Healthy Tips For Better Live

Archive for June, 2009

According to statistics, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed this year, and approximately 15,000 women will die from ovarian cancer this year.

Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer because its symptoms can be subtle, leading to a delayed diagnosis and poorer outcome. However, if ovarian cancer is detected early, approximately nine out of ten women will live for at least five years with the disease.

Ovarian cancer starts in the cells of the ovary or ovaries. The ovaries are two small, oval-shaped organs that lie deep in the pelvis on either side of the uterus (womb), close to the end of the Fallopian tubes. The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system.

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Second only to the common cold as the most prevalent infectious ailment in the United States is periodontal disease. It is the major cause of adult tooth loss. As we age the probability increases of developing periodontal disease. Ranging from 15 percent at age 10 to more like 50 percent at age 50.

Peridontal means “located around a tooth”, so periodontal disease can refer to any disorder of the gums or other supporting structures of the teeth. Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums is the early stage of periodontal disease. Caused by plaque, which is sticky deposits of bacteria, mucus, and food particles that adheres to the teeth. When plaque accumulated it causes the gums to become infected and swollen. As the gums swell, pockets form between the gums and the teeth that act as a trap for still more plaque buildup. Other factors that contribute to the development of gingivitis include:

* Breathing through the mouth

* Badly fitting fillings

* Prostheses that irritate surrounding gum tissue

* Diet of too many soft foods that rob the teeth and gums of much needed “exercise”

All these factors can lead to gums that are red, soft, and shiny, and bleed easily. Usually gingivitis is essentially painless, but there can be some pain.

Left untreated pyorrhea or periodontitis can develop from gingivitis. This advanced stage of periodontal disease in which the bone supporting the teeth begins to erode as a result of the infection. Abscesses are common which are very painful. Pyorrhea causes halitosis (bad breath) with bleeding and often painful gums.

Conditions which make one more likely to develop pyorrhea are:

* Poor nutrition

* Improper brushing

* Wrong foods

* Sugar consumption

* Chronic illness

* Glandular disorders

* Blood disease

* Smoking

* Drugs

* Excessive alcohol consumption

It is often related to a deficiency of:

* Vitamin C

* Bioflavonoids

* Calcium

* Folic acid or niacin

Smokers are more susceptible than nonsmokers to periodontits and tooth loss.

Mouth problems often reflect deficiencies or underlying disorders in the body.

* Bleeding gums may signal a vitamin C deficiency

* Dryness and cracking at the corners of the mouth may indicate a deficiency of vitamin B2 (riboflavin).

* Dry or cracked lips can be the result of an allergic reaction

* Raw red mouth tissue bay be a sign of stress

* A smooth, reddish tongue can indicate anemia or poor diet.

* Sores under the tongue can be an early warning sign of mouth cancer

Regular dental checkups can help detect these conditions early. Floss your teeth daily. Do this faithfully every day. Be sure to brush your gums and tongue as well as your teeth using a very soft natural-bristle toothbrush.

Severe cases of periodontal disease may necessitate surgery to remove the infected tissue from the gum and reshape the bone. This can be very effective if you continue with your home care of your mouth.

Some people appear to be more susceptible than others to the bacteria that cause gum disease. Electric toothbrushes are very helpful in removing plaque.

Deficiencies of coenzyme Q10 have been linked to periodontal disease. The amount of coenzyme Q10 present in the body declines with age, so it should be supplemented in the diet, especially by people who are over the age of fifty. A liquid or oil form is preferable. This vitamin like substance is very helpful to the heart tissue as well because it increases tissue oxygenation all over the body.

Vitamin C and A is needed for healing of gum tissue, especially of bleeding gums.

Bioflavonoids retard plaque growth which is a huge help.

Avoid taking antibiotics. The mouth is the hardest place for them to work, and they destroy the needed friendly bacteria in the colon. Try goldenseal first, it works faster and has no side effects.

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Epithelial carcinoma of the ovary or Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic diseases. It is serious and has a very high mortality rate. It is the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death in women. It is most common in women above fifty years of age. The cancer can appear in younger women too. It is seen that women having genetic predisposition are at greater risk. Clinical statistics also show less cases of this malignancy in women using contraceptive medication. Women who have had early pregnancy or have more children also seem to be at a lower risk factor.

Prognostic factors are used to predict the likely course of ovarian cancer. Stage is the only unanimously acknowledged prognostic factor for patients with ovarian cancer. In case of advanced stage patients, volume of residual disease is considered as a diagnostic factor. To begin a prognosis and establish treatment, the physician needs to know the cell type, stage, and grade of the disease. Other factors that may be important include the patient?s age, histopathologic grade, DNA ploidy, Peritoneal fluid cytology and CA125.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has created standards for the staging of gynecological cancers. Both surgical and pathological findings are taken into account, hence it is called surgicopathologic.

Most ovarian cancer symptoms are seen only in the late stages of the disease. Ovarian cancer is treated with surgery to remove the cancerous cells. This is followed by chemotherapy. It is recommended that people experiencing vaginal bleeding, uncharacteristic period cycles, or intestinal problems should see a physician right away, so that such cases can be detected at the earliest.

Unfortunately, like most of the cancers, the exact cause of ovarian cancer is not known. It is also difficult to find precise information due to contradictory studies.

Ovarian cancer is a gynecologic sarcoma, which is second most frequently diagnosed. In the United States, females have a 1.4 % to 2.5 % chance of developing ovarian cancer. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has standardized the staging of gynecological cancers. It is the most frequently used prognostic tool. Both surgical and pathological findings are taken into account. The cancer is staged according to whether it is still in the ovary or spread beyond.

Staging is generally done at the time of surgery. Samples of tissues are taken from various parts of the pelvis and abdomen and studied under intense observation. Staging is very important because the prognosis or the course of action to be taken varies at different stages in case of any cancer. It is important that the staging is accurate. It is possible to miss the spread of the ovarian cancer outside the ovary if it is not staged properly.

Stage IV is the last category of the stages of ovarian cancer. Patients in this stage typically exhibit parenchymal liver metastases and extra-abdominal metastases. Thirteen percent of patients alive are in stage IV. The most common areas where the cancer spreads are generally the liver and lungs. One-third of all ovarian cancer patients have pleural effusions and most of them contain malignant cells. The spleen also gets affected may require splenectomy. Only 0.1% of patients show metastases of the brain.

If the tumor is widespread, treatment begins with surgery, which may include total hysterectomy, followed by chemotherapy. If some tumor remnant is left after chemotherapy, further forms of chemotherapy may be needed. It is important for a patient to find out about the staging procedure and the stage. In this way the patient will and can take part in making vital decisions about the required treatment.

There are reports of an increasing number of people who perform their own dental work, as they are unable to receive dental treatment on the NHS or are unable to afford private dental care. Therefore, such people are being forced to take worrying actions and solve the problems themselves such as pulling out their own teeth. As a result, many are ending up with serious personal injuries. Can the lack of available healthcare be classed as medical negligence?

A survey of 5,200 patients carried out by the Commission for Patients and Public Involvement in Health found that 20% had refused treatment because of the high costs dental care presents and 6% have even treated themselves at some point because they were unable to get professional treatment. Among the concerning results people revealed that they had removed their own teeth with pliers and used polyfilla to fill cavities and even super glue to try and fix broken crowns.

In an attempt to improve the situation contracts were drawn up which were designed to lure in more dentists to work under the NHS, but 84% of those surveyed revealed that their new contract had not succeeded in improving access to the NHS services for patients.

It was exposed that just 56% of people in the UK currently have access to NHS dentists, meaning that the rest of the population are left with only two choices either go private or pay the heavy price for performing the tasks yourself.

Sharon Grant, Chairwoman of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health said: “It appears many are being forced to go private because they don’t want to lose their current trusted and respected dentist or because they just can’t find a local NHS dentist.”

Grant furthered: “Where NHS dental services are available, people are happy with the quality of treatment provided but many find the NHS fee system confusing and expensive, with some patients taking out loans to pay for treatment or more worryingly taking matters into their own hands.”

The idea of medical negligence comes into play as it appears that not enough is being done to help solve this problem and even if any attempts are being made to help change the situation then it is coming at a very slow pace.

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw hinted that it will take the government ‘some time’ to deal with the shortage of dentists and those patients unable to find a dentist to treat them should pay a visit to their G.P. Bradshaw stated: “Only 60% of us ever accessed an NHS dentist. The figure now is 56%. Last year we introduced for the first time a duty on local health services, on the primary care trusts, to provide urgent dental treatment to those who need it. If people need urgent treatment they should go either to their GP or their primary care trust and demand what is their right.”

In theory this is a good idea, however in reality it is a different story. Even getting an appointment with a G.P for any health problem can be a task, so it remains to be seen how keen the government is when dealing with emergency dental care. Therefore, medical negligence cannot be that far from the truth when so many people are not being helped and left to their own devices. It could soon come to a point where seeking the representation of a personal injury solicitor in order to secure medical negligence compensation for unfilled dental work becomes a very real public problem, especially if people are not getting the treatment that they are entitled to as a result of a lack of resources.

Muscle pain – neck pain – thumb flexion

Patients with neck pain and discomfort may complain of pain in the thumb region with difficulties in moving the painful thumb muscles.

Pain at the base of the thumb may be due to arthritis at the joint between the wrist bone and the knuckle bone known as the carpometacarpal joint. Arthritis at this joint is very common. Arthritic pain of this joint at the base of the thumb is made worse when there is nerve related pain and spasm in the muscles that cross the carpometacarpal joint (joint between the thumb wrist bone and the thumb knuckle bone).
Treatment of thumb pain must involve treating all muscles that participate in moving the thumb in all its many capable movements of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction and opposition.

The many complex movements of the thumb are essential in producing fine manipulation such as writing, picking up small objects, turning the key, stitching, knitting cutting up food, turning the doorknob, etc.

Thumb flexion consists of moving the thumb along the plane of the palm.

Muscles responsible for performing this motion include:

- flexor pollicis brevis (superficial head supplied by the median nerve and the deep head supplied by the ulnar nerve). This muscle is supplied by the C8 and T1 nerve roots.

- extensor pollicis longus supplied by the radial nerve (C7, C8).
When the flexor pollicis brevis is not functioning, the supplementary action of the extensor pollicis longus muscle together with that of the flexor pollicis longus supplied by the anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve by causing simultaneous flexion of the tip of the thumb will be able to flex the thumb along the plane of the palm.