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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Cancer: the warning signals
Pain — listen to your body and act immediately
How dentistry can improve your smile
Beware of chronic cough, breathlessness
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Cancer: the warning signals Cancer is spreading like wild fire. In affluent countries, after heart diseases, it is the second biggest killer. Even in developing countries like India, its incidence is increasing everyday. It is estimated that in our country 10 lakh patients of cancer are seen every year. Symptoms are feelings or problems experienced by the patient. This can be an indication of a disease that may bring the patient to a doctor. Pain, shortness of breath, cough, palpitation and bleeding are some of the possible symptoms. These may be felt or experienced only by the person having the problem. Signs are indications or findings which are observed by the doctor or the nurse in a patient during a clinical examination. Abnormal heart or breath sounds, an enlarged liver or an abnormal swelling in any part of the body are examples of signs. Cancer in any part of the body might give rise to symptoms or signs which are not specific to cancer only, but may be due to a number of benign or non-cancerous diseases. Any long-standing symptom, especially in the elderly, should be brought to the notice of a doctor because of the higher possibility of a sinister cause. Chances are that the symptoms may not be due to cancer, but as correctly said, “Ten false alarms are better than one delayed diagnosis”. The UICC, an organisation of WHO dedicated to cancer, has listed the following warning signals for the detection of cancer: Change in bowel or bladder habits. This may include a feeling of constipation or diarrhoea in comparison to the past normal habit of bowel evacuation. This may be an early indication of cancer of the large intestine. Similarly, a change in the habit of urination in the form of frequency, thinning of the urine stream, retention of urine and bleeding along with urination may be an early sign of cancer of the urinary system. A sore that does not heal A sore or wound anywhere in the body which refuses to heal in two weeks time in spite of treatment should warn a person that the sore may not be a simple one. Unusual bleeding or discharge from any source Bleeding along with stool or urine, with vomitus or cough, from genitalia, is a good reason for a complete and thorough medical check-up to find out the exact cause of bleeding. It should be kept in mind that the amount of bleeding or the frequency of bleeding cannot decide whether the bleeding is or is not because of cancer. Thickening or swelling in breast or anywhere else in the body The appearance of a new swelling or thickening in any part of the body, especially in the female breast, or discharge from the nipple or change in the shape of the nipple, call for a consultation with a specialist. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing Indigestion, pain or uneasiness in the upper part of the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting without any known reason or difficulty in swallowing are the early signals that may show the possible presence of cancer. Obvious change In wart or mole Each one of us have got a wart or a mole somewhere on our body but if any of these shows an apparent change from its earlier shape, colour or size in the manner that it becomes rough, starts growing in size or starts bleeding, then consult a specialist to rule out the possibility of cancerous change. Nagging cough or hoarseness of voice Cough, which lingers on for a long time in spite of adequate treatment, should be thoroughly looked into to rule out the cause for alarm. Similarly, hoarseness of voice lasting for more than two weeks should be looked into
carefully. It should be clearly understood that none of the above-mentioned warning signs in itself confirms the diagnosis of cancer in any part of the body. It merely warns the person concerned that if the signal persists for more than two weeks in spite of proper treatment, then he or she should consult a specialist for clearing the doubt of possible cancer. Such an awareness, both on the part of the patient and the treating doctor, can make it possible to diagnose the disease in its early stage when one can hope to have significant relief. The bottom line is to suspect the problem, go to a specialist and get yourself examined and investigated to establish the correct diagnosis. The writer, a former Senior Professor & Head of Surgery, PGI, Chandigarh, has authored books on
cancer.
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Pain — listen to your body and act immediately Pain is an extremely common symptom experienced during the occurrence of varied problems involving different parts of the body. Addressing this common symptom at an early stage prevents many chronic problems and even surgery in certain cases. The site of pain may not necessarily be the site of the origin of pain. Pain could be radiated vis-a-vis neck pain being radiated to the arm. Pain is perceived via pain-sensitive nerve-endings present throughout the body. Severe the injury, greater the number of affected, nerve-endings resulting in the severity of pain. Pain could originate from the joints, muscle or neural structures. Lower back pain may be due to the occurrence of a tear on the outer part of the disc. In response to pain, muscle spasm ensues. Treatment avoided at this stage may result in fibrosis in the muscles leading to further stimulation of nerve-endings, causing chronic pain. A patient consulting a doctor at this stage usually perceives pain from the vertebral joints, lumbar spine and muscles. Individuals suffering from the following symptoms should seek early consultation so that treatment can be initiated at the earliest: Shoulder inability to comb hair, scratch the back. Inability to raise arms above shoulder height. Pain when sleeping on the affected side. Neck pain radiating to the arm. Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms. Symptoms of headache, nausea, dizziness. Pain with a history of no apparent injury, which doesn’t go away beyond 10 days. Lower back pain radiating to the buttocks, groin and thigh. Pain experienced while sitting, getting up as compared to when lying down. Pain on getting up in the morning. Knee pain after prolonged sitting. Pain while climbing up and down. Instability, feeling of giving away. Snap or pop feeling. Swelling leading to the restriction of movement. Hip pain discomfort/stiffness in the groin, buttocks or thighs, particularly on waking up. Pain aggravates during any physical activity and is alleviated during rest. Feeling of instability or limping. Ankle pain or soreness while climbing up or down. Recurrent swelling Loosening of ankle or giving away. Foot pain tilting of the greater toe towards other toes. Bony lump on toe. Flat feet, lock knees/ bow leg Corns, calluses, etc. Heel pain while getting up in the morning or after prolonged sitting. Every individual should listen to his body for pain/ discomfort and start treatment at the earliest to prevent any chronic debilitating disease/ deformity. The writer runs a pain management clinic in Chandigarh. Email: Chadha_r2003@yahoo.co.in
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How dentistry can improve your smile Your facial appearance, to a very large extent, influences your overall personality. And teeth contribute the maximum to your looks. Anything that affects the normal structure and the architecture of teeth - cracks, fractures, missing teeth, discoloration, irregular or misplaced teeth or variations in size and shape — impinge on your looks. Cracks, fractures and/or broken bits of teeth are a part of growing up. These days, with the invention of composite filling materials, lost parts of tooth/teeth can be cosmetically repaired to give back the original appearance. It is recommended that the broken part/s of the tooth should be collected and preserved in plain water to prevent dehydration. The original broken part helps restore the tooth to its exact anatomy. If the fracture line is deep, it may involve the nerves located inside the centre of the tooth. In that case “root canal treatment” is also undertaken along with rebuilding the lost part of the tooth. Even if the whole of the crown portion is lost and only the root of the tooth remains, many a times it can also be built back with pillar support from the root canal. Discoloration/ staining of teeth may develop due to smoking or a hidden dental cavity (caries) in the tooth. A tooth can also turn black following trauma. Yellow teeth are the result of medication of mother with tetracycline during pregnancy or because of excessive fluoride in the drinking water. The teeth also naturally go dark with age. Stained/discoloured teeth can be bleached to normal shade. In case the discoloration is due to the presence of a cavity, removal of caries and filling with composite material would solve the problem. If the teeth have pits, these defects can be covered with the help of the composite filling materials. If you may have conical front tooth or teeth with any other bizarre shapes, these can be built back to normal shape. Even a corner tooth (or canine) can be made to look like an incisor in case the original tooth is missing by birth. In that case, the tooth immediately behind can be remolded to look like a canine. Similarly, if you have space between the front teeth, and these gaps cannot be closed with the help of orthodontic treatment, the space can be concealed by applying composite material. The most appropriate method to correct irregularly placed teeth is by orthodontic treatment. However, a few cases can be corrected with the help of cosmetic dental build-ups. The orthodontic option should be seriously considered before undergoing any cosmetic treatment. When to seek the cosmetic dental treatment? You need this treatment in the following situations: When the appearance of the teeth affects your confidence. When others start pointing to faults in the shape of your front teeth. If your profession demands it ,i.e., you are a model and perfect close-ups are considered necessary. When the shape and the contours of the tooth affects the gum supporting the tooth. When you get upset about the structure or alignment of your teeth, and the thought crosses your mind many times a day. The writer, Head of the Dental Department, The Apollo Clinic, Chandigarh, is a former Head, Oral Health Sciences Centre PGI, Chandigarh. Email: chawlahs@gmail.com
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Beware of chronic cough, breathlessness COPD is somewhat unfamiliar for most people. It is even more enigmatic to know that the problem is of such an importance that it has attracted worldwide attention with the World Health Organization declaring November 19 as COPD Day. COPD is the abbreviated version of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which is commonly understood as “dama” (or asthma) by the lay. But in medical parlance, being relentlessly progressive and largely incurable, COPD is distinct from asthma. Asthma is primarily an allergic problem of children and young adults, is fairly well controlled with treatment and does not necessarily progress. On the other hand, COPD is commonly a disease of chronic smokers of middle and older age groups. It is largely because of the huge and enormous burden on economic infrastructure and other health care indices that COPD has become a matter of global concern. COPD is prevalent in over 4 per cent of adults of over 30 years of age in India. According to rough estimates, this will account for about 20 million adult patients in a population of one billion individuals in India. In another study, we found that a COPD patient spent about one-third of his income on the management of his illness. This is obviously a huge fiscal burden. A COPD patient starts with chronic cough and breathlessness, which are initially missed as ordinary smoker’s symptoms. Gradually, the symptoms progress to severe breathlessness and marked respiratory debility. A severe COPD patient is generally unable to perform even his mild and routine activities such as changing the clothes or getting out of bed. The degree of respiratory crippling with which one suffers underlines the irreversibility of the illness. Respiratory failure, other complications and death may soon ensue as the disease progresses. Tobacco smoking is the single most important cause of COPD. Prolonged and chronic exposure to air pollution both indoors and outdoor is the other important cause. Therefore, the avoidance of smoking and exposure to air pollution constitute the mainstay of prevention and treatment plans. Prevention of COPD is possible to a great extent with stress on avoiding or quitting smoking. Yet, the disease cannot be completely eradicated. A good management strategy needs in place for patients with established disease. Tobacco cessation and COPD rehabilitation plans are most helpful to prolong the overall survival and the quality of life, Drugs, in fact, play a secondary role in COPD management. Maintenance drugs mostly in form of inhalers are helpful for symptoms relief. Regular inhalation treatment is also reported to provide some improvement of lung function. Drugs are also required to manage the acute episodes of worsening of COPD. Rehabilitation programme for COPD includes the patient education on disease management and tobacco cessation. Regular respiratory and other physical exercises, nutritional therapy, psychological and vocational counselling as well as the preventive vaccinations and long-term, domiciliary oxygen supplementation are the important components of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. Undoubtedly, a patient can look to a better future and prolonged life of quality with an appropriate COPD plan. The writer is Professor & Head Department of Pulmonary Medicne, PGI,
Chandigarh.
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Why sharp memory remains intact in some elderly people
Lead researcher Changiz Geula, a research professor of neurology, calls such elderly people with laser sharp memory “super aged”. He has revealed that the fibre-like tangles they observed consist of a protein called tau, which accumulates inside brain cells and is thought to eventually kill the cells. He points out that such tangles are found in moderate numbers in the brains of the elderly, and increase substantially in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. — ANI
Hypertension found to develop early in African-American men
Washington: Scientists have found evidence that African-American men are developing hypertension early, and that too without any significant signs. University of Illinois researchers have found that young and healthy African-American men have higher central blood pressure, and their blood vessels are stiffer compared to their white counterparts. The researchers say that this finding is indicative of early hypertension among Afro-Americans. In a study, the researchers found that central blood pressure (the pressure in the aorta, near the heart) was higher in the African-American men, but no difference was seen in brachial blood pressure (measured on the arm) between the two groups.— ANI
Psycho-interventions may help breast cancer patients
Washington: A new study has revealed that psychological intervention programmes can improve breast cancer patients’ quality of life, and significantly increase survival rates. Dr Barbara L. Andersen, who led the study at The Ohio State University, said that breast cancer patients who participated in intervention sessions focusing on improving mood, coping effectively, and altering health behaviours lived longer than those who did not receive the interventions. Cancer patients undergo a significant amount of stress before, during, and after treatment, and receiving a psychological intervention could reduce the negative effects of stress and ultimately change the course of a patient’s disease. — ANI
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Cancer, when it invades the body, produces some responses which had not been there earlier, and which a patient with keen observation feels and observes. These are warning signals of cancer, the presence of which should lead a person to his doctor for a thorough medical examination and for investigations if deemed necessary.
Milk teeth start emerging from about six months of age. Apart from being an important milestone in the development of the child, milk teeth add beauty to the face. Permanent teeth start making their appearance when the child is about six years of age. 
WashingtoN: Researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine have found in a study that the brain of the elderly people who have not suffered any memory loss contain many fewer fibre-like tangles as compared to the brains of those who had aged normally.