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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Minimally invasive surgery to treat varicose veins
Osteoarthritis: your own blood can help in treatment
Tips to avoid snoring
Walking 6 miles a week boosts the brain
Health Notes
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Minimally invasive surgery to treat varicose veins
Everybody desires a soft and velvety complexion. Varicose veins damage the skin beauty radically. Enlarged, horribly convoluted, distended and twisted superficial veins in the leg — called varicose veins — are both a medical and cosmetic problem. Varicose veins are those veins that have become stretched, dilated and twisted. They give the appearance of a bunch of earthworms or blue spiders under the skin. Up to 25 per cent of women and 15 per cent of men suffer from varicose veins . They can create a dreadful time for women who are embarrassed to wear shorts or short skirts due to unsightly, twisted and swollen varicose veins.
Veins throughout our body return blood back to our heart. In the legs the veins are carrying blood against the force of gravity. To do this efficiently, veins have one-way valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards. If the valves fail to close properly, blood can leak through the valves and pool in the veins. This becomes a self-perpetuating vicious cycle as the dilated veins further disable the valves, leading to more dilatation. Varicose veins are most common in the superficial veins of the legs, which are subject to high pressure when standing. The causes The exact causes for varicose veins are not known. The factors that may lead to their development include the following: l
Weak vein walls The diagnosis is done by a thorough clinical examination and a duplex ultrasound test ( a painless test using doppler). Treatment About a third of patients presenting with varicose veins will require only reassurance, change of lifestyle and the use of medical grade compression stockings (tighter at the ankle than the thigh) - this is my initial line of therapy in all patients. Patients with more advanced and resistant forms require a surgical procedure . The older technique for treating varicose veins involved manually pulling out the saphenous vein with surgical cuts in the leg and the thigh. Patients suffered a lengthy and painful recovery period and had permanent scars. The newer Endovenous Minimally Invasive VNUS Closure Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) procedure deliver radiofrequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to collapse and seal shut. Patients see the results right away and the recovery is much shorter - the procedure is done without general anaesthesia, the patient goes home the same day and is back to work the next day if he/she wants to. Ways to help prevent varicose veins from forming: 1. Don’t cross your legs for prolonged periods when sitting. 2. Exercise regularly. Walking is a good choice. It improves leg and vein strength. 3. Keep your weight normal 4. Avoid standing for prolonged periods. If your job or hobby requires you to stand, shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. 5. Wear elastic medical grade support stockings. 6. Don’t wear clothing or undergarments that are tight or constrict your waist, groin or legs. 7. Eat high-fiber foods, wholegrain breads, fresh fruits and vegetables to promote regularity. Constipation contributes to varicose veins. 8. Elevate your legs when resting. 9. Stop and take short walks at least every 45 minutes when taking long car rides. There is an urgent need to spread awareness about varicose veins in India. Many people suffer from it, but most tend to ignore it till the problem gets complicated . The writer is Head, Cardio-Vascular & Thoracic Surgery, CMC, Ludhiana. Email: drhsbedicmc@gmail.com |
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Osteoarthritis: your own blood can help in treatment
One of the most successfully treated degenerative diseases of the body is osteoarthritis, especially of the knee (more prevalent in India) and of the hip (more common in the western world). There are many reasons for this, mainly the success of joint replacement. Replacing the joint is all very good, but the issue is trying to prevent the joint from wearing out so much that it needs replacement. There are patients who are still in the early stages of degeneration, in whom joint replacement is a distant option in the future, or it can be prevented. There are some who have associated medical diseases that preclude them from undergoing surgery; many have financial constraints while some have social taboos. What can be done for this subgroup?
Vissco-supplementation, which consists of synthetic “grease”, can be injected into the joints, either as one injection or a set of three injections. This is widely used for a specific subgroup, and has the advantage of not only reducing friction inside the joints, but also provides some essential components of the normal joint fluid. I have been using this since 2001 with fairly good results, but only in well-selected patients. The knees that are severely worn out do NOT benefit from this injection, and these patients should not get a false sense of hope. There is a new type of injection -Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). PRP is derived from your own blood, after taking a sample from a vein. At the PGI in Chandigarh we use specialised protocols to concentrate the blood by centrifugation and filtering, so that only your platelets are left behind. These platelets are rich in growth factors and other normal constituents, that are excellent for promoting body tissue repair. While not exactly stem cell therapy, this works on the principle of supplying large quantities of stimulants for regeneration into areas where there is wear and tear, thus stimulating healing by the natural way. This procedure has been used internationally in sportspersons after injuries of tendons with very good outcomes. I have been using blood products for tendon overuse injuries in sportspersons since my days in Sri Lanka. The idea to use this inside worn-out knees came from a study from Spain, where it was used in cases of early osteoarthritis with fairly decent outcomes in the short term. We started this work at the PGI last year, and have now more than a 100 cases that have been injected, with good short-term outcomes. The first US study (of 14 cases only!) of PRP in knee osteoarthritis appeared in the December 2010 issue of American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, showing a positive report after one year. Once used primarily for famous athletes, PRP is now making its way into the mainstream management of orthopaedic diseases! So, what is the downside? One, it is not confirmed in these knees whether actual repair will happen, as not enough long-term follow-up is available, nor have these knees been operated upon. Two, some cost is involved (around Rs 2000), which, however, is minimal as compared to other more expensive therapies. Nevertheless, the advantage is that there are no allergic reactions, as seen when synthetic drugs are injected, since this injection is from your own blood. And even if there is no significant long-term gain, we have an adequate number of patients who say that short-term pain relief is enough for them to consider a second injection in the future. So, for once, the Indian usage of a new therapy is abreast, if not ahead of, international centres of repute. The writer is Head, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, PGI, Chandigarh. Email:
drdhillon@gmail.com |
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London: The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association has provided tips to cure snoring problems. It recommends working out whether snoring comes from the nose or throat, reports The Daily Express. If you can make a snoring noise with your mouth open and closed, try this: stick your tongue out as far as it will go and grip it between your teeth. Try to make a snoring noise. If it is reduced, you are probably a “tongue-base snorer”, meaning your tongue is vibrating and causing the problem. If you are a “nose snorer” you snore with a closed mouth, it says. The Association lists their solutions as follows:
Sleep
on your side The theory is that when we lie on our backs the tongue and muscles in the throat collapse, constricting the airway and causing snoring. Higher pillows This aims to keep the airways open by supporting the neck so the throat is less constricted. It works fairly well until you fall asleep and slump down in the bed. Breathe Right Nasal Strips These are supposed to open your nostrils from the outside and they certainly do seem to do this. They can also provide temporary relief from nasal congestion and stuffiness caused by colds and allergies. Snoreeze Oral Strips These dissolving mint-flavoured strips target the main cause of snoring and are ideal if you tend to snore more when lying on your back. They contain a time-release formula, which coats the back of the throat throughout the night and reduces the vibrations of the soft tissues, helping to stop snoring. Snoreeze Throat Spray This lubricates and tones the soft tissues at the back of the throat that vibrate and make you snore. Nozovent This is a piece of flexible plastic which you push into your nostrils to make them wider and allow easier breathing. It looks like something from the Spanish Inquisition but users report good results. SomnoGuard This is a bit like the gumshield worn by a rugby player, but it is reported to produce good results. The idea is to bring your lower jaw and tongue forward, making more space for breathing. The drawback is that it takes sometime to get used to and is costly. Rhynil Herbal Spray The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association says its herbal nasal spray shrinks the lining of the nostril, creating more space to breathe. It also tightens the tissue of the roof of the mouth, making it less likely to vibrate. It smells pleasant and a friend who tried it said it reduced snoring significantly. Abstinence You should cut down on cigarettes or, better still, give up completely. Also, try to have your last alcoholic drink at least four hours before you go to bed.
— ANI
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Walking 6 miles a week boosts the brain
LONDON: Healthy people who walk at least six miles a week have bigger brains, better memories and improved mental function compared with couch potatoes, a study has found.
Among older people showing signs of forgetfulness, walking even five miles a week – a daily 20-minute trip to the shops – slowed the progression of their condition. The findings suggest that walking is the best way of preserving both mental and physical health in old age. Research has shown that it is an ideal form of exercise for maintaining physical fitness and warding off heart disease. Now scientists have found that it can maintain mental fitness and ward off Alzheimer’s disease as well. A 10-year study of more than 400 elderly people found that greater amounts of physical activity were associated with greater brain volume. Dr Cyrus Raji of the Department of Radiology, Pittsburgh University, who led the study, said: “Volume is a vital sign for the brain. When it decreases that means brain cells are dying. But when it remains higher brain health is being maintained.We found that walking five miles a week protects the brain structure over 10 years in people with Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment.” Healthy adults needed to walk at least six miles a week to maintain brain volume and reduce their risk of mental decline.
— The Independent
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Health Notes
London: Women in the UK have been urged to quit smoking after new research revealed that lung cancer rates are rising among the female population but declining among men. The trend has alarmed doctors who are calling on the NHS to do more to warn women of the dangers of taking up the habit, reports The Observer. Alexander Ives and Julia Verne of the NHS’s South West Public Health Observatory used data from the UK Association of Cancer Registries to identify women in England diagnosed with the disease between 1985 and 2006.
— ANI Moderate exercise can delay the onset of osteoarthritis
Washington: A new study has shown that simple changes in physical activity can delay the onset of osteoarthritis. “According to the results of our study, participating in a high-impact activity such as running for more than one hour per day at least three times a week appears associated with more degenerated cartilage and potentially a higher risk for development of osteoarthritis,” said Thomas M. Link at the University of California, San Francisco. “On the other hand, engaging in light exercise and refraining from frequent knee-bending activities may protect against the onset of the disease,” he added. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness. MRI exams revealed that light exercisers had the healthiest knee cartilage among all exercise levels, and patients with minimal strength training had healthier cartilage than patients with either no strength training or frequent strength training.
— ANI Obese kids show signs of heart disease aged just 15
London: A new study has shown that kids who have a high body mass index (BMI) between 9 and 12 years of age are more likely to have high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood insulin levels (all risk factors for developing heart disease) by the time they reach adolescence. A total of 5,235 children took part in the study, led by Professor Debbie Lawlor from the University of Bristol. The children were part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), which has tracked the health of more than 14,000 children since birth. The researchers assessed the children’s BMI, waist circumference, and fat mass between the ages of 9 to 12. When the children reached adolescence (15 -16 years of age) their blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels were tested. Positive results in these tests are risk factors for heart disease.
— ANI
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Everybody desires a soft and velvety complexion. Varicose veins damage the skin beauty radically. Enlarged, horribly convoluted, distended and twisted superficial veins in the leg — called varicose veins — are both a medical and cosmetic problem. Varicose veins are those veins that have become stretched, dilated and twisted. They give the appearance of a bunch of earthworms or blue spiders under the skin.
