Total Health Solution

Better cancer-care facilities and more awareness key reasons for surge in patients at hospitals The epidemiological and demographic transition in  Kerala  over the past two or more decades has left the State struggling with the issues of an ageing population and a steep increase in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Today, the cancer management facilities have grown in Kerala and have extended to the private sector as well. There are 13 hospital-based cancer registries in both the private and public sector as well as the Population-based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Malabar Cancer Centre. Better cancer care and management facilities and improved awareness of cancer as a treatable disease are seen as key reasons for the surge in patients in hospitals, but that can hardly hide the fact that cancer incidence in the State has gone up significantly in recent years. Data from the PBCR...

Ebola Survivors Still Producing Antibodies 40 Years after First Outbreak In a significant new study, researchers have found that some Ebola virus survivors continue to produce antibodies to the virus nearly 4 times longer than previously believed, potentially granting them with lifelong immunity. The first 2 outbreaks of  Ebola virus  occurred in 1976 in South Sudan and a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), near Africa’s Ebola river. What we now know is that fruit bats are the likely natural hosts of the virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Humans contract Ebola from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected wild animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, and monkeys, as well as from human-to-human contact.  Symptoms  Ebola can appear 2 to 21 days after exposure to the highly contagious virus and can include fever, severe headache, muscle ache, diarrhoea, vomiting, and haemorrh...

Dry eye disease: the patient journey Although some patients may experience some symptoms of dry eye only occasionally, dry eye disease is a chronic condition, so it is important for patients to understand the implications. It may take a few attempts with different products for patients to achieve relief from their symptoms. This may be because the treatment is ineffective or, alternatively, because of a phenomenon known as ‘tight shoes’ (i.e. where the patient feels only the worst symptom and, once this is treated, the symptom for the next worse condition surfaces in the patient’s awareness)[1]. • Advise patients that they may be able to only detect the most painful or irritating symptom. This means that it not uncommon to see a new symptom surface after one symptom has been treated because, once one symptom has improved, the patient may be able to detect another for the first time. This can be frustrating for patients, because it may feel like their symptoms will never be reliev...

What Your Resting Heart Rate Can Tell You About Your Fitness One of the often-highlighted features of the new iteration of the Apple Watch is its ability to track your resting heart rate (I mentioned it in my own review of the device). Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, and other tech brands also offer fitness trackers that measure your heart rate during exercise and keep tabs on your resting heart rate throughout the day. We know that heart rate during exercise can show you how intensely you’re working—a higher heart rate means you’re putting greater demands on your cardiovascular system, and therefore, your heart is working really hard to pump blood quickly enough to meet those demands. The importance of resting heart rate is a little more vague, but this number can actually give you some insight into your fitness level and how it’s changing over time. In addition, it could give your doctor information that, combined with other factors, may signal a heart problem. Now, it’s important t...

Cancer: Some immune cells found to give tumors a helping hand Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer-related death worldwide, accounting for nearly 1.7 cases out of 8.1 million in 2012. After rising for several decades, rates of new cases of lung cancer are falling in the United States, in line with declining rates of cigarette smoking. Nevertheless, lung cancer remains the second most common cancer in men and women in the U.S., where it is estimated to account for around 14 percent of new cancer cases and over a quarter of all cancer deaths. Immunotherapy — which is also referred to as biologic therapy — is a way of treatingcancer by involving the patient's own immune system. The approach can slow the growth of cancer cells, stop them spreading, and increase the immune system's ability to destroy them. There are several ways to do this, all using substances from the body or made in a laboratory to either boost the immune system or get a malfunctioning one to st...

Sex, drugs and disease: The deadly mix Male gays mingle with their peers during a discreet gathering where they socialize and often meet prospective partners in person, a different approach to meet-ups on social media apps. Vera FilesPart I: Party and Play Five naked, unconscious young men sprawled in different positions on two couches and on a carpet were captured in a series of photos on Kenjo's mobile phone. He was the first to wake up the morning after an all-night party so he took pictures before heading home. He said one of the naked men is a celebrity, hence, the photos are on his phone for “a few-minute-keepsake” that he promised to delete. “I’m not gonna show them or post them somewhere," he said. “We have a sworn oath not to do that. Guys who violate this oath are cut off.” Kenjo (not his real name) was the sixth in that night’s “party and play,” also called P&P or PnP that is commonly associated with men who meet up to have casual, nonstop sex aided by ...

Running ages you faster': seven fitness myths to ignore Worried about 'runner's face'? Don't be. With 60 per cent of us not getting enough physical activity, the last thing we need is more reasons not to exercise. Yet wrong-headed beliefs that imply exercise is too hard or harmful just create more barriers to getting fitter or put limits on what we do. 1. Running will age you faster This one surfaced in 2011 with some cosmetic surgeons in the US and UK  claiming that the pounding effect of running damages facial elasticity – and that this, together with fat loss, caused a gaunt, "runners' face".

What is Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder?      Symptoms HPPD can affect the way a person perceives visual input. According to a  2016 review , there are two types of the condition: ·          Type 1 : This is where people experience HPPD in the form of random, brief flashbacks. ·          Type 2 : People with this kind of HPPD experience ongoing changes to their vision, which may come and go. The visual disturbances a person with HPPD may experience include: ·          seeing halos or auras around objects ·          seeing trails that follow moving objects ·          having trouble telling colours apart ·          the colour of an object seeming to change in hue ·      ...

What is Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder? Hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder, or HPPD, causes a person to keep reliving the visual element of an experience caused by hallucinogenic drugs. But what do the flashbacks in HPPD feel like, what causes them, and how might they be treated? A person with HPPD has frequent visual disturbances. They do not relieve any other aspects of a drug trip, only the part that involved vision. The way the flashbacks in HPPD affect a person's vision can be frustrating and may cause  anxiety . This article explores the symptoms and causes of HPPD. It also discusses how a person experiencing HPPD can manage their condition. What is HPPD? Unlike the immersive flashbacks that some people have after taking drugs, HPPD flashbacks are purely visual. This means that a person with HPPD just has visual disturbances, such as seeing blurry patterns, size distortion, and bright circles. These individuals do not relieve any other aspe...

THE 50 BEST GOLF-FITNESS PROFESSIONALS IN AMERICA FITNESS It didn’t happen quickly. Heck, it took decades to permeate. But fitness has become a big part of the conversation about what it takes to improve as a golfer. Players looking to swing better, faster, longer and, they hope, injury-free have turned to the gym to help achieve their goals. That’s why we believe it’s time to introduce a new ranking—the 50 Best Golf-Fitness Professionals in America. This list, the first of its kind by a fitness- or golf-media company, was compiled by Golf Digest’s expert panel of trainers, chiropractors, physical therapists and doctors who nominated their peers based on their knowledge of the game, their knowledge of exercise physiology and biomechanics, and how they apply both in working with clients. “Imagine choosing any professional simply by walking into the nearest building and saying, ‘OK, I’ll work with you,’ ” says Ben Shear, Golf Digest’s Fitness Advisor, who first suggested the li...

For people with Type 2 diabetes, there is an additional incentive for keeping the disease under management  Research shows a possible link between diabetes and cognitive decline, including increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The scientific reason behind the link between diabetes and brain health is complex. Some scientists believe people with diabetes may also have insulin resistance or insulin deficiency that could damage brain cells enough to cause memory loss. Studies are underway to understand why 80 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease also have some form of diabetes or disturbed glucose metabolism. However, so far, longitudinal research has not produced a consensus view regarding the link between blood glucose levels and cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, in South Florida, medical professionals are working with diabetic patients to minimize the risk of cognitive decline through a variety of methods that include lifestyle, medical and mental-...

Smokers Should Look Out For Signs Of Lung Cancer Senior Medical Officer at the National Chest Hospital Dr Terry Baker is urging persons who have been exposed to cigarette smoke over an extended period to look out for signs of lung cancer. Baker, who is a pulmonologist and internist, pointed out that the disease may present itself in a myriad ways, and early signs may often be attributed to other conditions. "The person may have a cough, or they may begin to cough up phlegm or mucous that has changed in colour or consistency, or they may begin to cough up blood. They may have chest pain or consistent hoarseness," she said. She warned, however, that persons may have pain in other parts of the body such as arthritis. "This is a particular arthritis or inflammation that we see affecting the bones and joints in persons who have lung cancer. The bones and joints may become swollen and very tender. "The cancer may spread to other organs; to the brain (the person...

During my pre-dawn runs, the sun doesn't rise till I get home. So as I offer this tip, I am mentally attaching a headlamp to my brow, blinking lights to my shoelaces and an LED vest to my body.  None of which I own, let me add. But every time I see a smarter person than I wearing one of these, I add a new reminder on my to-do list to get one.  True, I'm guided by the light of the moon and the stars and, as Christmas gets closer, buoyed by the brilliance of  bulbs on neighborhood homes. But I also know that while I am quite aware of myself out there, not everyone is aware of me. In addition, sidewalk cracks or wayward curbs seem to multiply when I can't see my feet

Scientists win award for Ebola antivirus Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and Dr. Gary Kobinger of the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg have won this year’s $100,000 Manning Innovation Principal Award for developing ZMapp, the world’s first Ebola disease antivirus. "I am very honoured to be recognized for this award," says Dr. Qiu. "As a scientist, I feel very lucky to see that our persistent efforts have resulted in saving people’s lives." Qiu and Kobinger’s intellectual achievement spanned a decade’s search to find a treatment against the highly infectious and deadly Ebola virus infection. The largest outbreak occurred from December 2013 to January 2016, when Ebola swept across West Africa, resulting in more than 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths. ZMapp was first used successfully for compassionate, emergency use in humans in July 2014. It’s now the model driving the recent explosion of monoclonal antibody therapies against many other infectious agents such...

Diabetes may lead to a greater risk for Alzheimer’s, dementia and memory loss  For people with Type 2 diabetes, there is an additional incentive for keeping the disease under management. Research shows a possible link between diabetes and cognitive decline, including increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The scientific reason behind the link between diabetes and brain health is complex. Some scientists believe people with diabetes may also have insulin resistance or insulin deficiency that could damage brain cells enough to cause memory loss. Studies are underway to understand why 80 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease also have some form of diabetes or disturbed glucose metabolism. However, so far, longitudinal research has not produced a consensus view regarding the link between blood glucose levels and cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, in South Florida, medical professionals are working with diabetic patients to minimize the risk of cognitive...

New diabetes research takes a page from the past with a drug from the 1950s Prior to Daniel Dyner having open-heart surgery four years ago, he appeared to be in great health. He had just moved to Key Biscayne from Venezuela, where he spent his time sailing around the world on solo trips to places like Trinidad, the Mediterranean and the coast of Africa. He swam nearly a mile every day and kept a strict diet. The 69-year-old Dyner was on the first lap of his daily swim in May 2013 when he “suddenly felt funny. He immediately went to see Dr. Gervasio Lamas, his cardiologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. “I remember this so distinctly,” said Dyner, now 73. “The guy said ‘stop’ and he ran over with two doctors. They said I had 24 hours to live.”  The next morning, Dyner underwent open-heart surgery. After that, his sugar levels went “completely crazy.” Now, Dyner is part of Lamas’ clinical trial at Mount Sinai, where Type 2 diabetics with a history of cardia...

Don’t wait until you have diabetes to make lifestyle changes Many patients who come into my office have no idea they are prediabetic. Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is elevated, but not high enough to be classified as diabetic. There are 86 million people in the U.S. with prediabetes, but nine out of 10 don’t know they have it. This is alarming because 15-30 percent of people with prediabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes within five years without intervention. So what can you do? First, pay attention to the symptoms of diabetes, which include frequent urination, excessive hunger, increased thirst, weight loss, and blurred vision. Make an appointment with your primary care doctor right away if you have these symptoms. There are a number of risk factors that make patients more prone to becoming diabetic. Being overweight, sedentary, family history, having poor eating habits and smoking are factors that prompt me to test for diabetes. This is a simple blood test that can be d...

 HEALTH Why diabetes is different for women Diabetes is now near epidemic in India, with women among nearly half of those affected Anuja*, 28, says that she has been on a “waiting list” for some years now as far as marriage is concerned. “Because I am a diabetic, only men with some serious life-threatening medical condition or diabetic men apply. Knowing my medical status, all the ‘healthy’ prospective grooms and their families factor in family life, pregnancy, ability to perform household chores, and the cost of treatment,” she says. Six years after she first registered herself on a matrimonial website and lost all hope of finding a ‘normal groom’, she has now registered herself with a matrimonial service that focusses on bringing together people with diabetes. Systemic discrimination Anuja’s point is seconded by doctors too who notice a pattern of discrimination against diabetic women not only in terms of access to quality treatment but also in diagnosis, treatment and ...

Diabetes: Immune system can regulate insulin     Inflammation processes are responsible for the failure of insulin production in diabetes patients. The patients' own immune systems can contribute to treatment of this disease: researchers at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel have found a feedback mechanism that could help maintain insulin production in overweight sufferers, as they report in the journal Immunity. In their study, the Basel-based researchers focused specifically on recently discovered ILC2 immune cells in the pancreas, where, under diabetic conditions, the protein IL33 is activated, among others. This protein stimulates the ILC2 cells, which trigger the release of insulin in overweight individuals using retinoic acid and could therefore be used to inhibit the failure of insulin production. The research conducted by scientists at the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at University Hospital Basel and the University of Ba...

Less than one-tenth of Americans eat enough vegetables, study says An overwhelming majority of Americans are skimping on their vegetables, according to a studyconducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The US dietary guidelines recommend eating one and a half to two cups of vegetables per day. A dismal 9 percent of Americans are even claiming to meet that mark. That means at least 290 million residents are completely missing the mark. They aren't doing much better with fruit either, with only 12 percent of Americans eating one and a half to two servings per day. Come on, America. All it takes is some blueberry pancakes and a banana! Even a delicious, fruity baked good would count. But even that's asking too much. This isn't the first time this concern has been raised. Professor of nutrition and food studies Marion Nestle told the Guardianthat this study simply confirms "years of data" and is nothing new. "This report highl...

U.S. man with rare disease is first to undergo gene editing in the body 23     OAKLAND, Calif. — Scientists for the first time have tried editing a gene inside the body in a bold attempt to permanently change a person's DNA to cure a disease. The experiment was done Monday in California on 44-year-old Brian Madeux. Through an IV, he received billions of copies of a corrective gene and a genetic tool to cut his DNA in a precise spot. "It's kind of humbling" to be the first to test this," said Madeux, who has a metabolic disease called Hunter syndrome. "I'm willing to take that risk. Hopefully it will help me and other people." Signs of whether it's working may come in a month; tests will show for sure in three months. If it's successful, it could give a major boost to the fledgling field of gene therapy. Scientists have edited people's genes before, altering cells in the lab that are then returned to patients. There also ...