Cervical Spondylosis (Degenerative neck disease )

Cervical Spondylosis/ Degenerative neck disease

General Info about Cervical Spondylosis

The area, which are commonly affected by Cervical Spondylosis are from the fourth to seventh vertebral bones. The discs present in between the two vertebrae loses height due to ageing or degeneration or sometimes due to injury.

In cervical spondylosis the ligament of the joints become thick and shortened. The disc space becomes narrow and gradually compresses the nerve. In advanced cases of Cervical Spondylosis, spinal cord is affected and may also lead to paralysis of the arm.


Galen as far back as in 160 AD recognized this protective effect of the discs and said:

'Probably then, provident nature made the nerves grow out from the spinal medulla right at the point where the lateral parts of the vertebrae come to an end, so that the nerves may not suffer in any way'.

Who are commonly prone to cervical spondylosis?
It is common in middle-aged people.
Women are affected more than men.

Degeneration occurs at different people at different rates. Pain is not common in all who undergo the ageing process, it occurs in the presence of any one of the precipitating factor as enlisted in the causes below.

Cervical Dystonia (Torticollis / Stiff Neck / Wryneck )

Torticollis / Stiff Neck / Wryneck / Cervical Dystonia

General Info about Torticollis

The word 'Torticollis' comes from the Latin
, tortus meaning "Twisted" and Collum meaning "Neck".

Torticollis refers to the neck in a twisted or bent position due to imbalance of neck muscles and leads to involuntary contractions of the neck muscle refers to presentation of the neck in a twisted or bent position due to non-symmetry of neck muscles leading to involuntary contractions of the neck muscle.

This condition affects the neck muscles which become tender and soft. The neck gradually begins to bend to one side. Family history of the condition increases the chances of suffering from the condition. In such cases, the condition may gradually start and begin to bend the neck to one side during the middle age. It is medically termed as spasmodic torticollis and this twist in the neck manifests as spasms.

Timely treatment is extremely crucial, lest the condition becomes permanent. Torticollis can also develop due to injury or in some cases as a side-effect to certain medications.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer - Overview

Cervical cancer
is a slowly progressing disease, which affects the lining of the mouth of the uterus, known as cervix

Cancer is a disease, which is caused by the uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cells. Cancer that affects the lining of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus, is known as cervical cancer.

The surface of the cervical lining comprises of two cell types, the squamous and the columnar cells. Squamous cells are resistant to injury while the columnar cells forms glands and secrete a mucus- like fluid. The region in the cervix where there is a transition from one cell type to another is called squamo-columnar junction. This is the area that is most prone to develop cancer. During a Pap-screening test, samples from this area are removed to be examined.

Cancer of the cervix develops gradually and becomes full-blown over a period of time. The abnormal changes that the cervical cells develop which transform them to a pre-cancerous state are referred to as 'Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia' (CIN). Based on its degree or intensity, these changes are classified as low grade CIN and high grade CIN.
CIN may eventually progress to Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL) or it may develop into Carcinoma In-situ, which is localized malignant growth. SIL can be further divided into low or high grade.

High-grade SIL and Carcinoma in-situ may transform into Invasive Carcinoma, which spreads to adjacent tissues. The Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the uterus, seen in 80-90% of the cases, mostly affects the squamous cells, while the Adenocarcinoma, affecting the glandular cells, is observed in the remaining cases.

Cervical Cancer

Cephalgia (Headache )

Headache / Cephalgia

About

A headache literally means ‘pain in the head’. It is a common complaint that may occur frequently in some


'Every head has its own headache'
- Arab proverb

A headache literally means ‘pain in the head’. In many cases, it does not stop with the head and may extend on to the neck and upper back. It is a very common complaint that may occur frequently in some people.

The brain is itself pain-free as it lacks nociceptors;however, the surrounding membrane, dura, and the associated blood vessels have pain receptors and are highly prone to pain. Any irritation to these membranes and blood vessels result in aches. Irritations to the head muscles too can result in a painful experience.

The common causes for a headache include stress/tensions, dehydration, eye stain, migraine, sinusitis and low levels of blood sugar. Headaches may also occur due to life-threatening conditions like brain tumors, encephalitis, meningitis, increased BP, cerebral aneurysms and brain tumors. Head injuries are other causes of headaches. In women, headaches can be caused by the fluctuating levels of hormones, such as estrogen.

Headaches are often harmless and they tend to go away by themselves. In some rare cases, migraines can be associated with stroke.

In the vast majority of the cases, the pain is relieved by simple, over- the- counter, pain-relieving pills such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol. Certain headaches do not go away by themselves and may require more specific treatment accompanied by lifestyle changes.

Cellulite Treatment

Cellulite Treatment

Get that svelte, toned look at affordable prices by traveling abroad.

Cellulite is a skin condition, also known by other synonyms such as 'orange peel syndrome' or 'cottage cheese skin'. It mostly affects women of all sizes and shapes and age. It is also observed in some men.

Stress and a lot of other lifestyle factors play a role in causing cellulite. The only impact of this condition is that it is considered aesthetically offensive by some as the skin overlying the thighs, abdomen and buttocks become dimpled and lumpy.

If you pinch the skin over these areas, your skin may become dimply or tender, or may appear paler or may feel colder in comparison to the rest of the body. If such is your case, you are a candidate for cellulite treatment.

Some of the treatments offered for cellulite are listed below-

ENDERMOLOGIE - also referred to as "liponic sculpturing", is not a surgical procedure. Here a patented vaccum device is used to do ‘deep massage’ on the affected areas to improve blood flow and aid in lymph drainage. It also breaks down the fat cells and provides a smooth contour.

MESOTHERAPY- Here small quantities of medications and vitamins are injected into the middle layer of skin over the affected areas. The drugs help to dissolve the fat while the vitamins help in healing. Initially, redness and inflammation may result from the injections, but it would subside after a day or two.

RejuveSkin, is a novel breakthrough to treat cellulite. This procedure involves ‘special solution’ and ‘special tools’created exclusively for the method.

Laser and electromagnetic - assisted treatments and target cell liposuction are also carried out to treat cellulite.

Initially there may be swelling and discomfort There may be a few associated risks too, such as infections. But things get back to normal within a few days. However, you may be advised against strenuous activities for a while.

Ayurvedic Massage - Some of the best treatment for cellulite is found in the traditional Indian Ayurvedic method of treatment consisting of detoxifying massages carried out by expert therapists.

Aroma Massages - Massages using oils and other aromatic substances also find favor with many.

None of these treatments have found universal support although many have gained by them. Along with the treatment modalities, a healthy diet, coupled with regular exercises, is mandatory.

Get Cellulite treatment at affordable prices by traveling abroad. But first check out the credentials of the plastic surgeon and the hospital or consult us first to help you.

Causes of Hair Loss

Causes of Hair Loss

Worried about your thinning hair? Before you leap into a course of treatment, look at what might be causing your hair to fall. Here are a few common reasons why people lose hair (listed in order of the control an individual can exercixe over them, and how common these conditions are):

1. Trichotillomania,

2. Hair treatments and styling

3. Genetics

4. Disruption of the hair-growth cycle

5. Skin diseases

6. Chronic diseases

7. Side effect of medicines


1. Trichotillomania

People who suffer from trichotillomania (which is classified as a psychological disorder) pull out their hair, mostly as a result of stress – some people actually do it so compulsively they even go bald. Usually, their hair is lost in patches. Sometimes the hair shaft is broken, and occasionally the follicle itself is damaged and scarred. The more the scarring, the less the chance of hair re-growth.


The best solution for this is to realize that that you are pulling out your own hair and then stop doing it! If you feel you are unable to stop the uncontrolled hair pulling in spite of knowing that the habit is seriously thinning your hair, seek professional help from a psychotherapist.

2. Hair treatments and styling

Hair treatments with hot oils or irons, and perming, coloring, bleaching, or straightening, will weaken your hair and cause it to break off. Even using blow dryers weakens hair, and can thin hair out over the years if you use the dryers on the hottest setting all the time.

One type of hair style – pulling the hair tight into pony tails or braids - can lead to hair being pulled out of its roots in some women. This kind of hair loss can actually be permanent if the style has been worn a long time and the hair follicles are scarred – which means they will not produce new hair.

3. Genetics

If you are going bald, or thinning out, and your parents and grandparents haven’t had great ‘coverage’ either, chances are your hair loss is genetic. The culprit hormone behind most hair loss (DHT or, dihydrotestosterone) is produced in different quantities by different people, and hair follicles seem to have different susceptibilities to the effects of this hormone – these differences are programmed into our genes,

That does not mean that you can do nothing about it. A lot of ‘male pattern baldness’ or androgenetic alopecia responds to well to the latest medicines being developed to treat it.

4. Disruption of the hair-growth cycle

Life stresses like pregnancy, surgery, or severe illness or trauma can lead to hair loss. Usually the major part of hair loss happens two or three months after the event – because even though the hair may stop growing at the time of stress, the root dies and the hair falls out only later. During pregnancy, hormonal changes cause the body to hold on to hair that will be normally shed. When the pregnancy is over and hormones return to their ordinary levels, this hair will fall out.

Most people recover from this kind of hair loss naturally (so long as the stressor is a short-term event).

5. Skin diseases

Some people lose hair in small patches over the scalp – a condition called alopecia areata. This is believed to be a kind of auto-immune disease which occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue. The patches sometimes disappear spontaneously, but treatment with medicines is also an option.

Some skin diseases like ringworm and psoriasis, when they affect the scalp, can cause hair fall. The hair fall usually stops once the disease is controlled.

6. Other diseases and malnutrition

Sometimes hair fall can be a symptom of an underlying disease like diabetes, lupus, or polycystic ovaries. If you have thyroid disease – whether your thyroid is overactive or underactive – you will have poor quality hair that falls easily.

Hair fall can also be a sign of nutritional
deficiencies. Iron deficiency can cause hair fall, and people whose diet does not have enough protein and calcium will also lose hair. This is why women on a crash diet, or those who have disorders like anorexia or bulimia, often lose a lot of hair.

7. Side effects of drugs

Most people know that severe hair fall (that may sometimes even lead to baldness) is a side effect of chemotherapy drugs for cancer
. But what most people do not know is that medicines for depression, bipolar disorder, and acne can also cause hair loss. Any medicine containing amphetamines – often prescribed for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders and also present in diet pills – can cause your hair to fall.

The good news is that once you stop these medicines, your hair should grow back automatically.

If you can clearly pinpoint the reason why you are losing hair, choosing the right treatment course becomes a lot easier. Accordingly, you can introduce desirable lifestyle or fashion changes and if required, consult a doctor.


Compiled by: Susan Vinodh Pandian

Reviewed by: Tanya Thomas

Uploaded by: Mani

Cataract in Detail

About Cataract


Cataract is derived from the Greek word cataraetos, which describes especially running water. Rapidly running water turns white, as do nature of cataracts. The lens is a crystalline transparent structure, situated within the eyeball composed of protein and water. As long as the lens is transparent we are able to see the world. Any factor that leads to a loss of transparency of the lens can cause cataract.

Cataract

General Info about Cataract

The most common condition related to aging is cataract. More than quarter of all Indians aged 65 and older have a cataract. A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens. When the lens becomes cloudy, the light is blocked and scattered, and therefore the image that appears is blurred. As a cataract develops, it becomes harder for a person to see. The lens is that part of the eye which helps to focus light on the retina. The retina is the eye's sensitive layer that sends visual signals to the brain. To produce a sharp image, the lens must remain clear.

Cardiac Catheterization (Coronary Angiogram )

Cardiac Catheterization / Coronary Angiogram

About Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a radiological procedure for both diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions. It involves the insertion of a long thin flexible tube called catheter a vein or an artery to the heart.

The common insertion site for the catheters are groin, arm or neck. An interventional cardiologist can do this procedure. It is performed in a sterile "catheterization laboratory" or "Cath lab". During catheteriztion, contrast material (also called dye) is injected and X-ray images can be viewed live or recorded for future references.

Cardiac catheterization can be done at any age, including for new borns. The procedure approximately takes an hour or more depending on the condition for which it is performed. In the United states, more than one million Americans have angiograms and cardiac catheterization done every year. More than half of these patients have angioplasty or bypass surgery to improve blood supply to their heart.

Picture Of Cardiac Cath Lab

Claude Bernard was the first to catheterize a horse in the 19th century.

The first person to try and insert a catheter into a human heart was Werner Forssmann, in 1929. He had performed this act on himself under the guidance of fluoroscopy. Back then, it was considered a disapproving act until 1956 when he was recognized and awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology along with André Cournand and Dickinson W.Richards.

Cardiac Catheterization

Carcinoma of The Breast (Breast Cancer )

Breast Cancer / Carcinoma of the Breast

About


Breast cancer, as the name suggests, is a cancer that affects the breasts or mammary glands.

It is the second most popular cancer after lung cancer and is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths world wide.


On a global scale breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst women . According to estimates, in the 2004 alone breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide.

Breast cancer incidence increases with age; the older the woman, the more aggressive the evaluation techniques employed. Nevertheless, younger women with breast lumps are at a far greater risk for breast cancer in comparison to asymptomatic women of the same age group, and to older women.

Breast cancer mostly occurs in women over the age of 50, and the risk is especially high for women over age 60.

Contrary to popular belief that it is a woman’s affliction, it can affect both men and women.

A combination of enviornmental factors and genes are responsible for this cancer. In familial breast cancers. a mutation in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 play a major role in the disease onset.

Breast cancer can be inherited both from either a female or a male relative who may have had the disease or who acts as a carrier of the mutant gene(s).

Breast cancer incidence varies vastly worldwide. It is significantly higher in the developed countries of the world in comparison to the less-developed ones. There has been a surge in the number of affected individals since the 1970s and experts are of the opinion that the indulgent lifestyles of the western world could be largely responsible.

Breast cancer is also found to occur more often in white women than African American or Asian women. Several studies have revealed that the breast cancer scenario in the US is quite different for a for a black women in comparison to her white counterpart. The former is more likely to die from the disease although it is the latter who is more frequently diagnosed with the disease. This. experts say. is a reflection of the socio-economic and cultural disparity that exists among the races and that it is highly likely that the black woman has less access to screening and treatment facilities.

Breast lumps need to be taken seriously because the vast majority of breast cancers are detected as a palpable lesions sometimes by the clinician during a regular check or by the patient herself.It can also present as non palpable lesions during a routine mammography.It must be noted that the palpable lesions are assessed quite differently from the non -palpable lesions.

Breast cancer is one of the oldest cancers known to man. However, it is only with the modern understanding of the systemic nature disease that effective treatments began to evolve.

A pink ribbon denotes the struggle of the sufferers when fighting the cancer. In 1996 the pink and blue ribbon was designed to create awareness of the fact that "Men Get Breast Cancer Too!”

Breast Cancer - Facts

• Breast cancer is 100 times more frequent in women in comparison to men. Prognosis is the same in both.

• Most common cancer in women - the incidence rate among females is twice as much as that of colorectal cancer and cervical cancer and approximately three times that of lung cancer

• Globally, the incidence of breast cancer is the highest among American women.

• 16% of women between the age of 40-60 years have breast-related problems. Of these 40% complain of breast lumps

• In women over 40 years, these breast lumps may carry a risk of breast cancer

• However, the majority of these breast- related complaints may be due to benign breast disease.

Cannabis

About Cannabis

Cannabis has a long history of medicinal, recreational, and industrial use and comes from a bushy plant, with thick sticky flowers, called Cannabis Sativa.

Cannabis or Hemp otherwise known as 'marijuana' or 'marihuana',

• Cannabis is produced from dried leaves from the Hemp plant, 'Cannabis Sativa'.
• The active ingredients from this plant are called 'marijuana', or 'marihuana'.
• An interesting point about marihuana is that it makes some people lose focus on events around them, while it elevates the physical sensations in others.
• Cannabis is a drug that affects an individual by acting on the brain.
• 50 percent of the chemicals that make up Cannabis are the potent 'cannabinoids', of which the most active is D-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC).
• Traveling through the blood stream the chemicals bind to specific receptors in the brain causing changes in the nerve cells resulting in specific effects.
• Marihuana 'high' is felt as the THC reaches the brain through the blood within 5 minutes of intake, and the effect may last up to 5 hours.

Cancer Pain

General Info about Pain

Pain is a form of sensation. Normally, pain alerts us to a bodily injury or illness. Everyone feels pain and so it is important for patients to be able to describe their pain to the doctor.

Cancer of The Stomach (Gastric Cancer )

Gastric Cancer / Cancer Of The Stomach

General Info About Gastric Cancer

The stomach is part of the digestive system. It is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs on the left side. The upper part of the stomach connects to the esophagus, and the lower part leads into the small intestine.

The stomach is shaped like the letter J. Nearby the stomach are organs such as the liver, left kidney with left adrenal gland, pancreas, colon, and spleen.

The clinical term for cancer of the stomach is gastric cancer.

Approximately 24,000 new cases of gastric cancer are diagnosed each year in this country. And there are about 700,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide.

The disease is found most often in people over age 55. It affects men twice as often as women, and is more common in black people than in white people.

Also, stomach cancer is more common in some parts of the world -- such as Japan, Korea, parts of Eastern Europe, and Latin America -- than in the United States.

Cancer of The Adrenal Cortex (Adreno Cortical Carcinoma / Adreno Cortical Cancer / Adrenal Cortex Cancer )

Adreno Cortical Carcinoma / Adreno Cortical Cancer / Cancer of the Adrenal Cortex / Adrenal Cortex Cancer

About

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an incompletely understood rare malignancy with poor treatment outcome and prognosis.

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer that affects the outer layer (cortex) of the adrenal glands situated atop the kidneys. The cortex has several important functions such as producing adrenaline, nor adrenaline and steroid hormones besides controlling heart beat rate and blood pressure.

This condition affects about 1-2 million people annually; children below the age of 6 years and adults aged between 30-40 years are the most affected.




The adrenal is an important hormonal gland of the body and produces glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and sex hormones hence the cancer of this gland can cause excess production of these hormones leading to many syndromes depending on the cell type that proliferates. Sometimes the cell type that proliferates may not produce a functional tumor.

In children when it manifests as a cancer it is usually a functional tumor. Virilization is by far the most common presenting symptom, followed by Cushing's syndrome and precocious puberty.

Among adults presenting with hormonal syndromes, Cushing's syndrome alone is most common, followed by mixed Cushing's and virilization (glucocorticoid and androgen overproduction). Feminization and Conn syndrome (mineralcorticoid excess) occur in less than 10% of cases.

In adults the presentation maybe as a functional tumor or a non-functional tumor (almost in 40%). Among functional tumors the most common is Cushing's syndrome, followed by mixed Cushing's and virilization. Feminization and Conn syndrome (due to mineralcorticoid excess) occur in less than 10% of cases.

Like any cancer this can also often invade nearby tissues or spread to distant organs like bone, liver and lungs.

Cancer of Ovary (Ovarian Cancer )

Ovarian Cancer / Cancer of Ovary

Ovarian Cancer - Overview

Ovarian cancer affects both the ovaries and is referred to as the 'silent killer' as the symptoms go unnoticed until the disease advances.

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which there is rapid division and growth of cells in one or both the ovaries. It is also known as the 'silent killer' because most often the symptoms go unnoticed until the disease advances. It is the fifth most common cancer in women and affects the ovaries, which are the female reproductive organs that produces the ova or the egg. Ovaries also secrete the sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone and are two in number. They are located within the pelvic region on either side of the uterus.

Ovarian cancer is responsible for 5% of the total cancer deaths among women. Early detection of ovarian cancer increases the woman's chances of survival. Other factors that affect the survival rates are age, stage of cancer, and tissue type.

The ovaries contain cells which multiply to maintain tissue health, but when the growth control is lost, cells divide faster resulting in a cellular mass or tumor. If it does not invade the surrounding tissue and is confined to a few layers then it is a benign tumor. On the other hand if the tumor spreads to surrounding tissues and organs, it is considered malignant.

Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacteriosis


What is Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacteriosis is a Zoonotic disease caused by a bacterium Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is the most common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. Campylobacter causes 5%-14% of all diarrohea that occurs worldwide.


Infection occurs due to consumption of contaminated food, water or raw milk.

calcium and vitamin supplements

Calcium and Vitamin Supplements

Calcium and Vitamin Supplements - Why the Supplements

Humans are by nature inquisitive and insatiable. They tirelessly pursue a perfect healthy body. Calcium and vitamin supplements are taken to provide the body with the 'required' nutrients.

People want their daily doses of health through minerals & vitamins not through diet, but through a short cut, via supplements. Various supplements are available in the market and all boast of being the best. These rooftop proclamations of "I am the best" leave the consumer confused. This is an objective effort to clear the mist over supplements and guide the consumers.

caffey-silverman disease (Infantile Cortical Hyperostosis )

Infantile Cortical Hyperostosis / Caffey-Silverman disease

Introduction

Infantile Cortical Hyperostosis is an unusual disease of an unknown etiology. It is also known as Caffey's disease or Caffey-Silverman disease after the persons who discovered it. The main feature of the disease is a peculiar cortical thickening of certain bones like the mandible, the clavicles, and the shafts of long bones. Several other diseases like syphilis, scurvy, rickets and traumatic injury also produce cortical thickening in bones, but as yet researchers
have been unable to find any link between these diseases and infantile cortical hyperostosis.

Burns

General Info about Burns

One of the most painful injuries that one can ever experience is a burn injury. When a burn occurs to the skin, nerve endings are damaged causing the intense feelings of pain.

Burn injuries, have reached epidemic proportions in recent years and are considered a health care
problem that is more serious than the polio epidemic when it was at its peak. It has only been in the past several years that the medical profession has begun to recognize and understand the problems associated with burns. Burn accident statistics show that at least 50% of all burn accidents can be prevented. Across the world approximately 4.8 million burn injuries are reported per year. Between 18,000 and 22,000 patients with burns die, and approximately one million will sustain substantial or permanent disabilities resulting from their burn injury.

The kitchen is the most frequent area within the home where burn injuries occur for children newborn to four years in age. The second most frequent area in which burns occur is in the bathroom.

Burns can be of two kinds based on the extent of damage:

Partial Thickness Burns.
In partial thickness burns, there may be redness due to capillary dilatation but the underlying germinal layer is intact.

Full Thickness Burns.
In full thickness burns, the skin is completely destroyed.

T	TPartial Thickness	TFull Thickness
Depth	Superficial	Deep
Sensation	Present	Absent
Healing	Complete	Scar And Contractute

Bullying at School - Tips For Schools

Introduction

Bullying is an intentional, hurtful and character damaging act by one individual or a group of individuals on other individual or group of individuals.


Bullying today is a societal menace and draws the attention of parents, teachers and sometimes education authorities. It can take the form of -

* Beating

* Kicking

* Name calling

* Excluding from peer group

* Insulting in public places

* Taunting

* Playing hurtful pranks

* Damaging belongings

Bullying in schools is a universal problem. The severity of the problem may vary from school to school. In recent years, the constant media attention has made bullying a global issue. Many schools have been forced to evaluate their teaching methods and add new policies on anti-bullying behavior.

Over thirty years of my experience in working with school children as a teacher and then as a principal, I have found many schools often deny the presence of bullying in their campus. However, denying the presence of a problem does not mean it’s not there. School authorities have often also been found to blame the current social structure. Some of these are:

* Working parents

* Unstable homes

* An increase in divorce rates

* And abuse at home

The above reasons definitely do create a volatile environment for the child and on many occasions does play a vital factor in the child’s psychology and behavioral patterns. Nonetheless, some stability needs to be brought in and only through a consistent effort of schools, government and parents can bullying be controlled.

Personally I feel that, youngsters often miss essential basic values, respect for themselves and others, humanity, love, tolerance and confidence. They spend much of their time on the Internet or watching television that does not help them learn or build on positive social behavior. In the recent years we have found that with every new batch of children, we have youngsters who are becoming increasingly aggressive and exhibit gross misbehavior. Hence there is considerable increase in the kind of bullying and its severity. The ratio of bullies to bullied is one is to ten, in the recent years

Bullying at School - Tips For Parents

About Bullying behavior

The murder of a schoolboy, Abhishek Tyagi by his classmates in the Euro International School in Gurgaon, Haryana, India, on 11 December 2007, shook a nation that was hitherto complacent about the lethal aspects of the bullying menace. Apart from the extensive media coverage, there were heated debates among parents, teachers, children and the general public. The alleged reason for Tyagi’s murder by his schoolmates in the school corridor: Tyagi was a bully.


Might is not always right

Having a fight in school may be part of growing up, but it takes an ugly turn when it assumes serious proportions. Bullying can happen anywhere when human beings interact with each other.

Schools and play areas make excellent breeding grounds for bullying in the case of children. Parents can contribute in a great way to put an end to this worldwide menace. They need to be aware that this is happening and keep constantly honing their parental skills to deal effectively with their bullying /bullied children. They can work in collaboration with school authorities, counselors and psychologists and involve the child’s siblings, if any, to instill firmly in the child’s mind that might is not always right.

Bullying behavior

A bullying tendency that is left unchecked in the earlier years of life, escalates to typical bullying behavior that includes being intentionally hurting, verbally abusive, mocking, threatening, extorting, ridiculing about appearance or lack of talent, all of which can cause considerable damage to the victim at the physical, psychological and emotional levels. Most bullies find it difficult to toe the line after the initial bout of success while teasing an unfortunate victim.

Fatal Bullying

Bullying can sometimes have violent consequences when the victims are driven to taking a gun in hand. On 24 January 1989, two students were fatally shot down by a fourteen-year-old student who claimed to be a victim of bullying at the Raumanmeri secondary school in Rauma, Finland. Brian Head, a teenaged student
from Georgia, shot himself dead in his economics classroom on March 26,1994, allegedly a target of bullies because of his weight and thick glasses. Eyewitnesses said, Brian’s last words before killing himself were, “I’m tired of it.” Brian’s father lobbied hard for the enactment of a law for criminalizing bullying and for schools to alert parents of bullied children.

Child bully now, adult bully next

Research has linked bullies to aggressive personalities. They are most often authoritarian with an urge to control or dominate others. Envy and resentment are also known motives for bullying. A bullying tendency has the danger of mutating as the child grows into an adult and begins to be controlling and manipulative in relationships.

Aggression is not assertion

Most parents are unable to differentiate between an assertive child and an aggressive child. In their desire to see their children become independent and capable of fending for themselves, parents fail to notice when assertion becomes aggression. On 29 January 1979 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer carried out a shooting spree in Cleveland Elementary school, San Diego, California, with a .22 rifle that her dad had gifted her, wounding 8 children, a police officer and killing 2 adults, one of whom was the school principal. She did it to liven up the day, because, “I don’t like Mondays,” she said. Her infamous statement prompted a song
by Bob Geldof that topped UK charts and was even performed later by the likes of Bon Jovi.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa - Overview

"In 30 patients whose illness bears a close resemblance to anorexia nervosa,…episodes of overeating constituted the most constant feature of the disorder…. Overeating was often overshadowed by more dramatic clinical phenomena--intractable self-induced vomiting or purgation…. The constancy and significance of overeating invite a new terminology for description of this symptom--bulimia nervosa."

- Gerald F.M. Russell, 1979


The term 'Bulimia' refers to episodes of uncontrolled excessive eating, known as "binges," followed by self-induced vomiting or purgation. It commonly occurs in adolescent girls. The key elements include the following

This 'Eating Disorder' is characterised by an irresistible urge to overeat.

Extreme measures to control body weight and misconceptions regarding the "perfect" shape and size of the body are observed, similar to that in patients with Anorexia Nervosa.

The condition might get severe with huge quantities of food being consumed.

To prevent weight gain patients resort to self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, fasting or extremely rigorous exercising.

Bubbles and Brews - Alcohol Facts

About Alcohol

There is more to alcohol than mere intoxication. Infamous because of its social abuse but indispensable because of its many industrial applications. The process of fermentation obtains an alcohol.

Alcoholic drinks are widely popular and an essential element for socializing and relaxation - it is said the ingredients of man's happiness include - wine, women and mirth. Ethanol is the alcohol present in alcoholic drinks. Their excess uses lead to several social and health problems.

"He that drinks fast pays slow." Benjamin Franklin

The production and consumption of alcohol is part of most cultures and societies around the world. Drinking alcohol is an important social event among hunting tribes and civilized nations alike and may be closely associated to the culture of a community.

'Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life.' - George Bernard Shaw

In early and modern cultures, alcoholic beverages have played a vital role in social interaction by providing confidence and removing inhibition. While several psychoactive drugs such as opium and cannabis have the same effect they are not as socially accepted as alcohol.




Uses of Alcohol

In the olden times various reasons are attributed to the usage of alcohol such as-

* Therapeutic

* Recreational

* Relaxation and feeling of euphoria

* Aphrodisciac (modern studies have proved that this notion is false)

* Inspiration for creativity

* Religion

With time alcohol was found to be a very useful solvent and as an energy source for industrial use. Today alcohol finds a place as an important substance in many Industrial and pharmaceuticals manufacturing processes.

* An alcohol is used as solvent to dissolve medical drugs, perfumes and essences like vanilla.

* Both methanol and ethanol are used as fuel for automobiles. In comparison to gasoline they burn cleanly producing only carbon dioxide and water.

* It is used as a preservative for specimen storage in laboratories and museums.

* Ethanol has been used as an antiseptic to disinfect the skin before injections. It is used for making soap with disinfectant properties. It is also used for cleaning paint- brushes.

Bruxism / Tooth Grinding / Jaw Clenching / Teeth Clenching / Parasomnia

Bruxism - Overview

Bruxism is the unconscious clenching or grinding of teeth, during sleep. Nocturnal teeth grinding is one of the most common sleep disorders.

"The smith's dog sleeps at the noise of the hammer, and wakes at the grinding of teeth." - Unknown

Bruxism comes from the Greek word "brychein," which means 'to gnash the teeth'. It can cause enough noise to disturb the bed partner's sleep.

On an average, bruxism occurs about 25 times a night, with each episode lasting anywhere between four to five-seconds. In some cases, people with bruxism may grind their teeth for more than two minutes.




Sleep bruxism may go unnoticed when it is in a mild form, which may not warrant treatment. Victims wake up to the problem only in the midst of complications which could manifest as jaw problems, headaches or injury to the teeth.

Awareness about the condition is important; Corrective dental care could remedy the problem to a great extent.

Colle’s Fracture / Broken Wrist

About

Colle's fracture is a wrist fracture which occurs within an inch of the wrist joint involving the forearm bone's distal end of the radius. The fracture runs transversely just above the wrist joint and displays this distal end of the bone more dorsally giving the wrist the classical 'dinner fork' deformity look.


Colle's fracture is named after Abraham Colles, an Irish surgeon, who first described the condition. Another name for this fracture is the 'Pouteau' fracture. It mostly results from a 'slip and fall' on an outstretched hand.

Usually the incidence goes up after the rains or after the first snow fall in winter when the roads are icy and slippery or. Typically, when people fall they try and prevent injury to their head or other parts of the body by putting their hands out to hit the ground first. A bad fall results in fracture of the wrist with bruise of the skin over it. As the bone is a living hard tissue it is supplied by blood vessels and nerves. This causes the fracture to be very painful.



Although this fracture occurs in all age groups it tends to be more common in two age groups - the elderly people and in children. In Children the bones are soft and supple and hence tend to bend easily. Here the fracture is usually incomplete while in adults it is a complete fracture. These fractures are also seen in menopausal women with osteoporosis, in whom it is second only to vertebral fractures.

Wrist arthritis can occur as a Colles fracture complication, either from cartilage injury, or from wear and tear in the joints after the fracture is healed. Carpel tunnel syndrome, characterized by numbness and tingling, may also set in after the fracture.

Breech Presentation and Delivery

Breech Presentation and Delivery - About

Breech presentation during pregnancy means that the buttocks of the fetus are presenting first at the bottom of the uterus, and the head is in the upper part or fundus of the uterus. The uterus is shaped rather like an upside-down pear, so the baby's head fits in the lower part, with more room at the top for movement of the extremities. As the baby grows, the uterus gets more crowded and it is most common for it to assume the head -down presentation. Generally, the placenta is attached at the side of the uterus, which seems to encourage the head-down presentation, too. There are a number of variations of the breech presentation, determined by the position of the baby's body parts, like arms and legs, in relation to his or her head and trunk. They are -



* Frank breech (50-70%) - Hips flexed, knees extended with the feet near the face (pike position)
* Complete breech (5-10%) - Hips flexed, knees flexed (cannonball position)
* Footling or incomplete (10-30%) - One or both hips extended, foot presenting
* Kneeling breech - the baby
is in a kneeling position, with one or both legs extended at the hips and flexed at the knees. This is extremely rare.

Breasts - Structures and Types

About Breast

"Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies." Bible quotes


Anatomically breasts are quite literally two well structured and shaped mounds of fat that start to grow on the chest of girls when they hit puberty. The biological objective for women to have breasts is to eventually produce milk to wean her baby. Breast growth can be noticed in some girls as early as age 7 or 8, while in others it does not start until their late teens or even early 20’s.

Scientifically there is no way of knowing how big or small or how fast or slowly they will develop or when a woman’s breasts will start to grow.

It is however believed that the timing of these developments is associated with ones own biologic clock, which tells our body to start producing the required levels of female hormones called estrogen. From the moment the ovaries start to secrete these hormones, the connective tissues in the chest start to accumulate fat. This causes the first appearance of breasts on the chest wall of girls. The duct system in the breasts also begins to grow; these are what will eventually help to produce milk for the expecting mother.
Usually the first signs of puberty in most girls are associated with the development of the breast. Along with this, one can often expect the onset of pubic hair and hair of the arm pit.

The final size and shape of a girl’s breast varies greatly from being big breast, small breast or even perfect size breast. These pointers are all determined by the heredity of the girl.

Breasts from time immemorial have been the icon of a women’s beauty. They give the women the personality, make them often desirable and have always fascinated their male partner.

Over the years people have referred to breasts by various terms; however it is the slang that is more popular. Some common slangs are: Tits, Titties, Norks, Jugs, Knockers, Bust, Boobs, Bosoms, Boobies, Baps, Bust, Hooters and Melons.

To fully understand the developments of the breasts it is necessary to first look at the structure of the breasts.

Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast Reduction Surgery

Want firm and shapely breasts? Consider the option of traveling abroad to have it done at affordable prices.

Breast reduction is a surgical procedure carried out to minimize the size of breasts.

Also called reduction mammoplasty, this procedure is largely carried out on self-conscious women with pendulous, large- sized breasts. Besides the aesthetic aspect, the weight of these breasts may cause chronic pain in the head, neck, shoulders and back besides causing problems in circulation and breathing.

Breast reduction is also carried out on women with drooping or disproportionate breasts and on men with gynecomastia.

Breast Reduction is an out- patient surgery done under anesthesia. It involves the removal of excessive skin, fat and glandular tissue. Markings are made on the breasts after which incisions are created. Excess skin, tissues and fat will then be removed. Due to the reduction in size, the nipples may have to be repositioned.

This procedure is hugely popular among women as it results in smaller, firmer and shapely breasts. Male patients too,with gynecomastia, have their confidence restored.

Some of the common risks include difficulty in breast feeding, delayed wound healing, infection,pain, scarring and asymmetrical breasts. There could be permanent scarring from this procedure,but this could be made inconspicuous by an expert surgeon.

Are you self-conscious about your breasts? Would you like to make your life more manageable, free from back and neck pain?

If you have plans to travel abroad for an affordable breast reduction surgery, we suggest that you check out the credentials of the plastic surgeon and the hospital or consult us first to help you.

Breast Lumps-Screening

About

Breast lumps must never be neglected but instead be subjected to medical examination to rule out cancer
.
Breast lumps are common enough in women of all ages and may be caused by injuries, infections, non-malignant growth or cancer.

Routine breast cancer screening is carried out usually in healthy women above the age of 40 years with intent of detecting breast cancer even before the lumps appear.

Breast cancer deaths have declined in several parts of the world due to early detection and efficient treatment methodologies.

Once a breast lump appears it must not be neglected but subjected to medical examination to rule out cancer.

A breast lump is evaluated by taking the medical and family history of the patient, which is then followed by a physical examination. The risk factors associated with the patient are also observed.

Mammograms and breast scans are reliable screening tools.

In case of a family history genetic tests and breast MRI are also recommended.

Self-examination is not aggressively encouraged, as it tends to detect the cancer at a more advanced stage. The American Cancer Society now recommends it as a choice that can be exercised after the mandatory mammogram.

Breast Lumps

About

Do not neglect any breast lump. If you discover one - make a visit to your doctor.

An appearance of breast lump can be a cause of great anxiety to women whether young or old. A 'lump' is a three-dimensional discrete mass which is distinct from surrounding breast tissue.

Some women just ignore these lumps despite suspecting them to be malignant. The general thinking is 'it can't happen to me.' While it is true that majority of breast lumps are benign in nature, about 16 to 20% maybe malignant. In the medical faternity the dictum is to treat all lumps when they first present as malignant unless proven otherwise by tests such as ultrasound
or aspiration.

If in your case the lump does, unfortunately, turn out to be malignant - rememeber that there is a 'small window period' during which all early cancer are totally curable.

Our advise to you would be - DO NOT NEGLECT ANY LUMPS. Seeing your doctor is the first step you should take. Postponing this decision could make the difference - between living and dying.

Most common causes of Breast Lumps include: -

1) Fibroadenoma

2) Fibroadenosis

3) Breast Cyst

4) Breast Abscess

5) Breast Cancer

Breast Feeding and Problems

Directions for Breast Feeding

Good Health begins with mother.There is no substitute to her milk.

Most of the babies
come into the world knowing how to be breast-fed. If you get them anywhere close, they nuzzle, get attached, and suck away. Some need a little assistance.

To breast feed properly, your baby needs to open its mouth wide enough to take in the nipple and about a centimeter or two of the breast beyond it.

Your free hand should be used to support your breast, keep it in the baby's mouth, and keep it out of the baby's nose. Use your fingers under the breast with your thumb on the top.

Hold the baby at your breast by positioning it on its side or tummy-to-your tummy with its mouth at nipple level. During the first breast feedings, it is often helpful to remove the upper clothing from both mother and baby to be skin-to-skin.

To help the baby get started, express the milk into its mouth. This encourages the baby to open wide, suck, and swallow.

As a general rule, you'll breast feed your newborn eight to twelve times per day. Breast-feed your baby on demand, not by the clock. You don't want to let your baby get overtly hungry, as it does not feed well if you do so.

Sucking does not equal eating. Check to see if your baby, who is sucking away furiously, is actually swallowing. Babies usually do some sucking to swallow the saliva.

Newborns usually suck one to three times, and then swallow. Thus a new born who is sucking 15 minutes per breast, but not swallowing, is not receiving enough feeds and may need to breast feed 20 to 25 minutes per breast to get enough milk. The more the baby breast-feeds, the more milk your body will produce. Newborn babies breast feed about every two hours. However, they often breast feed for many reasons other than hunger. Therefore, allow the newborn to breast-feed as often as he or she wishes. Make sure the baby is sucking effectively. Offer both breasts at each feeding. Your baby's nose may be touching your breast during nursing. Babies' noses are designed to allow air to get in and out in such a case. But if you're concerned that your baby can't breathe easily, you can gently press down on your breast near your baby's nose to give him or her enough room to breathe.

Feeding her baby is a lifetime experience for a woman and there is no substitute for the mother's milk to the child. This is one of the most beautiful periods in the life for both the mother and child where the bond for each other develops. Breast feeding not only develops a baby into a healthy human being, but also contributes greatly to the mental development. In this feature, an attempt is made to make the expectant mother understand the various aspects of breast-feeding and its importance

Breast Feeding

To help the baby get started, express the milk into its mouth. This encourages the baby to open wide, suck, and swallow.

As a general rule, you'll breast feed your newborn eight to twelve times per day. Breast-feed your baby on demand, not by the clock. You don't want to let your baby get overtly hungry, as it does not feed well if you do so.

Sucking does not equal eating. Check to see if your baby, who is sucking away furiously, is actually swallowing. Babies usually do some sucking to swallow the saliva.

Newborns usually suck one to three times, and then swallow. Thus a new born who is sucking 15 minutes per breast, but not swallowing, is not receiving enough feeds and may need to breast feed 20 to 25 minutes per breast to get enough milk. The more the baby breast-feeds, the more milk your body will produce. Newborn babies breast feed about every two hours. However, they often breast feed for many reasons other than hunger. Therefore, allow the newborn to breast-feed as often as he or she wishes. Make sure the baby is sucking effectively. Offer both breasts at each feeding. Your baby's nose may be touching your breast during nursing. Babies' noses are designed to allow air to get in and out in such a case. But if you're concerned that your baby can't breathe easily, you can gently press down on your breast near your baby's nose to give him or her enough room to breathe.

Breast Cancer / Carcinoma of the Breast

About

Breast cancer, as the name suggests, is a cancer that affects the breasts or mammary glands.

It is the second most popular cancer after lung cancer and is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths world wide.


On a global scale breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst women . According to estimates, in the 2004 alone breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide.

Breast cancer incidence increases with age; the older the woman, the more aggressive the evaluation techniques employed. Nevertheless, younger women with breast lumps are at a far greater risk for breast cancer in comparison to asymptomatic women of the same age group, and to older women.

Breast cancer mostly occurs in women over the age of 50, and the risk is especially high for women over age 60.

Contrary to popular belief that it is a woman’s affliction, it can affect both men and women.

A combination of enviornmental factors and genes are responsible for this cancer. In familial breast cancers. a mutation in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 play a major role in the disease onset.

Breast cancer can be inherited both from either a female or a male relative who may have had the disease or who acts as a carrier of the mutant gene(s).

Breast cancer incidence varies vastly worldwide. It is significantly higher in the developed countries of the world in comparison to the less-developed ones. There has been a surge in the number of affected individals since the 1970s and experts are of the opinion that the indulgent lifestyles of the western world could be largely responsible.

Breast cancer is also found to occur more often in white women than African American or Asian women. Several studies have revealed that the breast cancer scenario in the US is quite different for a for a black women in comparison to her white counterpart. The former is more likely to die from the disease although it is the latter who is more frequently diagnosed with the disease. This. experts say. is a reflection of the socio-economic and cultural disparity that exists among the races and that it is highly likely that the black woman has less access to screening and treatment facilities.

Breast lumps need to be taken seriously because the vast majority of breast cancers are detected as a palpable lesions sometimes by the clinician during a regular check or by the patient herself.It can also present as non palpable lesions during a routine mammography.It must be noted that the palpable lesions are assessed quite differently from the non -palpable lesions.

Breast cancer is one of the oldest cancers known to man. However, it is only with the modern understanding of the systemic nature disease that effective treatments began to evolve.

A pink ribbon denotes the struggle of the sufferers when fighting the cancer. In 1996 the pink and blue ribbon was designed to create awareness of the fact that "Men Get Breast Cancer Too!”

Breast Cancer - Facts

• Breast cancer is 100 times more frequent in women in comparison to men. Prognosis is the same in both.

• Most common cancer in women - the incidence rate among females is twice as much as that of colorectal cancer and cervical cancer
and approximately three times that of lung cancer


• Globally, the incidence of breast cancer is the highest among American women.

• 16% of women between the age of 40-60 years have breast-related problems. Of these 40% complain of breast lumps

• In women over 40 years, these breast lumps may carry a risk of breast cancer

• However, the majority of these breast- related complaints may be due to benign breast disease.

Breast Biopsy

Indications for Breast

Breast biopsy involves removing a sample of breast tissue to determine whether it is cancerous or benign (non-cancerous).

Breast abnormality can be detected by Physical examination, Mammography, Ultrasound and other breast imaging methods.


Biopsy followed by Pathological (Microscopic) examination of breast tissue is the only definitive way to determine the Cancer Pathology.

"It is estimated that over 48 million mammograms are performed each year and that less than one million of them (less than 5%) are recalled to undergo a biopsy"

Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation, breast enlargement or augmentation mammoplasty is a surgery done to enhance the size of a woman’s breasts. In this procedure a breast implant is used as prosthesis to enlarge the breasts for cosmetic purposes. It can also be done as part of a breast reconstruction (mastectomy) or a ‘sex change’ surgery.

Breast implants are of two types; silicone gel- filled or saline-filled implants
are the most popular ones. Different types of incisions are made to place the implants. The implants are placed in locations associated with the pectoralis major muscle.

The patients may be required to rest depending on the type of surgery. In general they may be able to restore normal activities within a week’s time. It is important not to strain the body during recovery. The scars due to the surgery may last for more than 6 weeks and may begin to fade only after several months of the surgery.

During initial recovery, it is important not to use the arms or strain the body in any way. Scars from a breast augmentation surgery will last six weeks or longer and usually begin to fade several months after surgery.

Infection, breast pain, change in nipple sensation and difficulty in breast feeding, are some of the complications that are asociated with this surgery. Women who have done breast augmentation surgeries may be required to do a repeat or a revision surgery to sustain the good results.

If you have lost sleep over the size of your breasts then wake up to breast enlargement!

There are many palstic surgeons and hospitals in India
doing commendable ‘boob jobs’. Check out their credentials or consult us first to help you.

Brain Tumor

General Info About Brain Tumor

Brain is one of the largest and complex organs in the human body and weighs about 1.3 Kgs. Neurons and glial cells are the basic units that make up the brain. There are about 40 billion nerve cells, known as neurons, in the brain. Brain controls our body, receives, analyzes and stores information. It produces electrical signals, which, together with chemical reactions
, helps in the communication of the different parts of the body. The brain has three main parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem (medulla).



Blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins) supply the brain with oxygen and nourishment, and remove waste products. The cranium (the top of the skull) surrounds and protects the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, watery liquid that surrounds the brain and cushions it from jolts.

The neurons in the brain divide rapidly till about 7 years of age. Further development is by the existing cells making increasingly elaborate connections with each other.When this control is lost in a single cell, then it starts dividing in an uncontrolled manner. As the cell makes more and more copies of itself, it grows to form a tumor. A brain cancer can arise from any of the cells, which makes up the brain.

Head Injury / Brain Injury

Head Injury- An Overview

Head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs due to sudden trauma to the head or brain, resulting in brain damage. It is the leading cause for disability among children and young adults. Although traumatic head injury can affect people of all ages, young adults between the age of 15 and 24 years and those above 75 years face an increased risk of head injury.



The Brain Injury Association of America adopted the following definition of TBI in the year 1986 - 'Traumatic brain injury is an insult to the brain, not of a degenerative or congenital nature but caused by an external physical force, that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning. These impairments may be either temporary or permanent and cause partial or total functional disability or psychosocial maladjustment'.

"Phineas Gage, a 25 year old, railway construction man was a quiet, well mannered, enthusiastic young man in pursuit of his dreams, until it all happened in 1848. The worker was busy packing an explosive powder into a packing rod (tamping iron), when a spark resulted in explosion, propelling the pointed rod (3-foo long) through his head. Just within a few seconds, the rod had penetrated his brain through the skull to exit the same by his temple. Dr. John Harlow who treated the victim for 73 days felt that he had very little chances of survival. To the surprise of the treating physicians, he survived the accident. However, became an obstinate, obscene, self-absorbed man following the accident. He continued to suffer from similar behavioral and personality problems until his death in 1861. "

This incident took place at a time when very little was known about the brain and it's function. Today, with our improved understanding of the brain anatomy and physiology, we are much more equipped to deal with traumatic brain injury. Yet a considerable number of people continue to lose their lives and survivors are left to suffer from devasting consequences.

The Human Brain

Every year, approximately 1.4 million people experience a head injury, out of which about 50, 000 individuals die. More than 230, 000 people, admitted each year in the hospital for TBI, survive the disaster and are left to cope up with different aspects of physical and mental stability. The following figure represents the magnitude of the public health problem only in the United States. The depth of the global burden then? We leave it to your imagination.

BOTOX: The Magic Toxin

Overview

Botox injections are the fastest growing cosmetic procedure and considered as the ultimate fountain of eternal youth. Though considered a dangerous neurotoxin, when injected in miniscule amounts, it can treat several medical conditions.


"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever,
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness"

Wrote John Keats in his epic poem 'Endymion'.

But a lot of ordinary mortals, whose ideas of romanticism do not match the poet's, beg to disagree.

Socrates could not have been more apt when he said that 'Beauty is a short-lived tyranny', as we well know that beauty and youth go hand-in-hand.

Although with the changing trends, the concept of inner beauty and grace is fast catching up giving age a fair chance, retaining or regaining skin- deep beauty in all its youthful glory is too tempting for those in the twilight zone of their youth. This is where cosmetic procedures have stepped in to cater to the needy, and Botox is one such youth-enhancing procedure.

"Always remember that true beauty comes from within - from within bottles, jars, compacts, and tubes"- Peter's Almanac

Bone Marrow Biopsy

What is Bone Marrow?

Bone Marrow is the tissue present inside our long bones, which are responsible for producing blood cells. It contains stem cells, the base for producing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and other blood components.

Boils / Skin Abscess

About Boils / Skin Abscess

A boil, or skin abscess, is a localized infection deep in the skin. A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm and hard. Eventually, the center of the abscess softens and becomes filled with white cells that the body sends to fight the infection. This collection of white cells is known as pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head" and drains out through the skin. Skin abscesses may occur anywhere on the body. They affect people of all ages.

There are several different types of boils. Among these are:

There are several different types of boils. Among these are:

Furuncle or carbuncle: This is an abscess in the skin caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus. It can have one or more openings onto the skin and may be associated with a fever or chills.

Cystic acne: This is a type of abscess formed when oil ducts become clogged and infected. Cystic acne is most common in the teenage years.

Hidradenitis suppurativa: This is an illness in which there are multiple abscesses that form under the arm pits and in the groin area. These are a result of local inflammation of the sweat glands.

Pilonidal cyst: This is a special kind of abscess that occurs in the crease of the buttocks. These frequently form after long trips that involve sitting.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

About

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple tool that is generally used to estimate the total amount of body fat.



It was first invented in the 19th century by a Belgian polymath called Adolphe Quetelet, hence it is also known as Quetelet Index.

BMI gained popularity as a body weight-tracking device in the mid twentieth century. This coincided with the time when obesity began to raise its ugly head in the more prosperous west. It became a tool whereby a doctor could actually guage a patient being too heavy or too thin and even discuss the issue with the individual.

To calculate BMI, you need to know your weight and height in kilo-grams and centimeters or meters. The weight of a person is then divided by the height.

If you only know your height and weight in inches and pounds the calculation is a little more complex.

A change in BMI over a short period of time is often used to measure the change in one’s lifestyle habits.

People of the same age and sex have different BMI depending on the amount of fat content in the body. However, with BMI, some exceptions apply to the general rules and there is the risk of both over- or under- estimating the total amount of body fat in an individual. Due to this shortcoming some researchers
use it only as a tool for population measure.

Although not a perfect index in predicting health risks, BMI is able to predict the underlying risks in a large population and can be used as an early warning sign that can suggest if lifestyle changes are required or not.

Blue Cohosh

General Info about Blue Cohosh

It is another herb which is a gift from Mother Nature. Sometimes it is accidentally mistaken for ginseng and used as such. The believers attribute a huge list of ailments curable by this herb. The sceptics as always playing a responsible part disagree.
Still, just like the enigma surrounding the urban legend there is a mystical mist around Blue cohosh.

Blood Group

What is a blood group?

The ABO blood group system was discovered by Karl Land Steiner in 1901.

Red blood cells or erythrocytes are present in the blood and contain certain proteins on their surface. These proteins are called antigens. The plasma which is the liquid part contains antibodies which will attack certain antigens if they are present. There are various types of red blood cell antigens - the ABO and rhesus types are the most important. By the time a person is six months old, he naturally will have developed antibodies against the antigens his red blood cells lack.

ABO Blood Group System

A blood group individuals will have type A antigens on the surface of red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in plasma. There are about 20 different subgroups of which A1 and A2 subtypes are the most common.

B blood group individuals will have type B antigens on the surface of red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in your plasma.

AB blood group are those who will have type A and type B antigens on the surface of red blood cells and no antibodies to A or B antigens in plasma.

O blood group are those who will have neither type A or type B antigens on the surface of red blood cells but will have anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma.

Blood Donation

Blood Donation - Overview

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on the 14th of June every year to mark the birth anniversary of Karl Lansteiner who discovered the blood group system.

Blood donation is carried out when a person voluntarily agrees for blood to be drawn with the intention of donating it. The donated blood may be used for transfusions or it may be separated into individual components to be used as required. The latter procedure is called fractionation.

Blood donation may be of different kinds. In the developed countries unpaid donors give blood to replenish a community supply. In economically poorer countries, however, blood donation is carried out according to demand, as the established blood ties are extremely limited.

It may be an altruistic act or it may include a cash payment or incentives other than money. A person can have blood drawn and stored for own future use.

In 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) set a target for all blood donors to be unpaid volunteers. But statistics, in 2006, revealed that only 49 of 124 countries surveyed had achieved this target.

Typically, it is mandatory for potential donors to consent to blood donation. In the case of minors, parental consent is required. In some countries the donors may enjoy anonymity while in others it may be essential to know the ethnic background of the donor because some blood types are more common among certain races while being rare in others.

People who are potential donors are physically examined by a physician and their medical history is also examined. They will also have their blood screened for diseases that are easily transmitted through blood donations, such as viral hepatitis and AIDS.

Blood donation is rather easy and safe for most people. Some may feel faint or feel some pain when the blood is being drawn. The frequency with which blood can be drawn is dependant on various factors and also the law of the land. It may in general vary from days to month.

The amont of whole blood donated may vary between 300ml-500 ml (1 pint). Collection may be carried out manually or by using automated equipments, the latter helping to draw specific components from the blood. How often a donor can donate varies from days to months based on which component of the blood they are donating and the laws of the country where the donation takes place.

Blood components have a very short shelf life, therefore, acquiring a steady supply or stock piling blood or any of its components is a perennial problem.To circumvent this obstacle, scientist even tried their hand at transfusing blood from other animals to humans but in vain.It appears that only the blood of one human suits another. But there is more to that too as will be discussed in the coming sections.

Globally, there are tragedies happening at magnanimous scale and the demand for blood will escalate.After the September 11 tragedy the need to store blood was discussed with great fervor and the need to keep stock of a steady supply was greatly emphasized. According to 2008 estimates there was an annual collection of 81 million units of blood.

Donating blood is definitely an altruistic noble and noble gesture filling the donor with happiness and contentment.It is an intensely humanitarian act which tides over man made barriers and one of the best ways to express our love and care for our fellow beings.

Blocked Tear Duct / Dacryostenosis

General Info about Blocked Tear Duct

This is a common condition affecting newborns. The partial or complete obstruction in the duct system
that carries tears away from the eye is known as "Dacryostenosis."

One or both eyes can be constantly filled with tears or mucus. Infection of the tear duct or gland is called dacryocystitis. This can be contagious.

Bleeding Gums

General Info about Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums is among the common conditions affecting the oral cavity. The Chinese might have noticed bleeding gums as early as 2500 BC. They termed the associated diseases as "Ya-Kon" which means diseases of soft tissue surrounding the teeth. This problem still continues to affect us even with so many modern facilities available in the field of oral care.