Surgery to improve walking ability in children with cerebral palsy

A recent research has discovered a surgical procedure that can improve walking ability in children with cerebral palsy. The procedure, known as selective dorsal rhizotomy, involves cutting some of the sensory nerves from the legs as they enter the spinal cord in order to relieve stiffness, improve mobility and reduce children's pain levels.

The operation is irreversible, and it had not previously been fully established whether it helped to improve children's quality of life, or what the longer-term effects were. Because of the lack of evidence of the benefits of the procedure, doctors in England established an innovative study that assessed eligible children with cerebral palsy before and after the operation.

Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and coordination, caused by abnormal development or damage to the brain that occurs before, during or soon after birth. In the UK around 1,700 children, every year are born with cerebral palsy. Treatments include medicines to relieve muscle stiffness, pain relief, and physiotherapy to aid walking.

The team of researchers was instructed to find out whether selective dorsal rhizotomy did improve outcomes for these children with cerebral palsy. "NHS England has now decided that this procedure will be funded as a direct result of this innovative project. It's great to get this decision so that it will make a difference to patients," said one of the lead researchers of the study.

For the research, five centres were selected to perform selective dorsal rhizotomy, resulting in 137 children receiving the procedure. The researchers then collected and analysed data on patients' progress for two years after their operations.

Their results, showed the procedure benefited children by improving their movement, quality of life and levels of pain. They also found that there were no significant health risks to the children from the procedure.

"This procedure is for children with cerebral palsy who can walk but are having problems because the stiffness in their legs leads to pain and a lack of control over movement. Because it involves cutting nerves, the procedure is irreversible," the author explained.

Researchers claim this study shows objectively that the procedure does improve motor function, and doesn't have dangerous side effects. For some children with cerebral palsy and their families, this could really improve the quality of life and help children walk more easily and without the use of walking frames and other aids.  

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

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Prevent Alzheimer’s with a Healthy Lifestyle

While the medical world has urgently been seeking to cure Alzheimer’s disease with pharmaceuticals, studies in this field have discovered that prevention is also worth exploring. Researchers have found that everyday behaviors, which unlike genetics are within our control, can boost brain reserves and therefore help delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

1. Exercise regularly

Research reveals that your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease can be reduced by 50% with regular exercise. Exercise also helps slow down deterioration when you have already begun developing cognitive problems.
Start small: Exercise can be overwhelming for those who don’t do it regularly. You can start by taking the stairs or walking when you are talking on your cell phone.
10 minutes, 5 times a week: This seems like a lot, but it can include activities that get your heart pumping, such as cleaning, gardening or doing laundry. You can also walk, try an aerobics class, or swim.
Protect your head: Trauma to the head increases your chances of developing cognitive issues. Sports such as football and boxing are more extreme examples, but even a fall from a bicycle can have an effect. Wear the correct headgear and fasten your seat belt in cars.
Balance and coordination: Similarly, you can help prevent future head injuries caused by falling, by including exercises that help you focus on balance and coordination. Yoga, Tai Chi, or any exercise using balance balls or discs can help keep you agile. 

2. Be well-rested

Restful sleep on a regular basis helps your brain work best. Deep sleep is necessary for memory formation and retention. Sleep deprivation slows your thinking and has been shown to increase the chances of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.
Regular sleep schedule: Our brain’s clock responds well to regularity. Make sure to go to sleep and wake up at a similar time each day to correspond with your natural circadian rhythms.
Smart napping: Napping can interfere with your regular sleep and make your insomnia worse. If you do nap, make sure it’s for no more than 30 minutes and do so in the early afternoon.  
Bedroom sanctity: Ban computers and televisions from the bedroom as these stimulants distract you from sleep.
Relaxing bedtime routine: Having pre-bedtime activities such as having a bath, light stretching, dimming the lights, praying, or writing in a journal can help signal your brain that it’s time for restorative sleep.

3. Keep mentally stimulated

People who are mentally active have been found to be more protected against developing Alzheimer’s and dementia. Any activities requiring communicating, interacting or organizing have proven tremendously helpful.
Learn a new skill: Learning a new skill helps make larger deposits in the brain reserves. Try studying a new language, learn to play an instrument, read, or take up a new hobby.
Memory exercises: Memorization builds your memory connections. Start with memorizing something small like capital cities or a rhyme, then progress to poems and mnemonics.

Brain games: Try riddles, crossword puzzles or strategy games. Play board or card games, word games like Scrabble or Boggle, or number puzzles like Sudoku. All of these help build your capacity to retain cognitive associations.

The 5 Ws: Keep your neurons firing by asking yourself ”Who, what, where, when and why?”. Follow this up by writing down your daily experiences.
Go off routine: Varying habits helps create new brain pathways. Take a new route, use your non-dominant hand, or rearrange a storage system in your home. 

4. Eat healthily

A nutritious diet optimizes your brain’s performance. Changes to your diet can help keep you protected against brain deterioration.
Skip trans-fats and saturated fats: Choose lean meats, less processed foods, skim or fat-free dairy products, and reduce your intake of fried foods.
Adopt a Mediterranean diet: This diet, consisting of fish, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables, with the occasional glass of wine or piece of dark chocolate, is good for your heart. A healthy heart helps lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Eat fish and avocado: Both are filled with omega-3, a good fatty acid, which researchers have discovered may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

Opt for 4-6 small meals: Eating more regularly helps maintain a consistent blood sugar level. 
Think rainbow: Eat an abundance of colorful fruits and vegetables to achieve a diet high in antioxidants and vitamins. Reduce the white shades of your diet too: Carbohydrates high in sugar or refined flour lead to higher glucose levels which can inflame your brain.
Drink tea: Green tea has been shown to be excellent for a focused memory and mental alertness which can slow the aging of the brain.

5. Maintain an active social life

Research has found those with a socially active life are better protected against Alzheimer’s. Often as you get older, your support system shrinks and you’re unlikely to seek new relationships: 

1. Call or email your friends. If you’re more tech-savvy, connect via social networks like Facebook.
2. Make weekly dates to see your friends, and partake in a shared hobby, go for a walk together or chat over a cup of tea.
3. Take group classes at a local college or gym.
4. Get your partner or family members to try something new with you.
5. Join social clubs or go to the local community or senior center.
6. Get out of the house: volunteer, go to the park, visit museums or other public places.

6. Limit Stress

Stress can lead to the brain shrinking in the hippocampus, where memory is retained, and impede nerve cell growth, increasing your chances of Alzheimer’s or dementia.  

Take a breath: when you’re feeling stressed your breathing rate changes, which can impact the brain’s oxygen levels. A good practice to lower a rapid heart beat is to focus on restorative breathing.

Schedule daily relaxing activities: making sure to engage in enjoyable activities can help keep your stress levels low. These can be simple activities such as going outside for a walk, playing with a pet or attending a yoga class.
Get some inner peace: studies have found that a strong mind-body connection makes for better brain health. Activities involving religious practices or reflection, prayer, and meditation help protect you from the damaging effects stress causes. 
 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                         FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           

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Coffee compounds could fight Parkinson's and dementia

Researchers have found a compound in coffee that may team up with caffeine to fight Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia—two progressive and currently incurable diseases associated with brain degeneration.

While caffeine has traditionally been credited as coffee’s special protective agent, coffee beans contain more than a thousand other compounds that are less well known.

The study, suggests these two compounds combined may become a therapeutic option to slow brain degeneration. 

Lead author said prior research has shown that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. 

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that can lead to shaking, stiffness and difficulty with walking, balance and coordination. Nearly one million people in the United States are living with Parkinson’s disease. Lewy body dementia, one of the most common forms of dementia, affects more than one million people in the United States. It causes problems with thinking, behavior, mood, and movement.

The study focused on a fatty acid derivative of the neurotransmitter serotonin, called EHT (Eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide), found in the bean’s waxy coating. The team found that EHT protects the brains of mice against abnormal protein accumulation associated with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

The team studied whether EHT and caffeine could work together for even greater brain protection. They gave mice small doses of caffeine or EHT separately as well as together. Each compound alone was not effective, but when given together they boosted the activity of a catalyst that helps prevent the accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain. This suggests the combination of EHT and caffeine may be able to slow or stop the progression of these diseases. Current treatments address only the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease but do not protect against brain degeneration.

The researcher said further research is needed to determine the proper amounts and ratio of EHT and caffeine required for the protective effect in people. “EHT is a compound found in various types of coffee but the amount varies. It is important that the appropriate amount and ratio be determined so people don’t over-caffeinate themselves, as that can have negative health consequences,” she said.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com   

Eye exercises you need to know about

Eye surgeon Dr Keiki Mehta talks to us about exercises for your eyes and how they are beneficial to you

Looking after your eyes should be your top priority, especially if you spend most of your time in front of the computer, phone or TV screen. Do you stare at the computer for very long? If you do, you probably know how draining and tiring it can be to your entire body, not just your eyes.

Even if you're lucky enough to have perfect 20/20 vision, taking care of your eyes is important to keeping your peepers in perfect condition. And believe it or not, exercising the eyes is as important as exercising the rest of your body.

Exercising your eyes is important
"Eye exercises help the eye both mechanically and optically says eye surgeon," Dr Keki Mehta. He explains, "Exercises improve the mechanical stability of the eye by coordinating and strengthening the eye muscles. They increase the ability of the eyes to focus and optically, they improve the optical image co-ordination between the two eyes. This allows the eyes to relay a three-dimensional accurate image to the brain, which then sends us a signal that allows us to see the image."

While the exercises may not reduce your dependence on spectacles, they are very necessary if you want healthy eyes. Your eyes are just like any other part of your body - they need rest and recuperation after a day's work to repair and strengthen them.

Exercising your eyes regularly will help you make sure you don't feel fatigued or tired at the end of the day and ensure that you have dewy fresh eyes always.

Causes of eyestrain
Our eyes are designed to work best in a position of depressed convergence. This means at an angle that is 25 degrees below the eye level in a downward direction. As long as you maintain this angle, whether you read a book while sitting down or lying on your stomach, it doesn't affect vision. However, it is the effort to maintain a fixed gaze at a rapidly moving object that tires the internal mechanism of the eye leading to strain.

Similarly, reading in dim light leads to strain. This is because your pupils dilate in order to allow more light to enter the eyes. Straining the eyes can lead to persistent headaches, fatigue, blurry vision and loss of the ability to focus on objects.

One of the most common causes of eye fatigue is staring for long periods at digital devices such as computer screens, smart phones or video games. This type of eye fatigue or eye strain is known as computer vision syndrome. It affects about 50%-90% of computer workers. Exposure to extremebrightness or glare is bad for the eyes. Also any activity that causes you to focus intensely for extended periods of time may result in decreased blinking, which leads to dry eyes. This is why reading on the go or reading in dim light is a definite no.

Exercises to refresh your eyes

On a roll
Roll your eyes clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Repeat this every 30 minutes. This is especially needed, if you are sitting in front of a computer monitor or studying for long hours.

Palming
Close your eyes and cover them lightly with your cupped palms. Avoid applying pressure on your eyeballs. This relaxes tired eyes.

Focus
Focus on an object far away from you for about half a minute. Try to maintain your focus, then blink rapidly several times. Then focus on a nearby object for about 15 seconds. Try to maintain your focus, then blink rapidly several times. Do this 10 times.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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World Mental Health Day: while doc & instructor take the pool way to help autistic kids!

If you happen to meet the boy, a hyper-active six-and half-year-old, you would probably never believe if we told you that last year a school he was attending  had asked him to leave because he was autistic.

Autism, a disorder that leads to abnormal self-absorption, is characterised by lack of response to people, and actions with limited ability to communicate.

He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at an early age. “When the authorities found out about his disorder, they asked us to move him to another school,” recalls his father. Not in the mood to give up, the father consulted  a  homoeopath. The homoeopath had suggested him to take the boy to learn swimming near their residence, but the boy did not take too kindly to it,” the doctor said.

With no school ready to admit him, the family shifted base with the hope of getting proper treatment too. It was then that Dr. suggested them to take their son to swimming instructor Amal Upadhyay. The boy was treated with what Upadhyay calls, ‘hydrotherapy’ – a bunch of swimming exercises that enhance blood circulation and oxygen flow to all parts of the body. He taught him to swim in six days, which resulted in better hand-eye coordination as well as boosted his concentration levels. The change has been apparent in six months.

With Dr Patel’s treatment and Upadhyay’s swimming lessons, he soon blossomed — from a non-social and extremely restless person to a hyperactive child!

“Almost all the symptoms of autism, barring his borderline attention deficit disorder (ADD), are gone. Being an intensive exercise, hydrotherapy, also controls the hyperactivity levels, especially for autistic kids, who have high hormone (testosterone) levels,” explained Dr Patel.

“Earlier we used to get complaints of him not responding to teachers and other students at the school. Now they complaint about his incessant chatter,” the elated father gushed.

For the doctor-coach duo,he is not the first success story. “I have taught swimming to around 50 students with disabilities based on the diagnosis and recommendation of Dr Patel. I will also be hosting hydrotherapy sessions at Mumbai and Bangalore soon,” said Upadhyay, who recently returned from a similar session in Chennai.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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