Acne scars and chickenpox scars sometimes are very pronounced. Chickenpox scars could be more pronounced and ugly as compared to acne scars. Everyone especially the women are striving to look beautiful and younger but the scars sometimes may lead to depressed feelings. There is nothing to worry about since the modern medicine has multiple options to treat chickenpox scars as well as the acne scars. Procedures like microdermabrasion, laser assisted scar revision, chemical peeling and punch elevation are available. A suitable procedure could be carried out after clinical assessment and evaluation of skin type. These procedures are also capable of treating hyperpigmentation of skin characterized by black to brownish black pigmentation. Oily skin and dry skin need a different type of treatment. However, a patch test is must before a chemical peeling treatment to rule out allergy to chemicals. Pre and post treatment care is must for the best results. Consult an expert dermatologist for the best results and get rid of acne scars and chickenpox scars.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Cataract Is An Aging Complication
Frankly speaking, the cataract (opacity of the lens of an eye) is not a disease but an aging complication of eyes. Cataract may occur in majority of people in older age group. You may call it an invisible sign of aging which impair our vision. However, incidence is more in patients affected by diabetes and hypertension. Industrial works having exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation are probably at risk of developing cataract early in life. Excessive use of eye drops containing steroids could also increase the chances of developing cataract faster. Each of our eyes contains a transparent lens. As the age advances or we cross the age of 50 years, the lens of one or both the eyes may start becoming opaque, impairing our vision as the light may not pass onto the retina of our eye. Blurring of images, difficulty in night driving and double vision are the signs of cataract and anybody with these signs of cataract should consult an eye specialist. Nothing to worry. Cataract is 100 per cent treatable through eye surgery.
Cataract surgery is done under local anesthesia of eye and takes less than 30 minutes. In cataract surgery opaque lens of the eye is removed and an artificial new lens is implanted in the eye. Phacoemulsification is a new and advanced technique of cataract surgery employed in majority of the eye care centers through out the world. Phacoemulsification technique is a stitch less and painless procedure of cataract surgery. Majority of the cases could be operated with anesthetic eye drops and only very old people may need inject-able local anesthesia. In phacoemulsification the opaque lens of the affected eye is emulsified and sucked out through a small hole and the new lens is implanted through the same small hole. Results of phacoemulsification technique of cataract surgery are documented to be excellent even in immature or partially developed cataract. The phacoemulsification surgery is not a costly procedure. Patient may move to his home within 2 hours of surgery. Eye drops medication for one to two weeks with a follow up evaluation and refraction for glasses and your vision is perfect. Take special of your eyes and avoid self medication and injudicious use of eye drops containing steroids.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Food For Health And Fitness
Health is not mere absence of disease or infirmity but a state of complete physical, mental and social well being. An optimal amount of balanced diet is essential for individuals of all age groups. Environmental factors do influence our dietary requirements. Food is essential to build up the body to make it fit for wear and tear and cope with environmental conditions and infectious agents. Food acts as fuel for the production of heat and energy in our body. Our nutritional requirements include adequate proportions of protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, minerals and vitamins.
Daily requirement of an adult is in the range of 60 to 80 grams of protein, 300 to 400 grams of carbohydrates (starches and sugars), 70 to 100 grams of fat, 3-5 grams of salt and minerals and some milligrams/units of vitamins. Vitamins are an integral part of some food stuffs. Proteins are of two types. Animal proteins are rich in essential amino-acids, but plant proteins lack certain essential amino-acids. There are 8 essential amino-acids and a complete protein food should contain at least 5 of them. We require a mixed diet that is a diet consisting of foodstuffs derived from animals and plants as no single article of food contains all the essential proportions of diet materials cited above. Milk and cheese are rich source of casein, a protein. Eggs and meat are rich source of essential amino-acids containing proteins. Other sources of proteins are Soya beans, pulses and agar-agar. Water constitutes 80 to 85 per cent of our daily diet intake. Fruits and vegetables are rich source of carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Vegetable oils are source of fat with unsaturated fatty acids. Different foodstuffs have different heat generating value that is Caloric value. One gram of protein has a heat value of 4 Calories, 1 gram of carbohydrate also has 4 Calories and 1 gram of fat has a heat value of 9 Calories. The Caloric value of a balanced diet for an adult male per day should be 2500 to 3000 Calories. A woman needs about 2200 Calories daily for good health and fitness.
Is Noninvasive Coronary Angiography Possible
Yes, noninvasive coronary angiography is possible. Those who are not interested for trans radial coronary angiography or coronary angiography through femoral artery may opt for noninvasive coronary angiography which is performed by Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan) procedure. The dazzling resolution and speed of 64-slice CT Scan is capable of imaging the cardiovascular system. Through computer aided software it is possible to freeze the cardiac motion to achieve the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Through CT Scan 64 thin slices, each with 360-degree rotation of the x-ray tube are achieved. The entire heart could be imaged with in 6 to 8 minutes as one slice image takes hardly 0.35 seconds. After the scan, the data is processed with image handling software on the CT workstation using volume rendering technique. Noninvasive coronary angiography is cost effective and less time consuming. One may have second opinion on the diagnosis before going for treatment.
Cause of Coronary Artery Disease: Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and narrowed down due to deposition of fat or plaques. The arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle are called coronary arteries. The buildup of plaque on the inner side of coronary arteries is known as atherosclerosis. Enormous increase in the size of plaque may lead to partial or complete blockage of a coronary artery, thereby reducing the flow of oxygenated blood to the cardiac muscle. Lack of oxygen supply and nutrients to the cardiac muscle may result in angina. Long duration of CAD may weaken the heart muscle and cause heart failure or arrhythmias. Heart failure means the heart is unable to pump the required amount of blood to various parts of body and does not advocate the complete cessation of function of heart. Arrhythmias means changes in the normal beating rhythm of the heart or apex beat. In some cases, the first sign of the CAD may be a heart attack. A heart attack may happen when a blood clot formed due to broken plaque completely blocks a coronary artery.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Parkinson’s Disease And Ayurvedic Treatment
Parkinson's disease is a neuromuscular disorder that could affect individuals of both the sexes in advanced age. It is a sort of motor neuron disorder. By the time primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) like tremors or trembling of hands, arms and legs appear; more than 60 per cent of dopamine producing cells of brain would have been lost. Postural instability stuttering of voice and stiffness of limbs and trunk are other signs of Parkinson's disease. Dopamine has been established as an important messenger of brain for coordinating motor neuron function. There are two types of neurons in our body. The neurons which carry impulses out from the brain to the tissues are called efferent neurons and the neurons
which carry impulses to the brain from the tissues are called afferent neurons. Efferent neurons which supply impulses to the muscles and produce movement are called motor neurons and which supply impulses to the glands and produce secretion are called secretory neurons. Afferent neurons are also known as sensory neurons since these help us to assess a feeling of touch, pain and heat or cold. Incidence of PD is more in men as compared to women. Sometimes early signs of the disease could be confused with other neurological problems and may go unnoticed. Patients may find tremors or shaky movements in any one side of their body or in limbs even at rest. People suffering from PD need support and encouragement to tide over emotional stress. Massaging and exercise could be of great help to rehabilitate a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease. Physiotherapy and confidence building counseling are always fruitful for these patients. The nature has blessed the mankind with herbs for treatment of all ailments. Ayurvedic masters have explored the medicinal values of different parts of medicinal plants to great extent. Use of Ashwagandha or Ginseng (Withania samnifera) have been described as an effective herbal treatment for PD. Beans of Kapikachhu (Mucuna pruiens) have also been found to be treatment of choice for PD since
these are rich in L-dopa and have been validated through experimental studies. Gaduchi (Tinosporia cordifolia) and Jyotishmati (Celestrus paniculatum) are other herbs which could provide effective treatment in PD. An experienced Ayurvedic physician could be of great help to fight off the complications of Parkinson's disease.