the corticosteroids and the bronchodilators, particularly the stimulatory, adrenergic (beta-agonists) drugs. Use of both these groups of drugs has remained disputable in view of their potential of enhancing physical performance, giving an edge to the competitor who uses the drugs. The issue keeps on cropping up every now and then for the International Olympic Association and other regulatory bodies to consider and lay down appropriate laws and regulations. Changes are incorporated every time the issue raises its head. The regulations must be seen and carefully followed by the participants and the sponsoring agencies/governments. An asthmatic must seek permission for the use of asthma drugs by applying either electronically on the website or by filling in the written forms. But it is always important to resolve the issue before than after participation. The answer to the basic question is clear: an asthmatic should (or must) play sports. But he/she must keep his/her asthma effectively controlled with regular treatment. The writer is Professor and Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI,
Chandigarh
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Why back pain in pregnancy Eighty per cent of the pregnant women suffer from some form of back pain. The causes could be a poor posture and day -to -day work techniques (vis-à-vis lifting things) to extra weight carried around by the body. After delivery in a few cases, it might take several months for the pain to disappear completely. This is also possibly due to the fact that it takes around eight weeks after childbirth for the abdominal muscles to effectively stabilise the pelvis and protect the spine. Backache could start as early as the first trimester (first three months) when the hormones soften ligaments, causing joints to be more mobile than usual. Poor posture caused by waddling gait due to growing uterus. The position of the baby particularly towards the end stages (last trimester) can compress nerves causing pain. A small percentage of pregnant women are inflicted by sciatica. This could be present in association with or without backache. Sciatica is a condition where pain is referred down to the leg. Treatment
Massage of the lower back often relieves pain of tired, aching muscles while leaning forward over the back of a chair or lying on the side. Hot fomentation alleviates pain and back stiffness. Manipulation/ mobilisation immediately relieves back pain in most cases. Lumbar support belt- facilities taking some of the baby’s weight off the abdominal and back muscles. Lying on a side with a pillow placed under the abdomen and between the knees also helps reduce back pain. Exercises
It is a misconception that exercises during pregnancy cause problems. The truth is that exercises done correctly remarkably reduce the backache associated with pregnancy. Strengthening of the abdominal and pelvic muscles helps in an easy delivery of the child and avoid strain of the pregnancy on the lower back. The exercises during pregnancy vary with the month of pregnancy. Walking is a great exercise - daily walk of 20 to 30 minutes can help protect the lower spine. Gentle exercises such as swimming and yoga can be safely undertaken. Pelvic floor exercises reduce the stress/strains of pregnancy on the back. These exercises can be done anywhere, anytime and in any position — lying down, sitting or standing. Tighten and then release the muscles around vagina as if trying to stop the flow of urine. Similarly tighten up the back passage as if trying to prevent bowel movement. Tighten the muscles for a count of six and relax for a count of four. Get down onto the hands and the knees with a straight back. Breathing in, pull the belly in and up for a count of 10 without moving the back. Repeat this 10 times. Precautions
The writer runs a pain management clinic in Chandigarh. Email: chadha_r2003@ yahoo.co.in
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EYESIGHT Diwali is a festival of lights and brightness and we would want you to keep your eyes safe and healthy so that you may enjoy it to the fullest. We all celebrate this day by lighting candles and diyas, greeting friends and relatives with sweets and playing with fire-crackers. Sadly, this festival is also associated with grievous eye injuries and we find many people damaging their eyes and even losing their sight on this auspicious day. Fire crackers should be preferably lit together in a community gathering. This not only increases the fun and celebration but also ensures that children don’t inadvertently hurt themselves while lighting them alone. Here are a few guidelines so that your Diwali may be accident-free:
Eye injuries during Diwali vary from superficial abrasions to severe cuts and lacerations, globe injuries and chemical and thermal burns. The person may experience pain, redness, swelling, irritation, burning sensation, inability to open the eye and loss of vision. The most common agents causing eye damage are fire-crackers, especially “anaars” and “havai”, and bow and arrows. The maximum damage is caused when crackers are lit beneath tins and bottles to cause maximum noise, but they can inflict extensive injuries on people standing around and should be strictly prohibited. The glass and stone particles travel with high velocity and can penetrate deep into the eye, leading to perforating injuries with retained intra-ocular foreign body which can cause total melting and necrosis of the eye. The flying hot carbon and lead particles from the fire-crackers can damage the cornea, the skin and the soft tissue of the adjoining face and the neck. Thorough washing with tap water of the thermal burn should be the primary first-aid and the patient should be rushed to the nearest doctor at the earliest. In case an eye injury occurs, here are a few first-aid measures to minimise further damage:
Remember that eyes are the most beautiful gift from God to us, and taking care of them is our responsibility. Please consult an eye doctor in case of any damage to your eyes. Wishing you a very happy Diwali. Stay safe. The writer is Chairman and Medical Director, Centre For Sight, New Delhi. Email:
msachdev@bol.net.in
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Fat mums more likely to have chubby babies One study has revealed that one in three Aussie babies are at an increased risk of becoming overweight because their mothers are obese, with researchers believing that the brain’s appetite controls can be set in early life. “Maternal obesity and overfeeding early on in life caused significant changes in the chemicals that regulate appetite, which may suggest that the babies were programmed to eat differently from those born from lean mothers,” The Daily Telegraph quoted lead author Professor Margaret Morris as saying.
— ANI Drug promises to reduce
chronic pain Washington: A new study has revealed that the drug Pregabalin can significantly reduce the incidence of chronic pain before and after total knee replacement surgery, and increase and expedite after-surgey mobility among patients. “While TKR is an effective surgical treatment one of the complications is chronic pain, a debilitating condition that can lead to a substantial reduction in quality of life with few effective treatment options,” said Dr Asokumar Buvanendran, associate professor of anaesthesiology and director of orthopaedic anaesthesia at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois. “Searching for ways to improve the patient surgical experience, we evaluated Pregabalin for effectiveness not as a treatment for chronic pain, but as a preventative of chronic neuropathic pain after surgery,” the researcher added.
— ANI Folic acid-rich diet ‘boosts’ men’s fertility Melbourne:
Just like women, men too should take diet rich in folic acid and other vitamins if they’re trying for a baby. That’s the message of a fertility specialist. What’s more, men should stop smoking, reduce coffee and alcohol intake if they are planning for a child. A study of almost 800 men who presented to a Sydney-assisted reproduction unit found a “staggering” 59 per cent had nutritional deficiencies, including lower than normal levels of folate or vitamin D. Clark, Fertility First medical director, said a similar number of the would-be fathers had high levels of damaged sperm, a key factor in infertility normally associated with infection, advanced paternal age or smoking.
— ANI Brain’s fatty acid could help treat Alzheimer’s London:
A new study has suggested that controlling the level of a fatty acid in the brain could help treat Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) and the University of California found that complete or partial removal of an enzyme that regulates fatty acid levels improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). “Several different proteins have been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease but we wanted to know more about the potential involvement of lipids and fatty acids,” Nature quoted Lennart Mucke, GIND director and senior author of the study, as saying.
— ANI |
Melbourne: Overweight mums are more likely to have plump babies, setting them a lifetime risk of diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses, studies have shown.