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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Double vision may be serious problem Beware of spots on your skin Lumbar spondylosis: useful tips
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Double vision may be serious problem Verma, 60, retired from a bank this month-end and thanked his stars that he was able to complete his tenure despite several health problems. While he indulged in boozing and hogging as a feeling of redemption, his wife nagged as usual, warning of health consequences. One of the first resolutions he made that evening, before slipping in the bed, was to send her to “mayke” to enjoy freedom of retired life! But when he got up in the morning he was doubly shocked to see two wives standing on his bed-side, instead of one. He had heard of double vision and its underlying causes from his doctor-friend — brain tumour, stroke, aneurysm, migraine, trauma and raised blood pressure, parasite in the brain and so on — all that flashed in his mind. He jumped out of the bed in panic and started moving like a pendulum. Mrs Verma rang up her family doctor and told him, “my husband has developed double vision, what should we do?” “He is a diabetic and hypertensive and sometimes he indulges in binge drinking also”, she added. Even this could be a cause, bring him right away for check-ups and investigations”, suggested the doctor.
Causes of double vision or diplopia
No doubt, simple problems in the eye can cause diplopia — opacity in the cornea or lens, dry eye, squint or muscle weakness, injury to nerves in the eye or to the brain or ailments like multiple sclerosis or diabetes or binge drinking or drug abuse. It can also be a side-effect of the anti-epileptic drugs Phenytoin and Zonisamide, and the anti-convulsant drug Lamotrigine, as well as the hypnotic drug Zolpidem and the dissociative drugs Ketamine and Dextromethorphan. Temporary diplopia can also be caused by tired and/or strained eye muscles. But serious causes like brain tumour can also manifest as double vision besides other symptoms like headache, vomiting, giddiness or loss of eyesight. Conditions that can cause binocular double vision:
Head injury and double vision
If you’ve suffered any kind of injury to the head that has resulted in changes in vision, getting prompt treatment is critical. “Patients who have even subtle changes in their vision — such as fluctuation in their vision, double vision, sensitivity to light, moving of words on a page or difficulty in focusing at near and distant objects — need to be examined at once. Head injuries also have the potential to cause increased pressure within the skull. This in turn puts pressure on your optic nerves, which carry messages from the eyes to the brain. This pressure can “choke” the optic nerves, cutting off blood circulation. Initially double vision can be an important symptom.
What to do?
Double vision cannot be ignored. Consult your eye doctor and on his advice other physicians like diabetologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist or a neurologist. Besides a comprehensive examination, a battery of investigations may not be out of place to rule out several local and systemic ailments as mentioned above. The writer is a Chandigarh-based eye specialist and author of medical books. |
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Beware of spots on your skin Any alteration in skin tone and texture can spoil the healthy skin. Some of the marks may be present at birth but others appear with age. Birthmarks: These are marks of varying hues that can be present on the skin at birth or appear shortly later. Although the exact cause for their appearance is still being researched, their appearances seem to be due to irregularity in the smaller blood vessels of the skin. These marks can appear as early as the first month of life within the uterus. Treatment options for such marks have been very limited in the past, but have seen much development and improvement since the discovery of lasers. Moles: Moles are supposed to form when the skin’s melanin pigment undergoes coagulation. Moles are not a serious cause for worry medically unless they undergo rapid changes that are abnormal for that particular skin area. Lasers can be used to treat moles, but these moles will need to be assessed in a biopsy to determine their nature. Age spots: These are darker and irregular spots that usually appear on the exposed areas of the body including the face, chest and hands. These are usually seen with increasing age and are also known as solar lentigo. They have their origins in sun-damaged skin and increase with age. Specific treatments for age spots include lightening creams, chemical peels and laser treatments. Melasma: These discolorations appear as brown stains on the face or chest and are commonly seen in pregnant women or those using oral contraceptive pills. These are believed to occur as a result of an increase in melanin production in the body, which can be a consequence of hormonal alternations. Exposure to intense or strong sunlight can increase the straining effect, and avoidance of exposure to the sun is advised in the case of individuals who appear at the risk of developing melasma. Treatment options include creams, light glycolic acid peels and laser. The use of sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) over 20 is advisable and must be applied every four hours during day-time. Vitiligo: This condition results in the total loss of skin pigment. Individuals with pre-existing disorders of the thyroid, pernicious anaemia or decreased adrenal gland function may be at a higher risk of developing vitiligo. Possible causes of this condition have been attributed to mechanisms that decrease the production of melanin or where pigment-producing cells are destroyed by the body’s immune system. The treatment modalities include application of local melanocyte stimulators with or without ultraviolet therapy and skin grafting in the case of stationary patches. Thread veins or telangiectasia: These are minute dilated veins that become prominent as traces on the facial skin or the legs. This condition is more common in women than in men. Factors contributing to the problem include hereditary factors, hormones, skin type, light damage and prolonged pressure on the veins of the affected areas caused by standing for long durations. Treatment includes laser and sclera therapy where a chemical is injected into the dilated vein to shut off its blood supply. Vascular lasers are preferred over sclera therapy in view of its risks. Cellulite: Also called the “cottage cheese” syndrome or the “orange peel” skin, it appears as skin dimpling and nodularity, that occurs mainly in women on the pelvic region, lower limbs and abdomen. It is caused by the herniation of subcutaneous fat within fibrous connective tissue leading to a padded appearance. Dieting too hard has shown to worsen the appearance of cellulite. Avoiding nicotine and caffeine, reducing salt, alcohol and fat intake and drinking plenty of water along with the consumption of foods rich in nutrients like soy, blueberries and nuts help in reducing cellulite. A diet which is rich in fibre and low in fat helps when combined with daily exercise. Our mind-set has changed over time and it is no longer necessary for one to suffer throughout life with an unsightly appearing skin discoloration or defect. Newer remedies include creams with pharmaceutical properties, called cosmeceuticals, which are quite effective in getting rid of blemishes and reducing wrinkles. Needless to repeat, one can go in for the proven efficacy of anti-ageing injections like botox and fillers, which have become very popular as lunch time facial rejuvenators. Laser therapy has revolutionised the world of individuals affected with disfiguring skin conditions and lesions. Specialised laser technology has resulted in the development of condition - specific lasers. A person has no longer to do with skin discoloration that invites curious and impolite look. The writer is Chief Dermatologist, Mohan Dai Oswal Multispeciality & Cancer Hospital, Ludhiana. |
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Lumbar spondylosis: useful tips One of the most common bone or joint troubles that people face these days happens to be lumbar spondylosis. The degree of severity may vary from person to person, with the severe problem often going to the extent of causing immobility. Although many people do not feel any symptom, the most common symptom happens to be pain in the back. This pain may be mild or severe and can vary from patient to patient. It can often be referred to one or both legs. In case, the disc is herniated or slipped from its normal position, this pain can be aggravated by movements of the lower limbs or by picking even a small weight or sudden movements like sneezing or coughing. To understand the problem, it is necessary that one should know about its causes and aggravating factors and those that can alleviate the trouble. Briefly speaking, lumbar spondylosis refers to the degenerative changes that occur in the lumbar spine. Loss of the water content of the disks leads to a decrease in the normal height of the disks. During the movement of the spine as in bending forward, backward or sideways, the joints of vertebras are subjected to extra stress and they also degenerate. The nerves that pass through the lumbar spine are subjected to extra pressure as a result of degeneration, and this causes pain in the areas where the nerves radiate. Wear and tear associated with age and injury is the main cause of these degenerative changes. The other causes that have become more and more prevalent these days are a sedentary lifestyle - little physical exercise and being overweight. Both these factors are to a large extent inter-related as people who do very little exercise are the ones who are most likely to be overweight. This in turn leads to an increased load on the back as it is the spine that has to carry the whole weight of the body. Lack of exercise also means that the muscles of the back are weak. They are not strong enough to bear the excessive weight. To add insult to injury, all sorts of odd postures are resorted to while sitting and lying. The spine has been designed by nature in such a manner that the upright posture is the best. Any other posture subjects the spine to unnecessary strain.
Do’s and don’ts
1. Reduce weight and stay that way by exercising regularly. Brisk walk is the most advisable exercise. 2. Maintain an upright posture while sitting and walking. Postures that twist and turn your back are a strict “no”. 3. Women should not wear high heels. Flat soles are the best as they evenly distrbute the weight of the back, and the pressure on the spine is reduced to bearable levels. 4. Do not lift heavy weights. Every time you lift something off the floor, bend down from your knees and then lift the object. 5. Those who have acute severe backache are the only ones who are advised bed rest. All others should be up and about, walking and doing mild exercises. 6. Use of hard mattress is advised.
Role of yoga
There are a number of asanas that have a very helpful role in relieving this trouble. Asanas that involve bending backwards are the best. This includes the Bhujangasana, the Dhanurasana, the Shalabhasana, Ardhachakrasana and the Chakrasana. Asanas that involve bending forwards should best be avoided or done under the supervision of an expert yoga teacher only.
Role of homoeopathy
Homoeopathic medicines have been found to be very effective in curing this problem. The most commonly used medicines are Arnica, Rhus Tox, Calcarea Phos, Hypericum and Ruta. Even the most severely affected persons have been helped by the properly selected homoeopathic medicines and a regular regimen of exercise or yoga asanas. The writer is a Mohali-based homoeopath.
drharshsharma@gmail.com
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Wild almond seed oil may help combat obesity Washington: Oil derived from the seeds of wild almond trees could be the future weapon in the battle against obesity and diabetes, according to researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology. The key to the oil’s potential lies in its ability to affect certain micro-organisms living in our bellies. Missouri researchers found that adding sterculic oil to the diets of obese laboratory mice increased their sensitivity to insulin. This was due to the oil’s effect on three types of micro-organisms that live in the guts of the mice. As a result, the researchers saw a “statistically significant improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in the obese mice,” said Shreya Ghosh, a student in environmental engineering at Missouri S and T. The sterculic oil had no adverse affects on lean mice fed the same diet. —
ANI Depression may up risk of peripheral artery disease Washington:
A study of more than one thousand men and women with heart disease has found depression to be associated with an increased risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is a circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs — usually the legs and feet — resulting in pain, reduced mobility and, in extreme cases, gangrene and amputation. Marlene Grenon, a vascular surgeon at San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California (SFVAMC) and an assistant professor of Surgery at UCSF, led the analysis of data from 1,024 participants in the Heart and Soul Study, a prospective study of men and women with coronary artery disease who were followed for an average of approximately seven years. — ANI Apple peel can help stave off high BP London: Eating an apple a day without removing the peel can help prevent high blood pressure. Canadian scientists have found that the fruit is more effective than other “superfoods”, including green tea and blueberries as a source of antioxidants and chemical compounds called flavonoids that combat the potentially life-threatening condition. In a study, researchers from Nova Scotia Agricultural College tested the peel and the fleshy fruit of apples separately. The peel was found to be up to six times more effective in inhibiting an enzyme called ACE, which is known to cause hypertension and high blood pressure, according to the team’s results in the journal Food Chemistry. “Apples are one of the most popular and frequently consumed fruits in the world,” the Daily Express quoted the researchers as stating.“Apple peel is a rich source of flavonoids which provide numerous health benefits — apple peel flavonoids inhibited the enzyme ACE,” they added. —ANI |
Verma, 60, retired from a bank this month-end and thanked his stars that he was able to complete his tenure despite several health problems. While he indulged in boozing and hogging as a feeling of redemption, his wife nagged as usual, warning of health consequences. One of the first resolutions he made that evening, before slipping in the bed, was to send her to “mayke” to enjoy freedom of retired life! But when he got up in the morning he was doubly shocked to see two wives standing on his bed-side, instead of one.
