|
|
|
|
| HEALTH & FITNESS |
|
|
|
Urinary tract infection common among women
Hyperactive child and homoeopathy
HOW TO RELAX YOUR BACK
|
|
Urinary tract infection common among women
Urinary tract infection (UTI), a commonly seen ailment, can affect at any age. It may involve any part of the urinary system — the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, epididymis and urethra but commonly affects the lower urinary tract - the urinary bladder and the urethra.
Bacteria enters the urinary tract through the urethral opening and begin to multiply in the urinary bladder; they can go up and affect the kidneys also. The urinary system can keep out such microscopic invaders, but if the defence mechanism fails, then the bacterial load increases and results into a full-blown infection of the urinary tract. This is known as “Retrograde route of infection” and is the common route of infection. The other uncommon route of infection is “Haematogenous “, in which systemic bacterial infection can also involve the urinary tract. A few specific diseases like tuberculosis, filariasis fungus, bilharziasis, etc, can also infect the urinary system. Urinary tract infections are very common in women, and the main reason is their anatomy. Women have a shorter urethra, which cuts down on the distance bacteria must travel to the reach the bladder. In females (compared to males) the urethra is closer to the anus and this also helps the bacteria to invade the urethra. This is the reason why escherichia coli, a normally occurring bacteria of the gastro-intestinal tract, is the commonest organism to infect the urinary tract. After menopause, UTI becomes more common as lack of estrogen causes changes in the urinary tract that make it more vulnerable to infection. There are greater chances of such infections during pregnancy. Symptoms
A patient having UTI may complain of following: Frequency of urination — the patient has to pass urine at short intervals; this is more marked during night-time (nocturnal frequency). The amount of urine passed each time is small. Urine may contain blood, either frank red in colour or cola -coloured Burning sensation (scalding) when urinating Urine is not clear but appears cloudy and dirty Foul smelling urine
Pain either while passing urine, or if may be continuous in character. In acute infections of kidneys (acute pyelonephritis) pain is in the flanks whereas when the urinary bladder is involved the pain is localised in the lower abdomen. In women, the pain may be in the pelvic area whereas in males it may be in the rectal region. Acute infections of the urinary tract may cause symptoms of sepsis, like high fever, shivering, vomiting, nausea, etc. Relevant investigations : The urinary tract infection is a clinical diagnosis — a doctor can diagnose the ailment just by getting detailed history and subsequently examining the patient. Treatments and drugs
Antibiotics are normally used to treat urinary tract infections, and the choice of drugs and duration depend upon the organisms that have been grown, the status of the kidneys (shown by kidney function tests) and the general condition of the patient, . This kind of infection is usually caused by gram positive organisms and gram negative bacilli and, therefore, commonly used drugs are Bactrim, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Nitrofurantoin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Ofloxacin, Gatifloxacin, etc. Symptoms usually clear up within a few days of treatment, but treatment should be continued at least for a week to 10 days. After the completion of the prescribed treatment, it is wise to get a urine sample again examined , both routine and culture examinations. Presence of pain and burning in the urinary tract may require analgesics. The commonly prescribed medicine is Pyridium, and this gives rise to discoloured urine- orange or red. For infections related to sexual activity, a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual intercourse may be helpful. Post-menopausal women may require vaginal estrogen therapy to minimise recurrent urinary tract infections. In the presence of a specific problem or a disease that gives rise to UTI , all-out efforts should be made to remove the cause ( stone, prostatic enlargement, anatomical abnormality in the urinary tract), treat the specific disease like tuberculosis, etc. Precautions to prevent UTI
Increase fluid intake to wash out organisms in the urinary tract. Do not hold back urine. Urinate as soon as the urge is there. After urinating or bowel movement, wash or wipe from front to back and not from back to front. This will prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra. After sexual intercourse, wash the genital area and urinate to wash away bacteria. Women who experience vaginal dryness during sex should use a cream or jelly for lubrication. Vitamin C may function to increase urine acidity to reduce bacterial growth. Cranberries/blueberries/ pineapple contain antioxidants that may help the immune system. It has been reported that they contain compounds that reach the urine and reduce the adherence of pathogens to human cells. The writer is a retired Senior Professor & Head of Surgery, PGI, and a former President, Association of Surgeons of India.
|
|
|
Hyperactive child and homoeopathy
Are you worried about your child’s hyperactivity? Is your child constantly moving around? Is he too fidgety? Does he constantly move his legs and arms? Does he have difficulty in waiting for his turn while playing with other kids? Is he having concentration issues while studying — gets easily distracted? If so, then your child may be having attention deficit hyperactive disorder, commonly called ADHD.
Recent researches have shown a great beneficial role of homoeopathic medicines in treating such hyperactivity in children. The greatest benefit that homoeopathy offers while treating ADHD is that its medicines are very safe and do not slow down other activities . Neither are they addictive; this means that once the treatment is over, the medicines can be safely withdrawn. ADHD refers to a condition in the childhood (it may continue in the adulthood as well) where the child may be physically hyperactive and having concentration issues. Kids are naturally playful and active, which makes it difficult for the parents to find out whether their child is naturally active or having a problem. Thus, for a child to be called hyperactive or suffering from ADHD, medical science has defined certain criteria to diagnose this disorder. Hyperactive disorder can be divided into usually three kinds: Hyperactive — impulsive behaviour, where kids are physically hyperactive and have less impulse control. Inattentive type — where they have difficulty in sustaining attention while studying, playing and doing other activities. Combined type — here they have both physical hyperactivity and the low attention span. The hyperactive-impulsive type is marked by symptoms of constant fidgety behaviour or moving and squirming frequently. The child has difficulty in remaining in his seat and often leaves his seat suddenly during his school class and can wander away outside the classroom. Running and climbing can be very excessive. The child always seems to be on the go. Excessive talking can be another symptom of ADHD. He or she blurts out answers even before the question is finished. The child may have difficulty in waiting for his turn while playing. In the inattentive type, the symptoms are: the child often makes careless mistakes in school work, homework and other activities. Sustaining attention while studying, playing or other activities is very difficult and gets easily distracted. Instruction following is very difficult for the child. He may seem to be “too absorbed” in his activity while being spoken too. The child may often avoid activities that require prolonged or sustained mental effort. What exactly causes ADHD is still unknown; but there are certain factors which tend to contribute to the development or modification of ADHD behaviour. These factors are altered brain function and anatomy, genetic factors, maternal smoking and drug use in pregnancy, childhood exposure to toxins such as lead and food additives such as artificial colouring or food preservatives. Researches around the world have proved the supremacy of homoeopathic medicines in treating hyperactive disorder in kids. Homoeopathic medicines Hyoscyamus , Veratrum Album, Tarentula and Stramonium have been proved by researches to be effective in treating ADHD. Kindly note that the names of the above mentioned medicines are meant for information only and they should not be used without consulting the physician. The writer is a Chandigarh-based homoeopathic physician. Email —
vikas@drhomeo.com |
|
|
HOW TO RELAX YOUR BACK
Low back pain can be caused due to various factors. One of the most common causes for back stiffness can be prolonged periods of sitting, a wrong posture, sudden forward bending, etc. Posture-related back problems have become exceedingly common. At the click of a button one keeps sitting and performing varied tasks leading to a sedentary lifestyle. Here come a lot of problems related to such a lifestyle. Pain and stiffness could lead to disability and limitation of day-to-day activities. Pain is usually more intense when sitting/standing as compared to when lying down (due to a decrease in pressure). The range of motion is diminished and difficulty experienced during walking/bending.
Lifting a heavy object by not bending in a proper way or bending sideways to pick up even a light object can cause low back pain. The proper way of lifting is to squat with straight back, holding the object close to the body and standing with the help of thigh and buttock muscles. Treatment in an acute stage is aimed at pain relief. Whenever one suffers from sudden low back pain the treatment given includes medicines, bed rest, etc. If spinal manipulation and exercises are added to analgesics/bed rest, then quick relief is obtained with immediate effect.
l In standing position, hold some bar or an object with both hands. Place the ankle of one leg on the knee of the other leg. With straight back, bend downwards and feel the stretch at the lower back.
l Both knees to chest: Lying on the back with bent knees and keeping the feet flat on the floor. Pull both knees towards the chest. Hold for a count of 10. Slowly return to the starting position.
A stretch shall be felt at the lower back. Repeat at other side.
l Dog stretch: Start on your hands and knees like a four-leg animal position. Move back on the heels and stretch arms in front as far as possible. Stay for a count of 10 and return. Apart from the above exercises, pain can be decreased by the following methods: Manipulation, if undertaken correctly, can bring instant relief. It is advisable to sit straight using a cushion to keep the spine in alignment as hunching can put undue pressure on the lower back, especially the discs. It is important to take frequent breaks throughout the day. This helps in decreasing the fatigue and improves circulation to the muscles of the back. Therefore, stand up every half an hour for a walk of five minutes. Ice could be applied for the first 24 hours to reduce inflammation followed by hot fomentation. In cases of severe agonizing pain, bed rest is recommended only for a day or two. Resting for a prolonged period can weaken the muscles and increase the pain. Activities aggravating pain like manual labour, prolonged sitting and driving should be avoided. Massage helps in relaxing the muscles. The above mentioned exercises/treatment, if undertaken effectively, can markedly minimise low back pain/stiffness. On persistence of pain/stiffness, it is always mandatory to consult a doctor. The writer is a former doctor/physiotherapist, Indian cricket team. E-mail chadha_r2003@yahoo.co.in |
|
|
Health Notes
London: A regular exercise like brisk walking, swimming, cycling and playing badminton acts like a ‘super drug’ for cancer survivors and can stop the disease from returning, according to a new study. Macmillan Cancer Support has suggested that cancer patients who exercise after treatment have higher survival rates. Rather than patients being told to rest as in the past, doctors should prescribe exercise as part of cancer care, it said. A review of more than 60 studies for the charity found that being active during treatment does not worsen fatigue and has positive effects on mood and well-being. Once treatment has finished, exercise can reduce the impact of side-effects such as swelling, anxiety, depression, fatigue, impaired mobility and changes to weight. — ANI Simple ovarian cancer test to be available in 2 yrs London: The “landmark” discovery of a single faulty gene, which increases a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer six-fold, has paved the way for a simple diagnostic test that could be available in two years. Women with the gene have a one in 11 chance of getting the disease, and they generally have a one in 70 chance of developing it. Each year around 6,500 new cases of ovarian cancer are reported in the UK and more than 4,000 women die from it. It has few early symptoms and is often diagnosed at a late and dangerous stage. “There is real hope on the horizon that drugs specifically targeted to the gene will be available,” the Daily Express quoted study author Nazneen Rahman of the Institute of Cancer Research, as saying. — ANI Fatty comfort foods really make people brighten their bad mood! London: Ever thought why we reach for ice cream, pizza and other fatty foods when we’re feeling down? There may be a scientific reason. A new research has suggested that fatty foods literally serve as ‘comfort’ foods and help lift our mood. The findings could explain why so many people become obese when facing stressful situations. Dr Lukas Van Oudenhove from the University of Leuven, in Belgium, and his colleagues used MRI scans to assess the emotional impact of fat when injected into the stomach. They recruited 12 healthy-weight volunteers and scanned their brainwaves as they were shown a series of sad and neutral images as well as exposing them to sad and neutral music. — ANI |
l
Standing: Hold some bar or an object with both hands with the feet near the wall. Lean back to relax the back.
l
Sitting: Move both arms towards one side to hold the chair, stay for a count of five. Then move towards the other side.
l
Side stretch: Lying on the back, cross the left knee over the right knee. With the right hand, pull the left knee downwards with the face moving towards the other side.