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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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If winter comes, can heart problems be far behind? Cataract
surgery: Now reduced dependence on glasses
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If winter comes, can heart problems be far behind? There is an increase of about 20 per cent incidence of cardiac arrests in winters. The incidence is higher in India as we do not live in artificially regulated temperatures. It is, therefore, imperative for people with heart ailments to take as much precaution as possible to prevent undue exposure to cold. Temperature often plummets to less than 5 degree Celsius in the peak winter months in North India. While the season affects everybody in the same way, increasing the amount of labour required by the heart, a person with a normal heart hardly feels the increased level of stress. The same can be dangerous for a person with a weak heart. Heart attacks usually occur in people with a build-up of fatty plaque in their arteries. For a heart attack to occur, some sudden event must cause the plaque to crack and rupture, at which point blood platelets get sticky and form a clot in the artery. In a study published in Circulation — the journal of the American Heart Association — researchers found that the rate of heart disease-related deaths rose sharply between December 25 and January 7. There is a combination of factors that increase heart attack risk in winter. When a person gets exposed to cold weather, the body’s automatic response is to narrow the blood vessels to the skin so that heat is retained. But for people who already have arteries filled with plaque, the narrowing of the blood vessels raises the risk that it will become blocked, triggering a heart attack. This has the effect of a double whammy — not only does the heart have to work harder but its blood supply is also reduced. In cold weather, blood platelets appear to be more active and stickier and, therefore, more likely to clot. In fact, even the levels of cholesterol rise during winter. People tend to eat and drink more, and gain more weight during the holiday season and winter months — all of which are hard on the heart pump. Less daylight: Drinking plenty of milk and basking in the sun may make a man less likely to have a heart attack. New research published in a recent issue of Archives of Internal Medicine links low levels of vitamin D — the “sunshine vitamin” — with a higher risk of heart attack in men. You can get vitamin D by drinking milk and eating foods fortified with the vitamin. But the body also makes vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. The typical Indian diet often does not provide enough vitamin D since few foods naturally contain the vitamin. Eating plenty of vitamin-D-fortified foods such as milk, cereals and certain brands of orange juice, and getting lots of sunshine are the key to maintaining adequate vitamin D levels. Some people may need to take vitamin D supplements, especially those over 50. Older adults have a higher risk for vitamin D deficiency because aging itself makes it harder for the body to make vitamin D and convert it to a useable form. The writer is Head,
Cardio-vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana.
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Cataract
surgery: Now reduced dependence on glasses MOST
people around the age of 40 years experience a decrease in their near
vision known as presbyopia. The other most common cause of hazy vision
is cataract or clouding of the natural lens of the eye. With age, the
transparent lens of the eye becomes opaque and hard and interferes
with normal light transmission into the eye. So far, cataract surgery was aimed at removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens which only corrected distance vision. Glasses were required for near and intermediate vision. This accommodating lens is unique in that it not only corrects the distance vision, but also provides better near and intermediate-range vision. The only FDA-approved accommodating lens, the Crystalens, is designed similar to the natural lens of the eye so that it can change focus to see clearly at near, intermediate and distance. This translates into reduced dependence on glasses for most routine activities. Reading a book, working on the computer, watching TV and driving a car can all be performed far more comfortably in people with Crystalens as compared to standard lenses. Caroline Andersen from Canada says she got a new lease of life after Crystalens implantation in both eyes. Since childhood, she had been uncomfortable with glasses and could never adapt to them. Now, at the age of 55, with reduced near vision due to presbyopia, life had become very difficult. “I found I couldn't cut vegetables or read the newspaper without glasses. And when someone came into the room, I couldn't identify that person. My doctor in Canada said only refractive surgery would help which would cost $ 8000 and later I’d need cataract surgery too. I couldn’t afford that, but when I came to India I discussed my eye problem with a friend and he recommended one of the best places offering the latest technology for all eye-related problems,” says Caroline. After the examination of Caroline, the doctor recommended Crystalens for her. This lens combines the advantage of refractive and cataract surgery. It not only replaces the cloudy lens with a clear lens, but using the natural eye muscles, it also flexes to focus on objects at all distances. With more than 100,000 Crystalens implanted the world over and a safety record of more than seven years, this lens is the best choice for patients looking to reduce their need for glasses. While multi-focal IOLs also help to provide vision for near and distance, they suffer from problems of glare and haloes and reduced contrast sensitivity. This is because they have multiple zones or rings which project multiple images to the brain which causes difficulty in adjusting to the different images. Crystalens working like a natural lens delivers a smooth, seamless transition from near, intermediate to far and provides vision quality like you had when you were younger. Caroline underwent cataract surgery with Crystalens implantation in a procedure which lasted just 10-15 minutes. She was so happy with the result that she opted to go in for her second eye surgery the very next day. A week later, she was thrilled with her clear, crisp vision and made travel plans to tour the country. A visibly excited Caroline said, “My world is so clear now after the Crystalens. I can do all the things I wanted to without reaching out for my glasses.” Crystalens is the latest innovation in the field of cataract surgery. It stands apart from other lenses because it can treat both the problem of cataract and presbyopia at the same time. The optic of the lens can change focus to see images so that you obtain a continuous range of vision, from near, intermediate to distance much better than what you obtain with a standard lens. Almost everyone will develop cataract sooner or later around the age of 50-60 years. Most people will also need glasses for near vision after 40 years. Crystalens offers the technology to tackle both problems. By accommodating like a natural lens, it delivers clearer vision at distance, intermediate and near range. The writer is Chairman and Medical Director, Centre for Sight, New Delhi. Email: drmahipal@gmail.com
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New non-surgical procedure smoothens wrinkles WASHINGTON: The Department of Dermatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is now offering a new non-invasive skin tightening procedure. The skin is tightened by the use of a device called Thermage. Marian Northington, assistant professor of dermatology at UAB and cosmetic expert, said: "Thermage emits radio waves that travel very deeply into the skin and the subcutaneous tissue to promote collagen remodelling and help tighten skin. “Thermage works well on patients who want a younger appearance and improved skin tone without relying on surgery, injections or chemical applications.”
— ANI
Doctors often fail to detect high BP in kids WASHINGTON:
A new study has revealed that doctors often fail to detect high blood pressure in kids with chronic kidney disease, thereby increasing a child's risk for serious heart problems. During the study, researchers recruited 198 children and compared blood pressure measurements obtained during regular doctor visits to readings obtained via a special device the children wore at home that automatically recorded their blood pressure every 20 minutes. They found that nearly 40 per cent had “masked” hypertension, meaning their blood pressure was normal at the doctor's office, but spiked outside of it. — ANI
Funeral industry workers at greater leukemia risk WASHINGTON: Funeral industry workers are at a greater risk of getting leukemia because they are exposed to formaldehyde for long durations, a new study has claimed. Formaldehyde is used for embalming in the funeral industry but researchers suggest the exposure to it can be dangerous. Researchers at the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., who conducted the study, reached the conclusion after investigating the relation of mortality to work practices and formaldehyde exposure levels among these professionals. — ANI
New variety of carrots
boost vision LONDON: Farmers have grown a novel form of carrots that are 40 per cent richer in antioxidants and can boost vision compared to normal varieties. The superfood, which is set to hit the market next week, is 40 per cent rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant the body converts into vitamin A and boosts health. It has been found to improve vision in dim light, strengthen body's immunity to infections such as winter colds and flu, and helps maintain healthy skin. The new Super-A carrots that are intensely orange with a sweet taste were developed by growers in Shropshire.
— ANI
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WITH mercury set to go down making “weak hearts” even more vulnerable to disorder, it is time for cardiac patients to take some simple common-sense preventive measures to safeguard their hearts. We know that there are certain risk factors for coronary artery disease. These are obviously smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), diabetes, lack of exercise, and age. But we’re also learning that there are certain triggers for cardiovascular events including the time of the year and seasons.