This is a rare case of a condition that that may complicate deep diving or use of unpressurized aircraft.

Alejandro Ramos Martínez, a seafood diver from Pisco, Peru, recently made international headlines after a terrible accident left him looking like a human balloon. He apparently rose from a depth of 30 meters too fast, which caused the nitrogen in his blood to form giant bubbles that adhered to his muscles, leaving him looking deformed.

Alejandro Ramos Martínez suffered his diving accident four years ago, but doctors are still looking for ways to get the nitrogen bubbles out of his body. Because these gas sacks are apparently attached to the man’s flesh, they cannot be removed surgically, so the best solution they’ve come up with so far has been administering oxygen in a pressurized chamber.

The nitrogen bubbles apparently cause Martínez excruciating pain which he can only live with thanks to painkillers, as well hypertension. His deformed frame has recently resulted in a serious hip injury which doctors say will require a prosthesis.

Unfortunately, the estimated cost of such a surgery is $100,000, which the poor diver does not have. It is unclear how he can even make a living now that he cannot dive anymore.



Alejandro had what is usually described as ”decompression sickness or bends”

What is decompression sickness? This occurs when a rapid change in pressure from surrounding air or water results in injuries to the body. It usually occurs in scuba or deep sea divers or persons descending from high altitudes. When diving, people take in extra oxygen and nitrogen. The nitrogen dissolves in the blood and is gradually released during a slow return to the surface. In Alejandro’s case, he returned rapidly to the surface, leaving no room for the nitrogen to leave the body. Unfortunately nitrogen remained trapped in the tissue appearing giving him a balloon like appearance.




Source:http://www.healthx24.com/decompression-sickness-diving/

SONIA54320:
i got my sister got her first period at 14 may 11th for few days and today is sep 11 since then i haven't gotten it
do you think this is normal since she just started @RXH8

It is Not unusual for menses to be irregular within two years of Menarche (first menstruation). However, if one is sexually active, pregnancy should be ruled out. Gynecologists are best positioned to address specific issues. Kindly consult one if possible.

Consider the following tips from experts at Mayo Clinic:
Keep fingernails dry and clean. This prevents germs from growing under your fingernails. Repeated or prolonged contact with water can contribute to split fingernails. Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves when washing dishes, cleaning or using harsh chemicals.

Practice good nail hygiene. Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers. Trim your nails straight across, then round the tips in a gentle curve.

Use moisturizer. When you use hand lotion, rub the lotion into your fingernails and cuticles, too.

Apply a protective layer. Applying a nail hardener might help strengthen nails.

Ask your doctor about biotin. Some research suggests that the nutritional supplement biotin might help strengthen weak or brittle fingernails.



http://www.healthx24.com/ayanna-williams-longest-finger-nails/

Williams, of Houston, Texas, has fingernails with a combined total length of 18 feet, 10.9 inches, making her the current Guinness World Record holder.

She took the title from another record holder, Chris “The Dutchess” Walton. She manicured her nails that to a total lenght of 19 feet, 9 inches long, but lost after she decided t cut them according to a Guinness spokeswoman.

Williams was officially unveiled the in the 2018 edition of Guinness World Records, which has just been released.

Ayanna Williams can not be considered an ‘overnight success’. Do you know it took her 20 years to achieve this feat?! While most people complete their manicure in less than an hour, She spends 20 hours and uses up to two bottles of polish. Has keeping long nails involved making other sacrifices? Yes! She avoids doing the dishes, places her nails on a special pillow and admits that it takes her “longer to do anything than it would take other people, because of the length of my nails,” according to the Guinness book of world records. Interestingly, she works as a manicurist, helping other people to keep their nails nice and healthy. Do we need a better attestation to her skills?

Do you know that the longest fingernails ever belonged to Lee Redmond (USA)? She started to grow them in 1979 and carefully kept them till to total length of 8.65 m (28 ft 4.5 in) on 23, February 2008. Sadly, Lee lost her nails in an automobile accident in early 2009.



Of course, most people are not interested in keeping extremely long nails. Nevertheless, everyone desires good, nice looking fingernails. What can you do to keep your finger nails nice and healthy? Are you overly aggressive with cleaning and maintaining nails ? According to experts that may increase the risk of yeast or bacterial infections


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/ayanna-williams-longest-finger-nails/

What impact could this study have on medical education?

According to the Dr Jaclyn, ‘’The results of this study are incredibly encouraging, showing that art observation training can improve medical and ophthalmological observational skills. We hope that the improved observational abilities from this training will translate to improved clinical effectiveness, empathy and, ultimately, will make better physicians.”

“It is incredibly encouraging to see that principles from a field, such as art, that can seem so vastly different from medicine, can be so successfully applied and utilized to help improve clinical skills and overall professional development for medical students. We look forward to continuing to see how these principals can be used long-term for medical trainees and practicing physicians.”

Medical students that acquire observational skills and empathy very early in their training may potentially perform better in the exams. According to one study in the United States, poor performance resulting from inadequate knowledge or poor clinical reasoning ability was more difficult to ameliorate. Interpersonal skill deficiencies, which often manifested as detachment from the patient, and professionalism problems attributed to lack of insight were very difficult to change.

Although this study involved a small group of medical students, it could potentially change curriculum of medical students worldwide. Clearly, further studies will be needed to examine the impact of art courses on clinical care and determine if the gains of the art course are sustained.

This study also highlights the importance of regularly reviewing medical education to improve the clinical care of patients.

Interestingly, a medical school in the United States has started offering the art observation course to first year medical students.


http://www.healthx24.com/art-courses-medical-students-better-doctors/

First year medical students may be expected to take courses in art observation, going by the encouraging results of a small study suggesting that medical students may become better clinicians if they take art courses.

The results of the experiment were made available in a paper titled ‘A Randomized Controlled Study of Art Observation Training to Improve Medical Student Ophthalmology Skills’’. It was published September, 2017, in the journal of Ophthalmology.

Why did the researchers explore this intervention? The lead author, Dr Jaclyn Gurwin, in a press release said:

The skills I learned studying fine arts in college are invaluable to me now as a physician. I saw the impact art education had on my approach to medicine, and I wanted to recreate that experience for others in the field.

How was the study done?

Thirty-six first-year medical students were randomly assigned to two groups. The first group took art observation courses ‘’Artful thinking’’ at Philadelphia Museum of Art and second group received no formal art observation training.

With what result? Those that took art courses had better observational skill-an essential part of making diagnosis and communicating with patients and colleagues. Some of the students also reported improvements in empathy-an invaluable part of doctor-patient relationships.

One of the medical students said

After just one session, I found myself listening to a radiologist discuss the same principles we used to look at art when analyzing a CT scan. Later I found our practice of creating narratives in the art class helped guide me when interacting with standardized patients.

Another participant said:

I believe I’ve become more open-minded as a result of the course primarily because of the discussions we had as a group,” said one study participant. “I’m not sure that improving my observational skills increased my ability to emphasize, but recognizing the validity of others’ opinions certainly did.

According to Dr Gil Binenbaum, one of the authors,

Art training could be helpful across many specialties, especially ones like ophthalmology, dermatology, and radiology, where diagnosis and treatments plans are based primarily on direct observation. Students who took the art training course also anecdotally demonstrated improvements in empathy and emotional recognition, such as noting emotions and sensations (i.e. pain or sadness) in works of art.


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/art-courses-medical-students-better-doctors/

Octacosaol is commonly found in the following substances:

Wheat germ oil



Bees wax



Sugarcane



Alfalfa



Ginkgo biloba



The richest source of octaconosol is wheat germ oil which is also a very rich source of proteins, fiber, good fats and minerals such as magnesium, zinc, thiamine, folic acid, potassium, and phosphorus. It is also high in vitamin E which has good anti-oxidant properties. Several claims about the effect of wheat germ oil has been made. These includes reducing tumours, parkinsonism symptoms, cholesterol a improve athletic performance. However, most of these claims are based on studies in rats and chicken embryo.

Beeswax is produced naturally by honey bees in bee hives. Although, edible, it is best known for its skin and hair benefits. Beeswax is also used for lowering cholesterol, pain relief, reducing swelling and managing hiccups, diarrhea and ulcers. Some of these uses have not been established by researchers.

In addition to food based products, you may need to explore other ways of managing stress and sleep such as music, relaxation techniques and consulting health experts. Knowing the signs of stress and dealing with it helps us to lead healthier, happier lives!



http://www.healthx24.com/octacosanol-food-stress-sleep/

Have you ever found it difficult to sleep on account of stress? If so, you would be glad to know that the solution may lie in naturally occurring products rather than pills. Octacosanol , commonly found in sugarcane, wheat germ oil and beeswax may be all you need to reduce stress and improve sleep, a new study has revealed.

The study was published by researchers from a Japanese institute in the Journal, Scientific reports.

According to the research team led by Drs Mahesh K. Kaushik and Yoshihiro Urade of the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba, the naturally occurring substance, octacosanol reduces stress and restores stress-affected sleep back to normal.

They arrived at this conclusion based on recent experiments in mice. According to the scientists, when octacosanol was administered to mildly stressed mice, it reduced the level of corticosteroids (commonly elevated in stress) and improved sleep too. This suggests that the substance may be useful in the treatment of stress and insomnia.

Clearly, further studies are needed in humans to establish these claims. Nevertheless, the presence of the substance in foods we already eat suggest they may safe for human consumption.

Why is this information important?

Stress is inevitable and it is invariably linked to difficulty in sleeping. The ever changing demands of our jobs, school, family and other activities puts people under constant pressure. Stress causes people to toss and turn in bed because the minds remain active instead of shutting down at night. This leaves them unrefreshed and feeling lazy in the morning. Sadly, just as stress disrupts sleep, poor sleep increases stress. This has been described as a vicious cycle, which is quite common according to some surveys.

In view of these, many resort to prescription pills such as diazepam and opiates to stay calm and sleep well. Unfortunately, these medications have side effects and are addictive, causing more physical and mental health problems later. Therefore, there is a need to find safer alternatives to such medications and research into food based compounds is a huge step.


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/octacosanol-food-stress-sleep/

How can you cope with bad news?

You may try to limit exposure to bad news or distressing images. Responsible news agencies often warn viewers before showing graphic images. That may be the time to switch off the TV. Does your device automatically download images and videos? Can you consider using the manual mode which gives better control over what you store on your mobile devices?

If you become exposed to news that can potentially affect you, try the following suggestions:

1.Feel free to express your emotion. Ventilate your concerns and don’t hide your feelings. It is normal for people to cry and feel sad.
2.Try to distract yourself by going out to watch movies, play games and hang out with friends.
3.Have a good night sleep, though this might be difficult taking a bath and listening to a cool music.
4.Ensure regular exercises such as taking a walk.
5.Learn some relaxation techniques.
6.Get involved with a support group.
7.Avoid unhealthy coping methods such as excessive drinking and use of other psychoactive substance use as they provide only a temporal relief.
8.Explore social support network of friends, family and relatives.
9.Seek for professional intervention.



http://www.healthx24.com/health-tip-cope-bad-news/

“About 100 people were reported to have died in the building that collapsed.” “An unknown man reportedly shot sporadically at innocent people at the cinema, while 20 people were feared dead, 88 persons sustained various degree of injuries. ” “An earthquake of a high magnitude has occurred, claiming many lives and properties. ” Floods in Texas, Mudslides in Sierra Leone, Cholera outbreaks in Yemen made headlines in August.

Bad news is inevitable. Television screens and social media make bad news and negative, shocking images available on a daily basis. It could be in the dimension of a natural disaster, terrorist attacks, plane crashes, wars, domestic violence, human right violation, crimes and so on. This could be personal (loss of job, properties and disclosure of a medical condition) or related to loved ones. The avalanche of bad news may have a huge impact on your mental and physical health.

How do you react to bad news or gory scenes on TV? Do you feel numb or distressed? If so, you are not alone. These are very common reactions to unpleasant news. People may be shocked, dazed, anxious, tensed, confused or sad. If they are in the form of images, it may keep coming to back in the form of flashbacks or as nightmares thereby disturbing our sleep.

These experiences could be short-lived or persists for a longer time, depending on who is involved, an individual’s vulnerability and coping skills and availability a social support network. In some cases, sudden exposure to bad news in persons with pre-existing medical conditions may lead to untimely death.

According to 2013 study on the effect of continuous media coverage of Boston Marathon bombing on a group of respondents in New York City led by E. Alison Holman, respondents viewing the news coverage for six hours or more were nine times more likely to report acute stress levels than those with minimal media time. The Researchers said repeated exposure to traumatic imagery through media could potentially activate fear circuitry in the brain and cause flashbacks-two precursors to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/health-tip-cope-bad-news/

3. Spend time with people you love
Friends, family members, colleagues that care about you are in a position to help you deal with stressful conditions. Therefore, spend time with them. They are there to listen to you, cry and laugh with you and give you much needed support during times of distress. If there is no one nearby, consider volunteering or taking classes. The opportunities for interacting socially abound if we look hard enough. Widen out.



4. Acquire and use productivity strategies
In order to deal with the demands of work, personal and family commitments, you need to learn time management and organizational skills and strategies. You may need to take online courses, read books or take advantage of excellent productivity tools and apps available.

5. Engage in fun activities
Do you have a hobby that helps you relax? Why not plan to engage in this activity regularly? Do not let secular pursuits completely crowd out time for recreational activities. A recent Cochrane review of 26 trials involving 1369 participants, found that listening to music (an enjoyable activity for most people) had stress reducing benefits for persons with chronic heart problems. In that study, patients that listened to music slept better and complained of less pain post-surgery. Maintaining a balanced routine is very vital.



6. Be Assertive
You don’t have to say ‘Yes’ to every request. Remember, we all have limits. Know your limits and learn to stick to your schedule. This applies to people and things. It is not necessary to sit through a movie or news program if it makes you anxious or uncomfortable. Learn to be in charge of your environment. Learn to express your feelings in a firm but tactful manner.



7. Get professional help when necessary
When stressful symptoms persist, you should seriously consider seeing a doctor. Sometimes, medications and psychological support may be what is needed for optimal recovery from stressful conditions. Health professionals may recommend medication to reduce distressing symptoms. Mental health professionals may offer counseling or behavioural methods like relaxation techniques. Many relaxation methods exist. One of the easiest and popular relaxation methods is progressive muscle relaxation. This involves systematic tightening and relaxation of different muscle group over 10 to 20 minutes. If you seek medical assistance on time, you may experience quick recovery and early return to work. Additional, proper evaluation may also reveal other medical problems that may mimic symptoms of stress.

There is no quick fix for stress, and what works for one person may not help another. Nevertheless, putting in your best efforts may considerably improve your quality of life and sense of fulfillment.




http://www.healthx24.com/struggling-stress-can-fight-7-ways/

We often use the word ‘stress’ to describe an experience of being overwhelmed by things around us. Everyone-children, adults and older ones-may be affected by stress. This is because common life demands such as work, school, relationships, examinations and money problems cause stress. If these problems fail to go away, chronic stress sets in, interfering with other activities.

What are the common sources of stress?
Have you ever been under pressure? Are you struggling to cope with family or work responsibilities? Have you lost a loved one in death? Have you ever had a life threatening experience? If your answer is yes, you have probably had that unpleasant reaction-stress- to negative circumstances.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, three sources of stress exist:

Daily or routine activities such as work, family, relationships
Sudden changes such as financial problems, marital disharmony, job losses, illness or death of loved ones
Traumatic events resulting in injuries or risk of being killed such as accidents, physical or sexual assaults
Is stress always bad?
No. It has been described as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depending on the source and how you perceive it. For many people, good or positive stress motivates them to accomplish tasks, meet deadlines and even fight diseases by boosting the immune system. Furthermore, the reaction you have when you sense danger-pounding heartbeats, faster breathing, and tense muscles-is stress ensuring you protect yourself.

Irrespective of the source, any form of stress that is prolonged is dangerous to health. Consequently, all stressful conditions can significantly contribute to poor mental, emotional or physical health. This is more likely to happen when stress is poorly managed or prolonged. For, example some try to cope with stressful conditions by smoking, drinking, isolating themselves or taking it out on others.

So what is the way out? Do you know that it is possible to effectively manage and control stressful conditions? Follow these 7 tips to put the brake on stress.



1. Recognize the warning signs of stress
Recognizing warning signs of stress before its downward spiral to burnout or other severe conditions is an important first step.

How do you know stress is getting out of control? The body cries for help when under unbearable pressure. You should lookout for symptoms of stress which commonly include headaches, poor sleep, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and low mood. Some of these symptoms mimic anxiety or depressive disorders. Getting a mental health expert to evaluate you may be necessary.



2. Maintain a Healthy lifestyle
A balanced nutrition, exercise and other healthy habits substantially reduce susceptibility to stress. You need to regularly review your lifestyle choices, thoughts and activities. Apart from distracting you from distressing thoughts, exercise improves your mood and relaxes too. In view of this, fuse brief, easy to do exercises into your daily activities. Rather than going on junk foods, consider healthy, nutritious meals including fruits and vegetables. Remember ‘an apple a day…keeps the doctor (and stress) away’.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/struggling-stress-can-fight-7-ways/

Together, they developed a series of musical tests that Fabio could perform while the researchers were scanning his brain and came up with asking Fabio to play the saxophone while lying on the operating table with the brain exposed. And that is what they did after the tumour had been removed. Was he able to play the musical instrument well?

“It made you want to cry. “He played it flawlessly and when he finished the entire operating room erupted in applause.”

“The whole episode struck me as quite staggering that a music theorist could stand in an operating room and somehow be a consultant to brain surgeons,” said Marvin. “In fact, it turned out to be one of the most amazing days of my life because if felt like all of my training was suddenly changing someone’s life and allowing this young man to retain his musical abilities.”

Clearly, the operation was successful, highlighting the potential impact of effective collaboration.

“I was 25 at the time and I don’t think there is any age when it is OK to hear that,” recalled Fabbio. “I had never had any health problems before and the first thing my mind went to was cancer.”

Happily, with effective collaboration and remarkable approach to surgery, he returned to work a few months later and has continued to pursue his love for music.



http://www.healthx24.com/patient-plays-music-flawlessly-surgery-brain-tumour/

Fabio, a music teacher was working on a school project when he suddenly began to “see and hear things that I knew were not real.” The hallucinations came with dizziness and nausea which prompted a visit to a nearby hospital. Following a series of investigations including a Brain CT, he was told he had brain cancer. Fortunately, this was a slow growing tumour that had been present since childhood. However, removal of the tumour could affect Fabio’s musical abilities and jeopardize his career. So, his doctors decided to offer surgical intervention that would preserve his musical abilities.

Preserving specific skills of the patient while removing brain tissue is very challenging. Why? Within the operating room, it may be difficult to tell if the removal of certain tissues may have significant impact on basic functions. Generally, doctors have a fair knowledge of the functions sub-served by different parts of the brain. However, individual variations may occur from time to time. Hence, the full impact of a surgical procedure may not be evident until several weeks to months after surgery.

In the case published in the academic journal Current biology, the surgeons were able to overcome this problem by asking the patient to play saxophone in the operating room!



Credit: Image courtesy of University of Rochester Medical Center

Why did the surgeons ask the patient to play saxophone?

This was to assess the immediate impact of the surgery on the patient’s musical skills. In a statement by Dr Pilcher, the Ernest and Thelma Del Monte Distinguished Professor of Neuromedicine and Chair of Department of Neurosurgery,

Removing a tumor from the brain can have significant consequences depending upon its location. Both the tumor itself and the operation to remove it can damage tissue and disrupt communication between different parts of the brain. It is, therefore, critical to understand as much as you can about each individual patient before you bring them into the operating room so we can perform the procedure without causing damage to parts of the brain that are important to that person’s life and function.

In order to achieve this difficult task, the neurosurgeon, Dr Pilcher, collaborated with an expert in brain and cognitive sciences, Dr Mahlon and a professor of music, Dr Elizabeth Marvin.

Everybody’s brain is organized in more or less the same way. But the particular location at a fine grain level of a given function can vary sometimes up to a couple centimeters from one person to another. And so it’s really important to carry out this kind of detailed investigation for each individual patient


Source: http://www.healthx24.com/patient-plays-music-flawlessly-surgery-brain-tumour/

This new study suggests that yawning is contagious even if the other person is a stranger. Therefore, you do not need to worry if you yawn when others do. During meetings and conferences, it is not unusual to find people yawning concurrently. All you need is the first yawn from a tired, drowsy or weary participant. Because yawning is contagious, you may also find yourself yawning when you are not tired.

This study also helps us understand some conditions like autism, dementia and Tourette syndrome.

According to Stephen Jackson, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, in the School of Psychology

“We suggest that these findings may be particularly important in understanding further the association between motor excitability and the occurrence of echophenomena in a wide range of clinical conditions that have been linked to increased cortical excitability and/or decreased physiological inhibition such as epilepsy, dementia, autism, and Tourette syndrome.”

Clearly, you do not need to worry about contagious yawning. Nevertheless, yawning could be a source of concern when it becomes excessive.

What does it mean to yawn excessively?

Yawning is excessive when it occurs more than expected. This usually happens when an individual yawns more than a few times a minute. Each yawn typically involves taking a deep breath.

What are the common causes of excessive yawning?

Generally, yawning occurs when you are tired, drowsy or weary. Anything that influences these conditions may also result in yawning. Some common conditions:

Insomnia

Epilepsy

Obesity

Medications e.g antidepressants

In view of the serious health conditions associated with excessive yawning, do not delay in seeking medical help if you experience it.


http://www.healthx24.com/yawning-contagious-new-study-shed-light/

Have you ever wondered why you yawn when others too? Recently one couple reported yawning back and forth many times, each triggering the other person’s yawn. Why is yawning contagious, you may ask. A new study by researchers at University of Nottingham suggests that the human propensity for contagious yawning is triggered automatically in an area of the brain responsible for motor function or movement.

The study titled ‘A neural basis for contagious yawning’ was published August, 2017 in the journal Current Biology.

Since yawns are triggered automatically, your ability to reduce the urge to yawn when others nearby do is limited.

How did the researchers arrive at this conclusion?

They recruited 36 volunteers who were instructed to view videos of people yawning repeatedly. The volunteers were then told to either resist yawning or allow themselves to yawn. The participants were videoed throughout, and their yawns and stifled yawns were counted. In addition, the intensity of each participant’s perceived urge to yawn was continuously recorded.

They found that further stimulation or excitement of the brain areas associated with movement increased the urge to yawn in these healthy volunteers.

In a statement made by Georgina Jackson, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology in the Institute of Mental Health,

This research has shown that the ‘urge’ is increased by trying to stop yourself. Using electrical stimulation we were able to increase excitability and in doing so increase the propensity for contagious yawning. In Tourettes, if we could reduce the excitability we might reduce the ticks and that’s what we are working on.

Tourette syndrome is a form of tic disorder that is quite distressing. The individual experiences repetitive movements of vocalizations.

Is this new study on yawning useful?

Yes. Previous studies have suggested that yawning tends to occur when you are more empathetic, because centres in the brain that process emotions make yawning contagious. Therefore, if you identify with a person such as a friend, colleague or spouse, you are more likely to yawn whenever they do.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/yawning-contagious-new-study-shed-light/

Ibuprofen is one of the most commonly used painkillers worldwide. It is effective in treating mild to moderate pain. Nevertheless, a new study has revealed that regular use of ibuprofen may slow down the growth of muscles-a huge blow to millions of gym goers who often take ibuprofen to manage muscle pain after hours of strength training.

The study was published in the Acta Physiological in August, 2017.

The team evaluated the impact of frequent ibuprofen use on healthy men and women (aged 18-35years) that were involved in strength training over a period of 2 months. Half of the participants were told to take high doses of ibuprofen (roughly 6 capsules or 1,200 mg a day) while the others took low doses of aspirin (75 mg) every day for eight weeks.

At the same time, the participants took part in weight-training exercises specifically designed to work the thighs two to three times a week.

At the end of the study, the muscles of those that took only aspirin were twice the size of those on ibuprofen. Similar effects were observed with muscle strength. This implies that persons who aim to bulk up their muscles should reduce or avoid ibuprofen

According to the main investigator, Tommy Lundberg,

The results are extremely interesting since the use of anti-inflammatory drugs is so globally widespread, not least amongst elite athletes and recreationally active individuals

The team led by Dr Lija concluded that ‘’ young individuals using resistance training to maximise muscle growth or strength should avoid excessive intake of anti-inflammatory drugs.’’



What are some of the common questions asked about ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen belongs to a class of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is useful in the treatment of pain, fever and inflammation. Many persons with migraines, headaches, muscles aches and arthritis take ibuprofen regularly.

How does Ibuprofen work?

This is by blocking the production of prostaglandins which causes pain, fever and swelling following illness or injury.



Source: http://www.healthx24.com/ibuprofen-use-caution/

Unfortunately, separation often leaves one of the twins developmentally impaired or dead. In Dr Ben Carson’s first surgical operation on ‘craniopagus twins’, one of them later died and the other had brain damage required constant care and supervision.

The doctors acknowledged the possibly grim outcome when they said that ‘We are hoping to save both but even if one of the twins survives, it will be a historic achievement.’ “The kids will require one or two more operations within three months for final separation,” a member of the medical team informed. “The boys will be kept under observation till then.”

Because of the difficult nature of the surgery, the team of 40 doctors spent 2 months conducting tests, researching, consulting with experienced doctors that have performed similar surgeries. This has paid off thus far.

In the next few months, at least three more operations would be needed before the girls are finally separated.
Many individuals around the word are closely following this story while wishing the girls, Jagannath and Balram, all the best.



http://www.healthx24.com/twins-head-surgery/

Two girls joined at the head from birth (conjoined twins) recently survived 22 hours of surgery aimed at fully separating them. The surgery was performed in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. The twins, Jagannath and Balram, aged 27 months survived this crucial phase of the operation which involved restructuring shared blood flow to the heart. The twins share a common vein that carries blood from the brain to the heart.
The girls have what is commonly known as ‘craniopagus twins’ – which is very rare, occurring once in 2.5 million births. Conjoined twins are genetically identical, and are always the same sex. Apart from fusion of the brain, other organs may be informed. The most popular set of conjoined twins Eng and Chang, who were known as Siamese twins. Interestingly, despite being joined at the lower chest, they went on to lead normal lives, getting married, having up to a dozen children and living till 1874 when they died at the age 63 years.

Most ‘craniopagus twins’ do not survive the first two years of life. In severe cases, they share brains or other body organs. Globally, only about 50 twins joined at the head have had surgery and few eventually survived. This surgery was what launched Dr Ben Carson into fame 30 years ago. The pediatric neurosurgeon led a team of doctors to operate on the Binder twins at 7 months. In contrast, in 1997, a surgery of Zambian twins left both patients alive and normal. Recently, Abby and Erin, 10 month old conjoined twins were operated successfully at Children’s Hospital, Philadelphia. The operation lasted 11 hours.


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/twins-head-surgery/

A toddler who lost her arms and legs to meningitis as a baby has taken her first steps on new prosthetic limbs.

Proud mum Freya Hall screamed with joy as her daughter Harmonie-Rose walked into her arms for the first time.

She said the three-year-old asked for them to be decorated with unicorns “because they are magic and will help me walk”.

The £10,000 limbs were bought with money raised via the Hope 4 Harmonie fund.

Her mother, from Foxhill, Bath said: “We are so thankful as without these donations we wouldn’t be where we are today.”



The loss of a body part such as a limb poses a significant burden on the individual and his close relatives. Prosthesis are artificial devices used to replace missing body parts. With an artificial limb, an individual can achieve most of the tasks sub-served by the lost limb. Oscar Pistorius known as the ‘Blade runner’ was able to participate in the Olympics with transtibial prosthetic limb. In 2013, another toddler, Ted also took his first steps with the help of artificial limbs.

The alternative to prosthesis is limb transplant which which requires donors and highly specialized team of doctors. In July 2017, Zion, a 9 year old had the first double hand transplant. The surgery led by Dr. Levin, involved 40 people and lasted 10 and a half hours.

Thousands of babies born with deformities and adults that may have lost limbs to trauma need artificial limbs to improve the quality of life. However, the high cost and limited access leaves thousands without artificial limbs worldwide. A new prosthetic limb costs between $5000 and $50,000, which puts it out of the reach of persons in developing countries. Recently, a team of engineers found a way of bringing the cost down to $20. This involved the use of medical grade plastics. However, it may take some time before this is readily available in the market. According to the researchers,

The device that we have actually undercuts the cost of the average prosthetic tenfold, that actually allows, financially, 80 percent of amputees to have access to our product.

Another method is the use of 3D printing, which has been used to successful produce artificial limbs too.

No doubt, prosthetic limbs are part of the huge benefits of technological advancements, giving hope to thousands of individuals without limbs on account of trauma or infection

What more can be done to improve access to artificial limbs?


http://www.healthx24.com/artificial-limbs-toddlers-step/

What types of treatment are available?
Treatment is aimed at removing all cancer cells in the body which is quite difficult. In late stages, cancer cells become widespread and difficult to remove. The main methods according to National Health Services are:

Surgery- This is done to remove the tumour and some surrounding normal tissue. The lump or swelling is usually sent for additional tests to decide on further treatments needed.
Drugs- Medicines are sometimes used to kill cancer cells. However, most have serious side effects.
Radiotherapy-This involves exposing cancer cells to radiation.
Hormone therapy- Altering hormones that promote cancer cell growth. Prostate and Breast cancers respond well to this form of therapy.
Immunotherapy- This strengthens the immune system, leading to the destruction of cancer cells.
Apart from these treatments, some alternative forms of treatment such as herbal medicine may be useful. However, no evidence suggests that alternative therapies cure cancer.



http://www.healthx24.com/know-cancers/

What are the main causes of cancers?
No specific factor has been found to cause cancer on its own. However, research suggests that multiple factors contribute in different ways to cancers. Some cancers are more likely to occur in susceptible families. For instance family history of breast cancer may increase the risk. Apart from genetic factors, several agents and conditions have been linked to different cancers.

What common symptoms and signs should you look for?
You should not ignore any unusual changes in your body. Although, these symptoms may be caused by other illnesses, don’t hesitate to see your doctor if you observe any of the following:

Some common symptoms you should always look out for are:
Unusual Lump or swelling anywhere on your body
Unexplained breast changes –Lumps, changes in size, shape, feel and discharge
Persistent cough, chest pain or breathlessness
Croaky voice or hoarseness
Changes in bowel habits such as unexplained diarrhea, constipation or persistent bloating
Unexplained weight loss
Wounds or ulcers that won’t heal
Unusual bleeding such as blood in vomit, sputum or urine
Obvious changes in the color, size, and texture of a mole
Problems with urinating


Can Cancers be prevented?


Making healthier diet and lifestyle choices may help you prevent cancers. One way of preventing cancer is to consciously avoid agents and conditions that have a confirmed link with cancer. So, you should consciously try to avoid the following:

Tobacco
Excessive alcohol use
Parasitic infections such as Schistostoma haematoma
Multiple sexual partners
Obesity
Moldy groundnuts

Having regular medical check-ups makes early detection and treatment possible. That is why, apart from breast cancer screening, a pap smear may be needed to screen for cervical cancer in women. Additionally, prostate cancer screening may be offered if the person is at risk. This may be by rectal examination or test to determine the level of prostate specific antigen in the blood.

You have cancer.’ Gina was shocked to hear the doctor say those words. How could she have missed the symptoms? She had this vague feeling something was wrong since she started losing weight some months back. Several visits to hospitals yielded nothing till she suddenly felt ill necessitating hospitalization, further evaluation and an unexpected diagnosis of cancer.

It is not unusual for persons to receive a cancer diagnosis out of the blues. Unfortunately, it may be too late to adequately intervene. This is more common in countries were access to affordable healthcare is limited.

Do you have unusual symptoms lately? Are you worried about cancer? Should you? Consider answers to some common questions about cancer.

What is Cancer?
According to the book ‘Causes of Cancer’, it is a state where some human cells begin to multiply inappropriately therefore producing millions of similarly affected self-replicating cells. Some of these abnormal cells ‘may spread to other parts of the body and eventually overwhelm it.’ When an abnormal mass is formed it is referred to as a tumor. Although, the word cancer usually makes a person feel anxious, not all tumors are deadly. When abnormal cells do not invade other cells in the body, it is termed benign tumor while malignant cancer generally destroys other cells as they proliferate.

What are the common types of cancer?
According to World Cancer Research Fund International, the 5 most common types are lung, Breast and colorectal, stomach and prostate cancers. Indeed, these cancers account for most of the 8.2 million cancer related deaths that occur annually. However, the prevalence of cancers varies from one region to another and also depends on gender, age and family history. For example, apart from breast cancer, cervical cancer accounts for of most female cancer deaths in Nigeria. In contrast, lung cancer is the second leading cancer among women in the United States. That is why, cancer prevention efforts are guided the knowledge of what is most prevalent in an area.


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/know-cancers/

Jayden Fontenot, a 10-year-old from Sulphur, Louisiana, became a hero last Friday when his mother, Ashly Moreau, went into labor with his baby brother at just 34 weeks.

The baby was in breech position and Moreau felt her baby’s feet hanging out when she was in the bathroom, not knowing she was in labor.

Moreau was home with Jayden when the baby started to come.

Jayden ran to his grandmother’s house next door. His grandmother called the police but was unable to help Moreau deliver the baby.

Jayden ran back to his mother, who was laying on the bathroom floor bleeding out when they realized the baby wasn’t breathing.

“When he got to the bathroom, he just took a deep breath and said, ‘ok, Mom, just tell me what I need to do,’ ” Moreau said. “He didn’t look scared, he looked calm and brave and I said ‘ok, I’m going to tell you what to do and we need to get your brother out as fast as possible because he’s breeched and he can’t breathe.’ ”

Jayden pulled his little brother out by his legs but the baby was still not breathing and his mother was still bleeding out.

Jayden ran to the kitchen to get a nasal aspirator to clear the baby’s nose. The baby finally started to breathe.

It was then that EMS arrived and took Moreau and the newborn to the hospital where they both quickly recovered.

Doctors said if Jayden hadn’t been there, the baby would have never started breathing and Moreau would have bled out during delivery.



What the 10 year old achieved is really remarkable. Nevertheless, it is important to note that breech delivery at home is considered unsafe. In breech delivery, the baby’s bottom or feet comes out first instead of the head. Generally, caesarian sections are preferred when a baby presents with feet or bottom. This is because the woman’s pelvis may not be large enough for the head to be delivered afterwards. Breech delivery requires years of practice and training. Although doing a caesarian section (CS) on every breech is possible, it is important for women with breech presentation to plan for CS to reduce the risk.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/boy-delivers/

With prematurity comes difficulty in sucking, swallowing and breathing. Therefore, the survival rate of premature babies is quite low in several countries. To improve their chances of survival, most are nursed in neonatal intensive care units for weeks or months. Sadly, the risk of long term health problems is also high in those that survive.

Generally, the chance of survival decreases with level of prematurity. The chance of survival at fewer than 23 weeks is almost zero, while at 23 weeks it is 15%, 24 weeks 55% and 25 weeks about 80%.

There is also a huge difference in survival rates when low income settings are compared with high income countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), half of the babies born at or below 32 weeks (2 months early) in low income countries die. Common causes of death include ineffective care, cost and lack of adequate equipment to provide warmth and support for breathing and breastfeeding. In a recent review of premature births in Lagos, Nigeria, one out of eight cases had not received antenatal care at the hospital.

Do you know that the record of the earliest surviving premature birth is held by James Elgin Gill, who was 21 weeks and 5 days at birth? He was born on 20 May 1987 in Ottawa, Canada and weighed 624g. Furthermore, the world’s smallest premature boy to survive was Jonathon Whitehill was born at 25 weeks gestation with a weight of 310 grams. He was hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit for five months before discharge.

To reduce the risk of premature births, mothers-to-be need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoiding psychoactive substances while maintaining good contact with health professionals. Proper antenatal care generally improves detection of multiple births and prepares the premature baby better.




http://www.healthx24.com/premature-births-artificial-womb-improve-chances-survival/

Scientists have devised an unusual way of improving the survival of extremely premature babies. This is known as an artificial womb. The artificial womb has been named EVE which stands for ex-vivo uterine environment therapy.

Presently, incubators are used to keep premature babies alive. However, this treatment approaches extremely premature babies as small infants instead of unborn babies without resources to survive outside the womb.

A multinational effort at overcoming this challenge has recently yielded results-the artificial womb-which was successfully used to keep healthy baby lambs alive for a week. The findings were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

According to Associate Prof Kemp, one of the researchers,

Designing treatment strategies for extremely preterm infants is a challenge. At this gestational age the lungs are often too structurally and functionally under-developed for the baby to breathe easily. At its core, our equipment is essentially is a high-tech amniotic fluid bath combined with an artificial placenta. Put those together, and with careful maintenance what you’ve got is an artificial womb. By providing an alternative means of gas exchange for the fetus, we hoped to spare the extremely preterm cardiopulmonary system from ventilation-derived injury, and save the lives of those babies whose lungs are too immature to breathe properly. The end goal is to provide preterm babies the chance to better develop their lungs and other important organs before being brought into the world





Premature birth refers to the delivery of a baby before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. It is quite common worldwide. In the United States, one out of every ten may be born premature. Worldwide, up to 15 million babies are born preterm. Here is the list of the top ten countries with premature births worldwide:

Country Number of premature births
India 3 519 100
China 1 172 300
Nigeria 773 600
Pakistan 748 100
Indonesia 675 700
The United States of America 517 400
Bangladesh 424 100
The Philippines 348 900
The Democratic Republic of the Congo 341 400
Brazil 279 300



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/premature-births-artificial-womb-improve-chances-survival/

Apart from the benefits that have been proved, research is still on going on other health benefits such as:

Green tea and longevity– Do you know that persons who drink cups of the tea daily have been reported to live longer? In a study of over 40,000 adults in Japan, those that lived longer drank the tea regularly in addition to some of other lifestyle factors. Of course, this claim is not conclusive because some other unexplained factors in that environment may explain longevity.

Green tea improves thinking abilities- The tea contains caffeine and L-theanine. So, theoretically these compounds could synergistically work to reduce anxiety, improve alertness, clarity, helping you to remain mentally active. However, the exact amount required to achieve this effect is still unclear.

Green tea helps reduce weight-Some studies suggest that the tea reduces weight gain by increasing the rate at which people metabolize fat. Although, many of the studies have small samples and are inconclusive, it seems the tea may still be as useful addition to other weight loss strategies.

Green tea reduces the risk of cancer- Cancer cells are less likely to develop if antioxidants regularly mop up chemicals that cause cell damage. The tea is rich in antioxidants that may offer theoretically offer important health benefit. Some studies evaluating the impact of drinking tea on cancers show that drinking the tea may reduce the risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer and prostatic cancer by 20 to 50%. Nevertheless, further reviews show that this may not be true.

Green tea prevents memory loss and protects against common aging problems such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Most of these studies using animals suggest that taking some of the compounds commonly found in the tea protect brain nerves, preventing early degeneration. It is difficult to confirm these assertions in human subjects, so these claims may not be conclusive.

Is drinking green tea good for you?

According to Alison Hornby, a dietitian “In the Far East, green tea has been used as a treatment for a variety of conditions ranging from arthritis to weight loss, as well as a preventative measure for diseases such as cancer, although the evidence for the majority of these conditions is weak or lacking. “However, as a social drink, it appears to be safe in moderate amounts, so lovers of green tea can continue to enjoy it.”



http://www.healthx24.com/green-tea-health-benefits-drinking/

Green tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. It is brewed in several countries and considered a healthy alternative to sugary drinks. A new study has suggested that green tea may help fight three health problems-obesity, insulin resistance and memory impairment.

The study was published July, 2017 in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

“Green tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water, and is grown in at least 30 countries,” said Xuebo Liu, Ph.D., a researcher at the College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, in Yangling, China. “The ancient habit of drinking green tea may be a more acceptable alternative to medicine when it comes to combatting obesity, insulin resistance, and memory impairment.”

Consider some of the frequently asked questions on green tea

How much green tea should you drink a day?

No one really knows for sure. In China, people drink up to 5 cups of green tea daily. There is really no evidence on how much one should consume for the health benefits of drink green tea. In the absence, drinking in moderate amounts is recommended.

How should you drink green tea?

Green tea is best taken with warm water. Adding very hot water to the tea may destroy some of its nutrients. So, let boiled water rest for about ten minutes, then, pour the water over the tea and brew for about one minute or more before serving.

Is green tea or black tea better for you?

Both are extracted from the same tree. However, green tea has a higher concentration of some anti-oxidants.

Green tea contains ingredients such as: B vitamins, folate (naturally occurring folic acid), manganese, potassium, magnesium, caffeine and other antioxidants, notably catechins.

What are some of the benefits linked to drinking Green tea?

Many of the studies linking green tea to specific benefits have not yet been fully established. Very few studies involved humans. It is important to note that lab results demonstrating some benefits in rats may not be reproducible in humans.

Green tea prevents tooth decay, plaques and bad breath

It protects your teeth by preventing the growth of germs that lead to build up of plaques. One of these organisms is Stretococcus mutans which is notorious for not just plaques but dental cavities and tooth decay. Do you know that green tea contains catechins which prevents the growth of this organism. So, drinking the tea may be as effective as mouthwashes used in maintaining good dental hygiene.

Green tea lowers the risk of diabetes and heart disease

In a major review of previous studies of green tea on diabetes, those that drankthe tea daily had 18% lower risk of becoming diabetic. How does green tea produce this effect? It does this by making insulin more sensitive to blood glucose. Similarly, it reduces the risk of heart diseases and stroke by lowering levels of cholesterol in the body.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/green-tea-health-benefits-drinking/

3. Be physically active
Exercise lowers blood sugar and increases body’s sensitivity to insulin. Have you made exercise a routine part of your lifestyle? Here is another good reason to do so. It is never too late to begin. You need at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise three times weekly and about 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. Be sure to combine these with muscle strengthening exercises. Be consistent. Never allow prolonged periods of inactivity to set in.

4. Know if you are at risk and get tested
Some personal and genetic factors may suggest that you are at risk of diabetes. Do you have a parent, brother or sister with the condition? Are you 45 years or older? Are you overweight? Have you had elevated blood sugar levels in the past? Is your blood pressure elevated? Do you exercise less than three times week? If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, then you need to be tested for diabetes. Some individuals have pre-diabetes which precedes the metabolic disorder. The main feature of pre-diabetes is the presence of moderately elevated level of blood sugar. It has been linked to other disorders like obesity, heart disease and dementia. It is possible to halt or delay the progression to diabetes by making active lifestyle changes and having regular blood sugar checks.

5. Lose excess weight
You can prevent or delay diabetes by losing some weight. Studies show that losing about 5-7 percent of total body weight can make a lot of difference. Granted, losing weight may be more difficult for some than others. Staying active and eating healthy may be all you need to shed excess fat and maintain healthy weight. There are BMI calculators, apps and support groups to help you achieve your weight goals.

If you have concerns about diabetes, feel free to share these with your doctors. He or She will provide specific advice based on your medical history.

Yes, doing what you can to improve your health is worth it. Why not implement these 5 simple steps today? Make these changes to your lifestyle today to beat diabetes.



http://www.healthx24.com/diabetes-beat-5-simple-ways/

Diabetes currently affects a staggering 422 million adults worldwide. It is a chronic metabolic disease presenting with high blood sugar levels and damage to several organs such as kidney, eyes and heart.

This accounts for a high prevalence of blindness, stroke, heart attacks in all parts of the world. Although, diabetes may begin in childhood, 9 out of 10 persons have a preventable form of diabetes that usually develops later in life. This is known as Type 2 diabetes.

The incidence of Type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically globally. Persons with type 2 diabetes live with disability necessitating hospital visits, daily use of medicines and reduced productivity. Happily, you can reduce the risk of diabetes by understanding and taking the following simple steps:

1. Watch what you Eat
Foods rich in sugar have a relationship with diabetes, perhaps because they cause weight gain. However, the quantity of sugar delivered into the blood stream matter more than the source. So, eating in small portions is the key. You should consume whole grain bread, cereals, rice, yam and other starchy foods in moderation. Many refined food items such as biscuits contain added sugar and you should try to avoid consuming these in large quantities. If you have to eat sweets, keep it small and try substituting it for another carbohydrate. Understanding the basics of food labeling is worthwhile. For example, you can easily look for ‘whole’ on the package to ascertain if the food item contains whole grain. Go for at least 5-10 grams of fibre daily. Fish, nuts, beans, vegetables, seeds and other foods rich in fibre should be regular parts of your meals.

2. Go for Healthy Drinks
Drink water, tea and coffee instead of carbonated drinks. Research has shown that drinking sugary beverages is linked to type 2 diabetes. Regular soda, fruit drinks, sweet tea and energy drinks are all examples of beverages that contain high levels of sugar. Some carbonated drinks contain as much as 8-10 teaspoons of sugar! In addition some refined juices contain added sugars, sweeteners and preservatives. Say ‘No’ to sugary drinks. Consider healthy alternatives. Eat fresh fruits or drink smoothies rather sugary fruit juices.


Source: http://www.healthx24.com/diabetes-beat-5-simple-ways/

4. Use memory techniques
Some memory techniques are particularly useful. For example, memory champions use a popular technique known as loci which combines visualization and association. They take a mental walk, connecting what needs to be remembered (eg numbers) with landmarks and objects in the mental picture.

Alex Mullen, the World Memory Champion recommends the use of a ‘Mind Palace’. He describes this as a very familiar place with several objects for attaching what you want to remember. Choose your house, street, park or any other place you know very well. He drops of images at specific places in his ‘mind palace’ and walks back along the same route to recall them. Trying out this technique may make you realize the vast potential you have for remembering things.

A much easier method is the use of mnemonics. A mnemonic is an acronym with key letters of a list. For example, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound) is an excellent memory aid for project managers in setting criteria for objectives.



5. Review and reinforce
Never forget that ‘repetition is the mother of retention’. So, consider reviewing what you have stored intermittently. You may discuss it with others or repeat it to yourself. The more you do this, the better your retrieval skills will be.

Having a good memory is essential for completing tasks and maintaining good relationships. For students, the ability to recall determines if they fail, pass or make distinctions. So, trying out these tips is worth the effort.

It is important to note that forgetfulness may sometimes suggest other problems. For example, dementia and amnestic syndromes are associated with impairment of memory and other cognitive functions. Forgetfulness may also occur when you are sad. When depressed, a person may have a tendency to be absent-minded or remember only negative, unpleasant things. Getting a medical evaluation may be necessary if forgetfulness is serious or persistent.


http://www.healthx24.com/improve-memory-today/