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Medicines that can affect your
vision Bariatric and metabolic surgery Older overweight kids take in fewer calories than their fit peers
Health Notes
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Medicines that can affect your
vision "Both may have contributed to eye symptoms",
responded the doctor. RA and many other common ailments and their
treatments cause eye discomfort and loss of vision. Diabetes is a
well-known cause of blindness, but a recent study published in the
Archives of Internal Medicine found that those taking anti-diabetic
drugs were at a high risk of loss of vision. Similarly, anti-glaucoma
medicines like latanprost can cause blurred vision, redness, sensation
of foreign body, discoloration of the iris, itching, burning, and
stinging. Preservatives like benzalkonium chloride and thimerosol,
present in almost all eye-drops, can cause irritation, redness and
toxicity to the eyes. Frequent use of Botox to treat facial wrinkles can
lead to toxic effects on the eyes. The medicines or cosmetics or hair
dyes can result in the swelling of eyelids and redness in the eye.
Penicillin, sulpha-drugs, antibiotics, sleeping pills, pain-killers,
antipyretics and vitamins can fall in this group. Those on anti-cancer
drugs can also develop vision problems. Patients taking oral medicines
like statins for heart disease or chloroquine for rheumatoid arthritis,
on a long-term basis, need to be checked regularly by an eye specialist.
Those indulging in drugs of abuse or alcoholism or long-term smoking of
tobacco or recreational drugs should essentially fall under the
ophthalmologist's scanner to detect their vision defects early. Let us
look at some medicines used to treat various common medical conditions
that can lead to vision problems. Anti-allergic pills In the case of
some people, antihistaminic drugs can cause an attack of glaucoma, with
symptoms like headache, severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting, blurred
vision and halos around lights. The medicines can also cause dry
eyes. Anti-malarial drugs These can prevent or treat malaria, also
used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Some people who take these
medications over time can develop retinal toxicity, leading to vision
loss that may or not recover. Corticosteroids Prednisone is used to
treat conditions such as arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, severe allergies,
ulcerative colitis, and breathing disorders. It is well known to
increase a patient's risk of developing cataract or glaucoma. Erectile
dysfunction drugs Viagra can cause blurred vision, sensitivity to
light, and blue tinge to objects. Commercials for these drugs also warn
of sudden vision loss, due to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic
neuropathy, Ethambutol Ethambutol, which is used to treat tuberculosis
(TB), can be associated with optic nerve problems. This can cause loss
of vision and difficulty in seeing certain colours. Another TB drug,
Isoniazid (Tubizid), also may cause eye problems. Flomax Flomax is
used to treat men with enlarged prostate who have trouble passing urine.
It makes it easier to urinate but can make cataract surgery very
difficult. Phenothiazines This group of medications is used to treat
schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. The side-effects include
sensitivity to light, changes in colour vision, blurred vision and the
problem of night vision. Tamoxifen Tamoxifen is used to treat breast
cancer. Its side-effects may include blurred vision, corneal changes,
and an increased risk for cataracts. Acne medication: Isotretinoin Its
side-effects may include dry eyes and a sudden decrease in night
vision. Topiramate: anticonvulsant It is used to treat epilepsy. It
may cause angle-closure glaucoma. Statins Statins may cause double
vision (diplopia), drooping of the upper eyelid (ptosis), and loss of
full range of motion of the eyes (ophthalmoplegia). These medicines
are safe in the majority of the cases but some users may have problems.
Avoid self-medication and misuse. A periodic visit to your eye
specialist is a must. Email:drrkumar16@gmail.com |
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Bariatric and metabolic surgery Dr G.S. Jammu Obesity which was once not a problem in India is a fast growing menace now. Succumbing to computers, cola and fast food cultures, incidence of obesity in India is more than 9% — about 60 million population is in the obesity zone. Punjab is the most obese state of India with figures as high as 35. No doubt, it was a disease of the developed world in the beginning, but now it has spread its tentacles to India and is engulfing very fast the new generation. Obesity brings with it diseases like type-II diabetes, high cholesterol, high BP, snoring (sleep apnea) and joint pains. India tops the rank in diabetes mellitus in the world and it is estimated that by 2030 India will still be the number one in the incidence of diabetes in the whole world. Though the main cause of obesity is genetics (about 60%), the rest 40% is because of the lifestyle and behavioral factors. Proper diet and exercise should be the first step to combat obesity. But it is seen that with proper balanced diet and exercise, one can lose weight. However, once a person discontinues this regime, he may regain their weight. Bariatric surgery is one miraculous surgery which helps to lose more than 70% of EWL (excess weight loss) and also helps in remission of diabetes mellitus type II, corrects the cholesterol level, cures snoring and sleep aponea. It is not a cosmetic surgery but a life-saving surgery. Bariatric surgery works on the principle of rerouting your alimentary canal so that calories intake is less than the calories burnt. For any individual to undergo bariatric surgery he or she has to be guided by BMI (body mass index). For a patient to be obese BMI>27. Bariatric surgery is basially of two types: (A) Restrictive (B) Restrictive and malabsoptive Restrictive: 1. Laparoscopic gastric sleeve resection: (a) About 2/13rd of stomach along the greater curvature is removed, thus a small pouch of new stomach so formed has a capacity of approximately one ounce. (b) Excess weight loss is about 50-60%. (c) Resolution comorbidities 50-60% 2. Laparoscopic gastric band: (a) A band of special material is placed around the upper end of the stomach. This creates a small pouch and narrow passage into the rest of the stomach. (b) Excess weight loss is about 30-40%. (c) Resolution comorbidities 30-40%. Restrictive and malabsoptive 1. Laparoscopic Roux-N-Y gastric bypass: (a) This is the most common bariatric procedure. First, we create a small stomach pouch with staples or a vertical bank. This restricts food intake. Then we attach a ‘Y’ shaped section of the small intestine to the pouch to allow food to bypass the first and second segments of the small intestine. This reduces your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and calories. The writer is a Jalandhar-based surgeon.
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Older overweight kids take in fewer calories than their fit peers
WASHINGTON: In a new study, paediatrics researchers have found a surprising difference in the eating habits of overweight children between ages 9 and 17 years compared to those younger than 9. Younger children who are overweight or obese consume more calories per day than their healthy weight peers. But among older overweight children the pattern is reversed — they actually consume fewer calories per day than their healthy weight peers. "Children who are overweight tend to remain overweight," said Asheley Cockrell Skinner, lead author of the study from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. "So, for many children, obesity may begin by eating more in early childhood. Then as they get older, they continue to be obese without eating any more than their healthy
weight peers. "One reason this makes sense is because we know overweight children are less active than healthy weight kids. Additionally, this is in line with other research that obesity is not a simple matter of overweight people eating more - the body is complex in how it reacts to the amount of food eaten and amount of activity,"
Skinner said. These results also suggest that different strategies may be needed to help children in both age groups reach a healthy weight. "It makes sense for early childhood interventions to focus specifically on caloric intake, while for those in later childhood or adolescence the focus should instead be on increasing physical activity, since overweight children tend to be less active," Skinner said. "Even though reducing calories would likely result in weight loss for children, it's not a matter of wanting them to eat more like healthy weight kids — they would actually have to eat much less than their peers, which can be a very difficult prospect for children and, especially, adolescents," Skinner added.
— ANI
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Health Notes WASHINGTON:
Breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy are at risk for mild cognitive deficits after treatment. This was concluded in a large meta-analysis conducted by researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center. The analytic review of previously published studies found that study participants on average had mild impairments in verbal abilities (such as difficulty choosing words) and visuospatial abilities (such as getting lost more easily). The study noted that cognitive functioning varies across survivors, with some reporting no impairments and others reporting more severe or pervasive deficits. "The objective of our analysis was to clarify existing research on cognitive functioning in patients who had received standard dose chemotherapy for breast cancer at least six months previously," said study lead author Heather S.L. Jim, an assistant member at Moffitt whose research focuses on the psychosocial and behavioral aspects of cancer survivorship."
— ANI Indian chef's 'spicy curry' can beat bugs LONDON:
An Indian chef has created an immune-boosting curry that she claims can ward off illness. Anjum Anand, who presented BBC2's Indian Cooking Made Easy, said Vitamin C-packed ingredients like pomegranate seeds and fenugreek leaves have healing powers. Her dish also contains garlic, cinnamon and chillies, which can fight infection. "Spices in food are like medicine in Indian families and I wanted to make a simple, immune-boosting dish," the Sun quoted Anjum as saying. "I read research showing that fenugreek leaves were rich in Vitamin C. They are also very, tasty so I have combined them with superfoods like pomegranate seeds," she explained. Nutritionists have supported her claims and are urging Brits to make the spicy dish at home.
— ANI How viral infections lead to asthma LONDON:
Study on mice has found that viral infections in newborns "cripple" part of the immune system and increase the risk of asthma later in life. US researchers behind the study hope
their findings, published in the journal Nature Medicine, will help develop ways of
preventing asthma. Earlier studies have shown a link between repeated lung infections with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and developing asthma later in life. However, how the virus might lead to an increased risk of asthma has remained unknown. Now a team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine believe they have an explanation. Their experiments on mice showed the virus impaired the ability of a specific part of the immune system, called regulatory T cells, to calm inflammation.
— ANI Vitamin A may be used to prevent prostate cancer LONDON:
Scientists at the University of York have for the first time discovered a link between cancer cells and a deficiency of vitamin A. Their research, published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, showed cancer cells are under control of a derivative of the vitamin, known as retinoic acid, the Daily Express reported. They believe the research could lead to vitamin A as an anti-cancer treatment and generate new advice for people to ensure they include adequate levels of the nutrient in their diets. Though the study was carried out on prostate cancer cells, Professor Norman Maitland of Yorkshire Cancer Research said it may apply to a number of other cancers.
— ANI |
Gupta, 45, was shocked to know as his eye doctor pronounced
that he was suffering from cataract, glaucoma and dry eyes. His feeling
of unsatisfactory vision was likely to persist, if not accentuate, as if
his rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was not enough to give him multiple
troubles. He has been using oral steroids and chloroquine to manage his
rheumatism, and now the eye problem may require surgery. "Can it be
due to the underlying disease or the treatment given for the same",
enquired Gupta.