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Vitiligo - white patches appears on the skin

Vitiligo is otherwise known as leukoderma and is a condition in which white patches appears on the skin. Medically it is known as achromia a...

7 popular Myths about Prostate Cancer

Myth #1: Prostate cancer is solely an elderly man's disease
If you're diagnosed with prostate cancer in your late 40s or 50s, you may find that most people are amazed, because they think that only older men (age 65 years old or older) can get prostate cancer. The reality is that older men do have a greater risk for prostate cancer, but younger men can also develop the disease.

If a younger man believes that you have to be old to die from prostate cancer, and then he is diagnosed with the disease, he may think that he doesn't have to worry. He may then avoid or delay treatment for years, based on this erroneous assumption. Don't make the same mistake.

Myth #2: If you have cancer, you'll know because of the symptoms
Some forms of early cancer have symptoms, but prostate cancer, especially in its early stages, usually has no symptoms at all. Only when men are in the advanced stages of prostate cancer do they often experience severe urinary or back problems. By then the illness is treatable but not often curable. Whether you have symptoms or not, make sure that you get your prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood level checked every year after age 50, and every year after age 40 if you're black and/or have a family history of prostate cancer — both groups are at higher risk than others to develop prostate cancer.

Myth #3: Nobody dies of prostate cancer
Strangely, people may also believe the opposite of the "everyone must die" myth about prostate cancer — that no one ever dies of prostate cancer. In fact, it's the second leading cancer killer for men in the United States. Maybe the cancer was detected in a later stage, or maybe it was discovered early on, and everything "right" was done, and yet the patient died anyway. However, in most cases, when your doctor catches prostate cancer in the early stages, it's not only treatable, but also curable.

Myth #4: Surgery or radiation is always best
Understandably, most surgeons favor the prostatectomy as the best option for many cases of prostate cancer. Radiation oncologists often lean toward recommending radiation treatments for many men with prostate cancer. To determine which treatment is best, each individual situation needs to be considered, including the man's age, how advanced his cancer is, his attitude about side effects and quality of life issues, and other factors. For example, if a man is 70 years old and has diabetes, surgery may be a poor choice, because his life expectancy is less than 10 years. Conversely, if a man is 55 and otherwise healthy, and his cancer is localized (or confined to the prostate), a prostatectomy may be the best answer. Patients need to consider the choices they're offered and analyze what's best for them.

Myth #5: You'll become permanently disabled
Many men continue to work after being treated for prostate cancer, while some take four to six weeks off (or longer) to recover from surgery or other treatments. Some men decide to retire — a decision they may have been delaying before the diagnosis of prostate cancer. If you have prostate cancer and you're a military veteran who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, you may be eligible for disability compensation from the Veterans Administration.

Myth #6: Impotence Always Follows Treatment
Unlike the other myths, there may actually be a bit of truth behind this one. Half of all men who receive treatment for prostate cancer will experience some impotence (or problems with potency), albeit temporarily. However, some men have few or no problems.

Specifically, treatment for prostate cancer may cause erectile dysfunction (impotence) in men because of the effects of surgery or radiation on the nerves and blood vessels that control erections. In addition, hormone shots can cause impotence by drastically lowering your sex drive. But if your doctor performs the nerve-sparing prostatectomy, or you have radiation therapy, you have good odds of retaining or getting your potency back in a year (or sooner).

Myth #7: Your partner will dump you
Some individuals think that if you have prostate cancer, your partner will get frustrated and walk out on you. Although very few studies on the subject have been performed, abandonment doesn't seem to be a problem for men with prostate cancer. Sure, some men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are walked out on, and some even decide to leave their partners. But in most of these cases, the relationship was in trouble before the cancer diagnosis. The illness may have provided a little push over the edge for a relationship that was already hovering on the cliff of serious problems.

Support groups can often help with relationship problems that occur after diagnosis. You can even find some online support groups for significant others that can be very helpful in alleviating a lot of the concerns, questions, and tension that living with someone with prostate cancer can generate. Help is out there.

prostate cancer doctor is a prostate cancer patient read the real fact



Dr. Paul Lange was a world-famous doctor, chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Washington, and renowned for his skill as a surgeon and his research on urological cancers, including prostate cancer.Then he got prostate cancer.
Having prostate cancer led Dr. Lange to write "Prostate Cancer for Dummies" (John Wiley Publishing, 2003), an informative and readable book that is selling well. "The 'Dummies' called me and asked me to participate, and initially I said no, thinking there were enough books out there," he says.

"But they convinced me there was a need for a book that was more layman-sensitive … and patients seem to like this book better and seem to understand better from reading this book."

Prostate Cancer For Dummies explains the key issues and problems that are associated with the prosate cancer.
The book was a collaboration with a co-author, Christine Adamec, an experienced medical writer whose husband is a prostate cancer survivor. More than 10,000 copies of the book have been sold to date.

Yoga Therapy for back pain in Bangalore (India)

YOGA THERAPY FOR BACK PAIN
By SVASTHYA HEALTH CARE AND RESEARCH


Though a number of factors can predispose one to a chronic back problem; work related stressors, occupation requiring physical demands, sedentary lifestyle and trauma are the commonest causes. Prevalence of chronic low back pain is seen in varied occupations which requires standing/ sitting for long hours or repetitive tasks such as in truck drivers, computer professionals, dentists, nurses etc (Yu, Roht, Wise et al 1984). Apart from the occupational risks involved, work related stress poses an additional burden in these populations. A majority of the causes for back pain are mechanical caused due to bad postures, occupation and sedentary life style. Investigators speculate that physical and psychological stress may also lead to frequent and intense or low-level but sustained muscular contractions (Sjegaard, Lundberg, & Kudefors, 2000). This muscle activity can in turn increase pain through ischemia and hypoxia (Decreased O2 perfusion to that area) (Fields, 1987) and through changes in sensitivity (Mense, 1993) thereby causing pain or already aggravating the existing pain.

Exercise is one of the few proven treatments for chronic low back pain (Bogduk , 2004); however, its effects are often small, and no form has been shown to be clearly better than another (van Tulder, Malmivaara , Esmail et al 2000; Liddle , Baxter, Gracey 2004; . Hayden , van Tulder , Malmivaara et al 2005; Hayden , van Tulder , Tomlins et al). Yoga, which often couples physical exercise with breathing, is a popular alternative form of “mind-body” therapy. An estimated 14 million Americans practiced yoga in 2002, including more than 1 million who used it as a treatment for back pain (Wolsko, Eisenberg , Davis et al 2003; Saper , Eisenberg , Davis et al 2004). Though statistics for Indian population are not available, a significant majority of them are aware and have practiced some form of yoga in their life time.

Several research studies have shown yoga practices to reduce functional disability, medication use, bothersome symptoms and pain levels (Galantino, Bzdewka, Eissler-Russo 2004; Baldwin 1999; Williams, Petronis, Smith et al 2005; Sherman, Cherkin, Erro, et al 2005). Yoga may benefit patients with back pain simply because it involves exercise or because of its effects on mental focus. From a physical perspective, popular lore posits that yoga increases flexibility and strength, tones muscles, and releases muscle tension (Spilner 1999 Globus 2000), and several studies of patients with low back pain have found that yoga increased hip flexion (Williams , Steinberg , Petronis 2003) and spinal and hamstring flexibility (Galantino , Bzdewka, Eissler-Russo 2004; Baldwin 1999). However, the mental focus induced by yoga could also help people to increase their awareness of how they had been moving and positioning their body in maladaptive ways, to relax tense muscles, and to relieve mental stress, as was anecdotally reported by our yoga participants. Awareness and relaxation are two important components of yoga practices and performing asanas slowly with awareness and relaxation will help increase internal awareness, help recognize inherent tensions, reduce reactivity to stressful situations and ensures much needed mental rest that could increase pain threshold and reduce debility from pain.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

1. To train and educate participants in self management of their musculoskeletal problems.
2. To identify factors and stressors that exacerbate or cause pain and educate them about corrective measures.
3. To help participants identify stressful situations and behaviour and help them cope effectively.


HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THE PROGRAM


Individuals who wish to participate in this program will be assessed for the causes of Low back pain. Those without serious cause will be selected to participate based on the clinical interview and examination. Those with serious causes will be asked to investigate and referred.

ADVANTAGES OVER CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES

Conventional management of Back / Neck pain is more often restricted to use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications. Rehabilitation using Physical therapy is also more often a passive approach with more emphasis on deep tissue heat, massage or simple mobilization exercises. However the emphasis on stress, stressors, postural correction and relaxation to cope with these problems are minimal resulting in episodic recurrence of the above problems.
Our yoga program is designed to help people self manage pain better using principles of Relaxation, Mobilization and Strengthening of the joints on a long term. The education component will help identify wrong postures, stressors in work place and learn how to manage them. Simple exercises are also thought to help stretch tensed muscles during work to prevent pain, stiffness and discomfort. The awareness and relaxation components in yoga will help increase internal awareness, help recognize inherent tensions, reduce reactivity to stressful situations and help them cope with the daily stress. This would offer better results than the conventional approaches demonstrated in the above research studies. “THIS IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOLLOWING YEARS OF RESEARCH INTO MANAGEMENT OF BACK PAIN”.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

1. Those with signs and symptoms of back pain or strain.
2. Back pain that is not relieved by analgesics.
3. Those who are pregnant or obese with back strain.
4. Back pain affecting your work or movement.

DURATION: 1 hour daily 10 sessions spread over two weeks.

COST: Rs 1,500 Per participant, Inclusive of study materials (back pain book + informative brochures)



Resource persons:

Dr Raghavendra Rao. M, BNYS, PhD,
Senior Scientist Clinical Research, Head CAM program, HCG Bangalore Institute of Oncology
Dr Vadiraj HS, BNYS, (PhD)
Scientist, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore
Dr Vivek Udupa BNYS, MD
Director, SVASTHYA

Contact Information: svasthya@gmail.com,
Ph- 9916488864, 9844037797

Pregnancy & Piles (hemorrhoid)


Pregnancy is considered by many women one of the best feelings, and giving birth to a child is the greatest experience as part of life itself begins in the wound.

Despite the happiness associated with pregnancy, radical changes in hormones and/or constipation that often occurs with the change in diets, hemorrhoids can develop during pregnancy.The effort made during delivery also contributes to the formation of hemorrhoids.

Sometimes, the weight of the uterus and the baby and sitting down during long periods of time, contribute to the development of hemorrhoids. These hemorrhoidal varicose veins are extremely unpleasant. The good news is that sometimes they virtually disappear upon delivery.

During pregnancy the body has more blood circulating through the veins. All the veins specially those below the uterus become dilated and symptoms along with that are itching, burning, pain and bleeding. Bleeding from hemorrhoids is usually bright red blood more often seen in the toilet paper than in the bowl. Always get rectal bleeding check out by a doctor even if you think is due to a hemorrhoid condition.

Straining while moving your bowels puts even more pressure on the already dilated veins. Avoid constipation by drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day, eat high fiber diets and exercise regularly, You may also talk to your doctor about a stool softener.

A good exercise to strengthen the muscles in the vagina and anal is to tense the muscles for about 8 to 10 seconds at the time and doing several sets during the day. They can be done every where and no one will even notice. Strengthening the vaginal and perianal muscles will facilitate healing after delivery.
Up to 50 per cent of pregnant women suffer from haemorrhoids during pregnancy or postnatally. If you had them before pregnancy, you may get them again, though many women experience them for the first time while they're pregnant. You may also develop them during the second stage of labour, while you're pushing and bearing down. Either way, you'll find they often resolve themselves after pregnancy.

Dementia - Pharmacotherapy Treatment

Dementia is not a disease but are some symptoms due to the disorders that affect brain. Dementia patients cannot think properly or perform day today activities. They are not able to control their thoughts and actions and will not be able to face the world. They may lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions. They begins to act abnormally. In primary dementia there are no other illness but dementia itself is the symptom. Second dementia are caused by diseases like stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis etc. Pseudodementia is a situation in which symptoms similar to dementia are seen in patients along with depression.

Symptom

Those affected with dementia may lose memory or may not be able to handle language.

Causes

At times some disease like Alzheimer's and stroke cause dementia. Drugs are available for these disease but cannot repair damage occured to brain. Symptoms may be slowed down or improved due to the usage of drugs.

Treatment

Pharmacotherapy is the usual type used which tries to reduce or cure symptoms or to slow down progression of disease. Cholinergic neurotransmitters like acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for example Donepezil, Galantamine, Metrifonate, Nicergoline, Physostigmine, Posatirelin, Rivastigmine, Tacrine, Velnacrine, Non-cholinergic neurotransmitters or neuropeptide modifying agents like Haloperidol, Memantine, Selegiline are also used in dementia patients.Some other medications like Cerebrolysin are also used. Though Food and Drug Administration has approved only five medications for treating dementia some other pharmacological agents are also tried. These medications helps the patients to lead longer life and to improve their health. It is also said that regular consumption of alchohol in a moderate quantity is likely to reduce risk of dementia. Only thing apatient can do is to lead an active life physically and mentally. Certain study reports says that long term consumption of beta carotene might prevent dementia.

Links

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dementia_overview/article_em.htm

http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/demphsum.htm

http://www.ncpamd.com/dementia.htm

http://seniorhealth.about.com/cs/alzheimers/a/forgetfulness_2.htm

http://www.about-dementia.com/articles/about-dementia/dementia-causes/index.php

http://www.neurologychannel.com/dementia/causes.shtml

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx12.htm

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/Dementia.html

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx12.htm

http://www.neurologychannel.com/dementia/causes.shtml

http://seniorhealth.about.com/cs/alzheimers/a/forgetfulness_2.htm

http://www.ncpamd.com/dementia.htm

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/Dementia.html

http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/dementia-cause

http://dem.sagepub.com/

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dementia_overview/article_em.htm

http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/456/main.html

Krabbe disease ( Galactosylcerebrosidase deficiency) - An infant rare disease

This is a rare disease seen in one among 150,000 infants. Krabbe disease is other wise known as Globoid cell leukodystrophy or Galactosylcerebrosidase deficiency or Galactosylcereamidase deficiency. The disease is usually inherited and the brain of patients with this disease dies slowly due to lack of enzyme called galactocerebroside beta-galactosidase or galactosylcereamidase. Krabbé disease affect both central and peripheral nervous system. It is one of the genetic disorders that comes in the group leukodystrophies. Patients with this disease has cells with more than one nucleus, protection to nerve cells given by myelin sheath is disturbed, because its growth and development are blocked and brain cells are destroyed.

Causes

Krabbe disease mostly affect infants of Scandinavian descent and is inherited. Due to the absence of certain enzymes myelinated neurons get destroyed causing progressive damage of nervous system. This occurs to persons with GALC gene. Such persons will not be able to produce galactocerebroside beta-galactosidase. This substance makes myelin that protects nerve fibres. If not protected myelin gets desroyed resulting in destruction of brain cells and destroying the working of nerves all over body.

Symptoms

It may attack with in the first month of birth of child. Then feeding gets difficult and child gets fever frequently and at times vomiting. There might not be reason for fever and vomiting. Growth deteriorates. Muscle tone changes and there might be severe seizures. Infant loses power to hear and see and assumes a position called decerebrate posturing which is rigid. With in two years baby dies. Children may be affected during late childhood or even adolescents may be affected. In the beginning problem with sight slowly becomes blindness. Rigidness of muscle and difficulty to walk are other symptoms.

Treatment

There is no treatment for this disease. If the disease is detected in early stages born marrow transplantation may be useful. Usualy treatment is done for symptoms and these medications can not cure or repair damaged brain cells. Physical therapy is done to improve the strength of muscles. Anticonvulsant medicines can be given to reduce seizures.

Occupational therapy is also helpful for children to learn to do routine things like brushing teeth. Cord blood transfusion also might help in early stages. Bone marrow transplantation can be done only to those older children with mild symptoms and to infents whose disease is detected on birth. Another treatment is transfusion of stem cells in blood, taken from umbilical cord of donors who are related.

In some cases it was tried to transfuse healthy donor cells along with GALC into babies who have a chance for Krabbe genetically. It is found useful as normal formation of myelin is stimulated. But the treatmentmust be done before development of symptoms. But in due time difficulty may be found in walking. Gene therapy may be found useful in future. Original gene will be replaced by a functional gene injucted in to cells by way of a virus.

The Birth of a Brain Cell: Scientists Witness Neurogenesis

For the first time, researchers have developed a way to view stem cells in the brains of living animals, including humans—a finding that allows scientists to follow the process neurogenesis (the birth of neurons). The discovery comes just months after scientists confirmed that such cells are generated in adult as well as developing brains.

read more | digg story

Asthma - Try Homeopathy as an alternative medicine

Asthma is a conditon in which you find difficulty in breathing. It is a chronic disease that partially blocks the airways of lungs. Inside walls of airways becomes sensitive due to swelling and narrower causing difficulty in breathing. Asthma is divided in to four: mild intermittent (symptoms occur in normal intervals but yur lngs function normally), mild persistent asthma (symptoms occur more than twice a week and feel difficulty at night), moderate persistent asthma (symptoms come every day and at night it is more severe), severe persistent asthma(symptom comes every day at any time and at night you find more difficulty vey often). Mostly children (boys) are affected with asthma.

Symptoms

Wheezing, coughing, Nasal flaring, Sweating, chest tightness, chest pain, difficulty to breath, Rapid pulse, discoloration of lips in some cases etc. When the symptoms are worse condition is called asthma attack. Symptoms intensity and duration are different for each person. For some symptoms occur often and for some during exercise or when exposed to some diseases.

Causes

Allergy to various materials like dust, pollen, mold, smoke, pets, tension, air pollution etc can act as triggers to asthma. Asthma occurs due to genetic reasons and environmental changes. Medications like aspirin and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease are also reasons for asthma. Preservatives in some preserved foods can also cause asthma. Its usually a life long disease and gets chronic. Obesity and exposure to smoke is also a reason.

Treatment

Asthma is incurable, but can be controlled. For this you have to know about asthma in depth. Regular check up and following the directions of doctor strictly will help. Keep away from things for which you are allergic. Medications for allergy can help to keep asthma under control and to keep away from its symptoms.

Two types of medicines are usually used in asthma. Medicines for quick relief for immediate relief and long term medicines to control symptoms and attacks. Usually inhalers which are bronchodilators are used for quick relief and it is very important for preventing asthma symptoms. They are of many types and proper methods must be known. They help to relax the muscles in airways and thus help for free flow of air. It must be used with the appearence of symptoms and must be always carried with as the attack may occur at any time. Short-acting beta-2 agonists, Ipratropium (Atrovent), Oral and intravenous corticosteroids etc are used.

Among long term medicine corticosteroids like Fluticasone, Budesonide etc is most widely used, for preventing swelling of airways. Corticosteroid are inhaled to control all types of persistent asthma. Steroids are also used in cases of severe asthma. Beta agonists that act for long period are inhaled against night time symptoms. Leukotriene modifiers like zafirlukast with inhaled corticosteroids are given. Cromolyn , nedocromil or theophylline for mild asthma and theophylline with inhaled corticosteroids for persistent asthma which are moderate. Those who use theophylline should check blood level frequently to use appropriate dose. patients can even use drug cocktile. Suddenly stopping long term medicines will worsen asthma. You can use a peak flow meter to know the working condition of lungs. Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs), Leukotriene modifiers, Cromolyn and nedocromil, Theophylline etc are also used.

Children must be given proper advice and assistance of parents. During pregnancy asthma must be kept under control or else it might affect the child. Most of the medicines are safe during pregnancy. Using of corticosteroids can cause side effects like cough, loss of voice, slow growth in children etc. Immunotherapy, Anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies, Xolair in children above 12 years (by injection ), Omalizumab are also given.

Alternative medicine

Homeopathy is the most commonly used alternative medicine to treat asthma. In this method bodies defensive power is enhanced and patient is helped to lesd a healthy life. Acupuncture, Relaxation techniques, ayurveda, herbal medicine, folk medicines, Music therapy, Laser therapy etc are also used.

Links

http://www.asthma.net.in/app/asthma.asp

http://mohfw.nic.in/brochial%20asthma_final.pdf

http://asthmaticbronchitis.com/app/default.asp

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html

http://www.asthma.net.in/app/more_about_homeopathy_asthma.asp

http://www.noattacks.org/about.html

http://www.asthma.net.in/app/conventional-treatment.asp

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_Causes.html

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=19&cont=254

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/DS00021/DSECTION=8

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma-medications/AP00008

http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/244/main.html

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"The information provided on this blog may or may not be relevent. All the information are
collected from various sources and websites. Please take advice from registered medical
practitioner before trying the treatment explained in this blog. We will not take any
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