Smoking, obesity can negatively impact your health

A recent study has examined if obesity and smoking, which are known to impact negative effects on bone health, can also affect healing in patients, who had surgery for fractures of the wrist or the distal radius.

For the study,  the investigators analysed data on patients surgically treated for a distal radius fracture between 2006 and 2017 at two trauma centres.

The 200 patients were divided into obese and non-obese groups (39 and 161 patients, respectively) and were also characterised as current, former, and never smokers (20, 32, and 148 patients, respectively) based on self-reported cigarette use.

The recent study is led by a team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre (BIDMC).

At three-month and one-year follow-ups after surgery, both the obese and non-obese groups achieved acceptable scores that pertained to patient-reported function in the upper extremity -- close to those of the general population.

The two groups were also similar in regards to the range of motion and bone alignment.

At three months, smokers demonstrated worse scores related to arm, shoulder, and hand function and a lower percentage of healed fractures, but these effects improved over the course of a year. Complications were similar between groups.

"Overall we found that we can achieve excellent clinical and radiographic outcomes with surgery for displaced wrist fractures in patients who are obese and in those who smoke," said senior author of the study.

"Our results show that treatment for distal radius fractures in obese and smoking patients is safe, and these patients may be treated as the general population with similar long-term results. Their short-term outcomes, however, demonstrate higher disability and, in the case of smokers, slower fracture healing," added the researcher.

The researcher stressed that obesity and smoking are currently considered among the two most important preventable causes of poor health in developed nations, and both are modifiable risk factors.

"As such, we believe that lifestyle interventions focusing on weight loss and smoking cessation should be emphasised whenever possible," she said.

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Pneumonia Epidemic World's Deadliest Child Killer

Pneumonia is the world's deadliest child killer, with a "forgotten epidemic" claiming one young life every 39 seconds, international health and children's agencies warned Tuesday.

The disease is preventable but still kills more children -- 800,000 under the age of five last year -- than any other infection, they said in a statement to mark World Pneumonia Day.

"Every day, nearly 2,200 children under the age of five die from pneumonia, a curable and mostly preventable disease," Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF, said in a joint statement.

"Strong global commitment and increased investments are critical to the fight against this disease... Only through cost-effective protective, preventative and treatment interventions delivered to where children are will we be able to truly save millions of lives."

The numbers make grim reading and compare with 437,000 under-fives dying last year due to diarrhoea and 272,000 to malaria.

Five countries accounted for more than half of the child pneumonia deaths -- Nigeria with 162,000, India 127,000, Pakistan 58,000, the Democratic Republic of Congo 40,000 and Ethiopia 32,000.

Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, and leaves children fighting for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid.

Children with weakened immune systems and those living in areas with high levels of air pollution and unsafe water are most at risk.

The disease can be prevented with vaccines and is easily treated with low-cost antibiotics if properly diagnosed.

"This is a forgotten global epidemic that demands an urgent international response," said Kevin Watkins, chief executive of Save the Children UK.

"Millions of children are dying for want of vaccines, affordable antibiotics, and routine oxygen treatment. The pneumonia crisis is a symptom of neglect and indefensible inequalities in access to health care."

In January, the agencies will host world leaders in Spain at the first ever Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia.

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Cervical cancer is fully preventable, yet 200 women die of it everyday in India

Cancer is not a tragedy for the patient alone but for the whole family. Before breast cancer took over as the top killer in women, cervical cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in India. 

According to national data  approximately 365.71 million women above 15 years of age, who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. The current estimates indicate approximately 132,000 new cases diagnosed and 74,000 deaths annually in India, accounting to nearly 1/3rd of the global cervical cancer deaths. 

World renowned Radiation Oncologist Dr. Nori shared, “I was an oncologist in India before I moved to the US. I have seen the incidences everywhere. In India, 200 women die of cervical cancer every day. It is not acceptable because it is preventable, detectable and effectively treatable if detected on time.

In America, many decades ago we were seeing about 120-130 thousand cervical cancer cases every year. Through legislation, screening and health education, we managed to bring it down to 8000 cases. It did not happen overnight. It happened over a period of three decades. During that period, Pap smear was also discovered.” Dr Nori has an international reputation of a pioneer as well as an authority in the field of cancer.

Talking about the advances in medicine, Dr Nori shared that the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer had three doses before but now there is a single dose vaccination available too.

So what we can do in India to eradicate this burgeoning problem? Dr Nori elaborates, “We don’t need 35 years in India like we did in the US. We can now condense the time period with the HPV vaccination, which we did not have before. More than 98 per cent of cervical cancers are due to HPV 16 and 18. So if we can get a vaccination early on, just like Polio, we can eradicate cervical cancer from India.”

Considering the heavy burden of cervical cancer in India, it is imperative to chalk out an appropriate response to this preventable cancer, either by making the vaccination an integral part of a woman’s health policy or by making regular pap tests and screening mandatory.

On a concluding note, Dr Nori said, “Hope we don’t see any cervical cancer by 2030. Give a woman the best chance to survive her God given full life.” 

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Bedtime BP medication prevents heart attack and strokes

On World Hypertension Day, doctors said taking blood pressure lowering medication at bedtime prevents heart attacks and strokes.

“If you take your blood pressure pill at bedtime, you have less chances of getting a heart attack or stroke,” said the Dr.

Quoting a study, the Dr. said patients who took blood pressure pills at bedtime were one-third less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke than those who took pills in the morning.

“Blood pressure shows a 24-hour rhythm, higher during the day and lower during night time. However, people with high blood pressure do not exhibit this night time dip. This non-dipping increase the risk of heart attack and stroke,” he said.

“Sleep-time blood pressure is best reduced when medication is taken at bedtime,” he added.

“Based on the study, it is time to reconsider the timing of your blood pressure medication,” Dr Nisar said.

“If you are taking only one pill, take it at nighttime. If you are taking more than one drug, then taking one of them at night before bed makes sense,” he said.

 Dr. said high blood pressure, also called hypertension is a silent killer and a modern epidemic and is the most important cause of preventable death.

“Many people don’t know they have high blood pressure. There are no symptoms and some people only find out after they suffer a heart attack or stroke,” he said.

“One of the problems is that less than half the people with hypertension have had their blood pressure measured and their condition diagnosed. Of those who have been diagnosed, less than half are treated – so this is an enormous health issue,” said the Dr.

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These 5 Steps Will Help You Control Your Blood Pressure

World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year to spread awareness about the disease that the World Health Organisation (WHO) calls a “silent killer” and “global public health issue.” The theme of this year’s World Hypertension Day is Know Your Numbers. It aims to increase high blood pressure (BP) awareness in all populations around the world, according to the World Hypertension League. According to the WHO, hypertension is the “most important preventable cause of heart disease and stroke worldwide.” The Southern African Hypertension Society says four out of ten adults worldwide have high blood pressure and only 50% are aware of it.
High blood pressure or hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure equal to or above 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure equal to or above 90 mm Hg. The global health body says that, if left uncontrolled, hypertension or high blood pressure can “lead to a heart attack, an enlargement of the heart and eventually heart failure.”

How to keep your blood pressure under check

As the theme of this year’s World Hypertension Day suggests, it is important to “know your numbers.” Basically, keep getting your blood pressure checked, routinely. Having a healthy lifestyle is also important for keeping your blood pressure under check

The WHO recommends these five “concrete steps to minimize the odds of developing high blood pressure and its adverse consequences.”

Healthy diet: Promoting a healthy lifestyle with emphasis on proper nutrition for infants and young people; reducing salt intake to less than 5 g of salt per day (just under a teaspoon); eating five servings of fruit and vegetables a day; reducing saturated and total fat intake.

Avoid alcohol: The WHO recommends limiting alcohol intake to “no more than one standard drink a day.”

Physical activity: Regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes a day) and maintaining a normal weight can also help. The WHO says that every 5 kg of excess weight lost can “reduce systolic blood pressure by 2 to 10 points.”

Say no to tobacco: Stop using tobacco products as they increase the risk for high blood pressure and heart disease by constricting blood vessels and decreasing oxygen supply to the heart.

Manage stress: It is also important for hypertension patients to manage stress in healthy ways “such as through meditation, appropriate physical exercise, and positive social contact.”

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8 Signs of Strokes in Women: Why Women Have More Strokes

Women Are More Likely to Get Strokes…

Strokes are the third leading cause of death for women. The American Stroke Association reports that about 60% of stroke deaths occur in females, which means that women are more likely to have strokes than men.

Not only that, women are less likely to recognize the signs of stroke or receive immediate medical care.

Interestingly enough, 80% of strokes are preventable with diet, exercise, lifestyle modifications and medical care. It is critical that we understand why women are suffering more strokes, what the signs of strokes in women are, and what we can do to prevent them.

What Causes a Stroke?

Almost 800,000 Americans have strokes every year when a blood clot blocks circulation to the brain, or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. When that happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. Abilities controlled by that area of the brain, such as memory and muscle control, are lost.
While many people recover fully after a stroke, almost two-thirds of stroke survivors suffer some level of disability. That means that even if a stroke doesn’t kill them, it could leave them disabled (including being paralyzed, or unable to speak, walk or care for themselves), depressed and unable to live independently.
Let’s do something about that. Let’s make strokes a high-priority women’s issue.

Why Are Women So Likely to Get Strokes?

Smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and uncontrolled high blood pressure/cholesterol place everyone at increased risk for having a stroke. However, there are many physical and cultural issues unique to women, which put them at even higher risk and may lead to poorer outcomes.

Women Live Longer

Women generally live longer than men , and incidences of stroke increase as we age. Higher incidences of death and disability may be because women are more likely to live alone later in life, which can delay access to life-saving/brain-saving healthcare. It also means that after a stroke, women are more likely to live in a long-term healthcare facility.

Women Have Different Hormones

Estrogen and progestin in oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy have been linked with increased incidences of stroke. While most women can use hormone replacement therapy with no problems, those who smoke, don’t exercise and/or are obese are at increased risk for having a stroke.

Women Get More Autoimmune Diseases

The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association reports that women get autoimmune diseases three times more often than men. Lupus and other inflammatory autoimmune disorders can damage blood vessels and lead to blood clot formation and/or blood vessel rupture.

Women Get More Migraines

The National Stroke Association says that migraines with aura can increase a woman’s stroke risk two and a half times, and most people in the US who suffer migraines are women.

Women Put Themselves Last

Even when they don’t feel well, putting others first comes naturally to many women. Women may hesitate to seek emergency healthcare until after they’ve taken care of family and gotten a few chores out of the way.

Women Aren’t Studied

Throughout most of medical history, studies, tests and treatment for cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, focused primarily on men. They never considered the fact that women’s bodies faced different challenges and risks for stroke, and that women responded differently to treatment.

Women Are Taken Less Seriously

There’s a long history of gender discrimination in healthcare that makes many women gun-shy about getting the care they need. Many women report that healthcare providers belittle or minimize their medical complaints, or reduce their concerns to being anxiety-related or all in their heads. Even when they know something’s wrong, women are less likely to demand further testing or a second opinion  if their healthcare concerns are dismissed.

Women Are Subtle

“Because stroke symptoms in women are more subtle, they’re often not taken seriously,” says  a Dr.

“Furthermore, sometimes when women arrive at the hospital with symptoms, they’re misdiagnosed until it’s too late.”

What Are the Signs of Strokes in Women?

The American Heart Association says you should remember the acronym FAST:

• F- Face Weakness
• A-Arm Weakness
• S-Speech difficulty
• T-Time to call 9-1-1

Dr. adds, “Other stroke symptoms include sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking and sudden headache that feels like the worst headache of your life.”
In addition, the National Stroke Association says that women may report symptoms that are different from those men commonly experience. They include:

• Loss of consciousness or fainting
• General weakness
• Difficulty or shortness of breath
• Confusion, unresponsiveness or disorientation
• Sudden behavioral change
• Agitation
• Hallucination
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain
• Seizures
• Hiccups

What Should You Do if You Have Stroke Symptoms?

Call 911 immediately. Nobody knows your body better than you do.

 

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