Month: June 2007

Categories
News on Health & Science

Oral drug to beat leukaemia trauma

There is good news for leukaemia patients: an oral drug to replace conventional chemotherapy has been formulated by researchers at the city-based Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute.

Designed for patients above 50 years whose white blood cell (WBC) count has gone up, the drug is especially effective in those who often fail to withstand the trauma of chemotherapy injections.

The drug was the result of path-breaking research by a team led by institute director Ashish Mukherjee. It has been already successfully tried on 100 patients in the city over three years. The test patients hardly contracted any infection, suffered less bleeding and their WBC count fell fast.

Apart from reducing trauma, this oral chemotherapy will be far cheaper than the conventional one. It will cost Rs 25,000, compared with Rs 2-3 lakh for a series of injections. “This will be ideal for a country like India, where most patients can’t afford expensive treatment,” he said.

“Not only does oral chemotherapy cut harmful side-effects, it also helps increase a patient’s lifespan. Leukaemia has early mortality, but patients taking this drug can live a reasonably healthy life for at least five to seven years,” Mukherjee said. “In some cases, it might even lead to a complete cure. We hope it will be successfully marketed.”

Another plus point: admission to hospital is not necessary for treatment. This is significant as there are not enough beds available for cancer patients anywhere in India.

American Society of Chemical Oncology has appointed a board that certified the drug as fit for use.

Source:The Times Of India

Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Thyroid Disorders

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The thyroid is a small endocrine gland inside the neck, located in front of the breathing airway (trachea) and below the Adam’s apple. It produces two thyroid hormones, tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which circulate in the bloodstream to all tissues of the body.

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Thyroid hormones act to control metabolism (the body’s ability to break down food and store it as energy, and the ability to break down food into waste products with a release of energy in the process).

How well the thyroid works is controlled by another gland called the pituitary. The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH circulates via the bloodstream to the thyroid gland where it activates the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones.

Thyroid hormones influence virtually every other organ system in the body. They tell the organs how fast or slow the should work, and tell the body systems when to use energy (e.g., consume oxygen and produce heat).

Endocrinologists (physicians and scientists who study and care for patients with endocrine gland and hormone problems) have defined and studied several major disorders of the thyroid gland.


Hyperthyroidism(symptoms & treatments): An overactive thyroid gland
Too much thyroid hormone speeds up the body’s metabolism. Women get this condition more often than men, and it occurs in about 1% of women. One of the most frequent forms of hyperthyroidism is known as Graves’ disease (named after Dr. Robert Graves). This condition can run in families although the exact nature of the genetic abnormality is unknown.

Because the thyroid is producing too much hormone with this condition, the body develops an increased metabolic state, with the functions of many body systems speeding up and producing too much body heat.

Hypothyroidism(symptoms & treatments): An underactive thyroid gland.

Several causes for this condition exist, most of which affect the thyroid gland directly, impairing its ability to make enough hormone. More rarely, there are conditions in the brain (for example, pituitary tumors) that cause the pituitary gland to fail to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and stimulate the thyroid enough to make hormone.

Whether the problem is with the thyroid gland or the pituitary gland, the result is that the thyroid is not producing enough hormone, and most major body functions, both physical and mental processes, slow down. The body consumes less oxygen and produces less body heat.

Thyroid Nodules(symptoms & treatments): A condition that begins as a small localized swelling or lump in the thyroid gland.
Thyroid nodules may be single or multiple. They represent enlargement of a collection of thyroid cells caused by thyroid cell growth or because of a local fluid collection (“cyst”) in the thyroid gland. Thyroid nodules are quite common. Significant sized nodules, which are greater than a half inch across, occurs in about 5% of people. Almost half of the population will have tiny nodules but many are not aware of them until they become large.

Although most of these nodules are benign, they need medical attention because:

They may be cancer growths
They may produce too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism)
They may become too large and press on your trachea (airway tube) or swallowing tube (esophagus)

Other thyroid problems include thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland), a goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can be visible); and thyroid cancer.

Lifestyle and Prevention :

Patient who have been treated for a thyroid conditions should understand:

  • When to take their thyroid hormone medication
  • Signs or symptoms of too much or not enough thyroid hormone
  • When to go to their doctor for blood tests to check thyroid hormone levels, or to check for nodules
  • That other drugs (and even other medical conditions) you are taking could affect your health or interact with your thyroid medication. Ask your doctor about possible interactions, side effects, or warning signs.

In general, there are things you can do to protect your health. Eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, exercising several times a week, and getting fresh air and relaxation are all activities that will help you feel your best. Healthy living is an important part of recovery from a thyroid condition. These suggestions may also help to prevent future problems.

Click &   Read    :   Take care of your thyroid

Click for useful links

Natural Thyroid Remedies – Herbal Alternative Thyroid Treatment

Symptoms and treatment of Thyroid disease Ayurveda and Yoga

Natural Thyroid Support

Thyroid and coconut diet

Alternative Therapies for Thyroid Disease

Homeopathic Thyroid Treatment & Medication

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.

Resources:

http://www.hormone.org/public/thyroid/overview.cfm

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Categories
News on Health & Science

Diabetics should do more household chores

Commenting on the research that diabetes is associated with decreases in life expectancy, as well an increased risk of developing heart disease, Dr Anoop Mishra from Fortis Hospitals said, “This study is unique. It was believed that those diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 25-30 years lost 10 years from their expected lifespan, while it stood at seven years for diabetics aged 40-50 years.

Those diagnosed with diabetes between 50 and 60 years lose about five years. The longer the duration of diabetes, the faster is the ageing and degeneration process. But this study pinpoints the number of years lost, which makes it highly interesting.”

Franco said, “Having diabetes at 50 years and over increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and mortality.”

Experts say that diabetics should participate more in household chores like ironing, washing dishes, gardening, rinsing clothes — light exercises that barely affect the heart rate but are vigorous enough to help control blood glucose levels.

According to them, reducing the time spent idling was vital in diabetes management. Mishra added, “Physical activity in leisure time is extremely important in diabetes management. We advise diabetics to spend 150 minutes of leisure time per week in physical activity. That may involve gardening, walking to the shops rather than ordering home delivery or morning walks.

About 300 minutes of leisure-time physical activity per week also helps in losing weight, as well as in blood sugar management.”

Source: The Times Of India

Categories
Positive thinking

Earth Living

Following Nature’s Cycles
Nature, in all its myriad forms, is the most powerful force on earth. Although mankind has tried, we have not found a way to match its awesome power, but we have found ways to work with it. Science often confirms the wisdom of the ancients who observed and then harnessed nature’s rhythms and cycles to shape and enhance their lives. We can begin to do this in our own lives by first paying attention to our own natural rhythms, such as when we wake or when we feel the need to sleep. If possible, we may want to try to rise and sleep with the sun or live without electricity for a weekend and then monitor how we feel. We can make the choice to eat the foods of the seasons and to seek fresher, locally grown, or organic produce whose own cycles have not been tampered with by technology.

We can create harmony in our homes by making a smooth transition between our indoor and outdoor spaces. By bringing some of the outdoors inside and taking some of our indoor décor out, we can simultaneously enjoy nature and the comforts of home and the feeling that our living space is expanded. Then, whether inside or out, we can lounge on a comfortable piece of furniture and feel the wind, inhale the scent of deeply breathing plants, listen for the many songs of life, and observe the moon and the stars. As we do this more often, we may find ourselves noticing the pull of the full moon on bodies of water, as well as the water in bodies, or the music of the night acting as a lullaby.

When we seek balance in our lives, we want to balance not just our roles in life but also the natural elements in our spaces. Having representations of the elements in the colors, shapes, and textures of our homes will appeal to our mind, body, and spirit. We may find that when we sync ourselves with nature’s rhythms, we ride the waves of energy to feel more in harmony with life and the world around us.

Source:Daily Om

Categories
Yoga

Dhyana Mudra(A Position in Yoga Exercise)

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Posture : Ordinary Sitting or in Padmasana
How to get into the position:
1.Palms are kept open and tips of the thumb and index fingers of both the hands are joined together forming a circle in between them. Remaining 3 fingers are kept together and relaxed. This position of the hands is called Dhyana Mudra.
2. In sitting position wrists of the hands in this Dhyana Mudra posture are kept on the respective knees and palsm facing upwards.

Source:Yogapoint.com

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