Ray was an old style businessman. In these times of worker smarter, Ray created his business through a lot of extremely demanding work. Like many men, he had not paid much attention to his health but now as he was in his late 50s many aches and pains just weren´t going away. A visit to his local doctor resulted in a referral to an orthopaedic specialist.
The news was not good. "You have severe osteoarthritis in your right hip. You will need to go on some anti-inflammatory medication and you will probably need to have a hip replacement by the years end."
It all came as a huge shock to Ray. He was stammering a bit,trying to make sense of how this could have happened.
"How did I get this?" he asked.
The specialist replied in a rather dismissive way, " Unfortunately it is just one of those things that happen to us when we get older. It is quite common for your age."
Ray was not happy. He was not happy with the manner that the specialist spoke to him and he was not at all happy to be labeled as old. He was determined to give the doctor a piece of his mind when a thought came to him.
"Hey," he said. "Do I have any arthritis in my left hip? "he asked.
"The scans show that you left hip is clear of any arthritis," replied the specialist.
"If arthritis is caused by old age, how come I have no arthritis in my left hip. It´s the same age?"
You may be wondering what actually causes arthritis?
Arthritis is the degeneration of joints as a result of three common scenarios:
Arthritis Cause No.1: After they have been damaged by injury or trauma
Particularly severe injury that physically damages a joint beyond its capacity to repair itself will inevitably result in some arthritic changes. It is very difficult if not impossible to prevent arthritic change in this instance. However the amount of arthritic change can be limited by addressing the following two areas.
Arthritis Cause No.2:
Excessive load being placed on them due to poor alignment or poor posture
Car tires can wear out unevenly and prematurely due to poor alignment and so can the joints in your body. When you have an upright and balanced posture your body weight is evenly distributed throughout your body. However, poor posture and alignment causes the weight to be unevenly distributed with some areas getting off lightly and other areas getting worn out by the excessive load.
Arthritis Cause No.3:Lack of flexibility resulting from a lack of use
If you only use joints in a limited manner in which you do not routinely exercise your joints to their full range of motion, the lack of movement will limit the amount of nutrition to the joints. This effectively begins to starve the joint surfaces of the necessary ingredients required to be able to maintain a healthy joint. It backs up the old adage, "If you don´t use it, you lose it."
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Glucosamine may reduce pain, is considered safe
I've been taking 1,000 mg of glucosamine daily for a couple of years. It has done wonders for my cartilage trouble, and now I do not get water on the knee. Should I be worried about taking it over the long term?
Unfortunately, there's no reliable information available to answer your question. Without long-term scientific research, it's impossible to know whether stopping or continuing glucosamine is the better choice.
There have been some very good studies of glucosamine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Studies suggest its use is associated with reduced pain from osteoarthritis of the knee similar in magnitude to an anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen or naproxen). For unclear reasons, glucosamine may improve moderate or severe symptoms more reliably than it does for mild joint pain.
As for other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or for osteoarthritis affecting joints other than the knee, we have even less information about glucosamine's effectiveness.There is significant controversy and skepticism about claims that glucosamine has benefits beyond reducing knee pain from osteoarthritis. It's unclear whether glucosamine can help heal damaged joints or prevent future joint damage. Regarding joint swelling, or "water on the knee," this is not one of the proven benefits of glucosamine. It's possible that you would have improved even without the supplement.
Unfortunately, there's no reliable information available to answer your question. Without long-term scientific research, it's impossible to know whether stopping or continuing glucosamine is the better choice.
There have been some very good studies of glucosamine in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Studies suggest its use is associated with reduced pain from osteoarthritis of the knee similar in magnitude to an anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen or naproxen). For unclear reasons, glucosamine may improve moderate or severe symptoms more reliably than it does for mild joint pain.
As for other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or for osteoarthritis affecting joints other than the knee, we have even less information about glucosamine's effectiveness.There is significant controversy and skepticism about claims that glucosamine has benefits beyond reducing knee pain from osteoarthritis. It's unclear whether glucosamine can help heal damaged joints or prevent future joint damage. Regarding joint swelling, or "water on the knee," this is not one of the proven benefits of glucosamine. It's possible that you would have improved even without the supplement.
Monday, May 19, 2008
10 alternative meds
Dandruff — tea tree oil
Tea tree oil can do the trick in wiping out dandruff's white flakes naturally. Derived from plant leaves native to Australia, it has been used for centuries as an antiseptic and antifungal agent. Aboriginals applied crushed leaves to skin cuts, burns and infections. Today, tea tree oil is found in shampoos, soaps and creams. While not many studies have been done on it, one found that tea tree oil shampoo significantly reduced dandruff. It also may work on athlete's foot, toenail fungus and acne.
Migraines — acupuncture
Anyone who's had migraine headaches knows you'd try almost anything to make them go away. For many, that includes the ancient Chinese practice of inserting thin needles into specific parts of the body. Studies have supported its use. The largest, published in the March 2006 The Lancet Neurology, found that acupuncture may be as effective as traditional medicines in treating migraines. Experts caution, however, that if you don't see an improvement after several treatments, acupuncture probably won't help.
Insomnia — yoga
Can't sleep? Relax, take a deep breath and stretch. Doing yoga at least three times a week might help you. Yoga's deep breathing and meditation techniques clear the body of stress, making it easier to fall asleep. And unlike some sleep pills, it won't leave you feeling groggy the next morning. Although yoga is widely recommended and used to treat insomnia, the scientific proof is sparse. A national study that is under way could change that.
Depression — St. John's wort
Sometimes referred to as herbal Prozac, small European studies have concluded that St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum) is useful in treating mild depression, but not severe depression. For that, more studies are needed. Be careful, though. The product interacts poorly with some medications and may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills, which could be depressing to some.
Common cold — echinacea
Echinacea is the most-used natural product, and for good reason: It helps fight the common cold. Various studies have cheered and jeered the purple coneflower, which is native to North America. The latest study, in 2007, said echinacea boosts immunity and helps shorten and prevent colds. The millions of users probably tend to agree.
Sunburn — aloe vera
After a long day at the beach, many use aloe vera for relief. It dates to ancient Egypt, where the plant was given as a burial gift to pharaohs. Today, studies have shown that aloe gel can help burns as well as abrasions. The gel, which is squeezed from the leaves of the aloe plant, is antibacterial and stimulates the immune system. People also take aloe orally for conditions including diabetes and asthma, although scientific evidence doesn't support the use.
Back pain — chiropractic treatment
One in five U.S. adults have tried chiropractic treatment, according to a 2002 national survey. Most seek a chiropractor for back pain, neck pain or headaches. The idea is that when the spine, or another body part, is out of whack, the body can't heal itself. And here's the good part: Unlike most alternative medicine, many insurance policies cover chiropractic care. Just make sure to find a qualified practitioner. U.S. chiropractors must hold a doctor of chiropractic, or D.C., from properly accredited colleges.
Indigestion — peppermint
If a night of overeating and drinking gives you indigestion, you might think about grabbing some of those restaurant mints on the way out. They can help a stomach ache. Try chewing on peppermint leaves after a big meal or sipping on mint tea. Several studies suggest that peppermint oil, which comes in capsule or liquid form, may improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. A few studies have found that, when combined with caraway oil, peppermint oil may help relieve indigestion, but evidence is preliminary.
Joint pain — glucosamine and chondroitin
Years of playing sports can do a number on the knees, resulting in osteoarthritis. To fight through the pain, many people turn to glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements. Glucosamine is thought to promote the growth of cartilage and repair it, while chondroitin promotes elasticity and blocks enzymes that break down cartilage. While research conflicts on their effectiveness, a 2006 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed some people with moderate to severe pain had significant relief when using both supplements. Those with mild pain had no such luck.
Tea tree oil can do the trick in wiping out dandruff's white flakes naturally. Derived from plant leaves native to Australia, it has been used for centuries as an antiseptic and antifungal agent. Aboriginals applied crushed leaves to skin cuts, burns and infections. Today, tea tree oil is found in shampoos, soaps and creams. While not many studies have been done on it, one found that tea tree oil shampoo significantly reduced dandruff. It also may work on athlete's foot, toenail fungus and acne.
Migraines — acupuncture
Anyone who's had migraine headaches knows you'd try almost anything to make them go away. For many, that includes the ancient Chinese practice of inserting thin needles into specific parts of the body. Studies have supported its use. The largest, published in the March 2006 The Lancet Neurology, found that acupuncture may be as effective as traditional medicines in treating migraines. Experts caution, however, that if you don't see an improvement after several treatments, acupuncture probably won't help.
Insomnia — yoga
Can't sleep? Relax, take a deep breath and stretch. Doing yoga at least three times a week might help you. Yoga's deep breathing and meditation techniques clear the body of stress, making it easier to fall asleep. And unlike some sleep pills, it won't leave you feeling groggy the next morning. Although yoga is widely recommended and used to treat insomnia, the scientific proof is sparse. A national study that is under way could change that.
Depression — St. John's wort
Sometimes referred to as herbal Prozac, small European studies have concluded that St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum) is useful in treating mild depression, but not severe depression. For that, more studies are needed. Be careful, though. The product interacts poorly with some medications and may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills, which could be depressing to some.
Common cold — echinacea
Echinacea is the most-used natural product, and for good reason: It helps fight the common cold. Various studies have cheered and jeered the purple coneflower, which is native to North America. The latest study, in 2007, said echinacea boosts immunity and helps shorten and prevent colds. The millions of users probably tend to agree.
Sunburn — aloe vera
After a long day at the beach, many use aloe vera for relief. It dates to ancient Egypt, where the plant was given as a burial gift to pharaohs. Today, studies have shown that aloe gel can help burns as well as abrasions. The gel, which is squeezed from the leaves of the aloe plant, is antibacterial and stimulates the immune system. People also take aloe orally for conditions including diabetes and asthma, although scientific evidence doesn't support the use.
Back pain — chiropractic treatment
One in five U.S. adults have tried chiropractic treatment, according to a 2002 national survey. Most seek a chiropractor for back pain, neck pain or headaches. The idea is that when the spine, or another body part, is out of whack, the body can't heal itself. And here's the good part: Unlike most alternative medicine, many insurance policies cover chiropractic care. Just make sure to find a qualified practitioner. U.S. chiropractors must hold a doctor of chiropractic, or D.C., from properly accredited colleges.
Indigestion — peppermint
If a night of overeating and drinking gives you indigestion, you might think about grabbing some of those restaurant mints on the way out. They can help a stomach ache. Try chewing on peppermint leaves after a big meal or sipping on mint tea. Several studies suggest that peppermint oil, which comes in capsule or liquid form, may improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. A few studies have found that, when combined with caraway oil, peppermint oil may help relieve indigestion, but evidence is preliminary.
Joint pain — glucosamine and chondroitin
Years of playing sports can do a number on the knees, resulting in osteoarthritis. To fight through the pain, many people turn to glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements. Glucosamine is thought to promote the growth of cartilage and repair it, while chondroitin promotes elasticity and blocks enzymes that break down cartilage. While research conflicts on their effectiveness, a 2006 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed some people with moderate to severe pain had significant relief when using both supplements. Those with mild pain had no such luck.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Glaxo boosts biotech with Regulus deal
LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline boosted its position in biotech on Thursday by signing a deal that could be worth up to $600 million (303 million pounds) with Regulus Therapeutics, taking it into the hot area of RNA technology.
The tie-up covers research into experimental drugs designed to block or "silence" microRNAs -- tiny strands of RNA, or ribonucleic acid, that help turn genes into proteins.
Regulus is a joint venture between U.S. biotech companies Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc .
The aim of the deal is to develop and market new microRNA-targeted treatments for conditions caused by chronic inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
The collaboration, however, will not yield any early results and there is no guarantee of success. Regulus Chief Executive Kleanthis Xanthopoulos told Reuters it could be three years before drug candidates were identified for clinical trials.
Still, Jose Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos, head of Glaxo's inflammation research centre, thinks it is worth a gamble.
"When associated with an aberrant inflammatory response, microRNAs represent disease targets whose therapeutic modulation could revolutionise the way we treat immune diseases," he said.
Europe's biggest drugmaker by sales has an option to license product candidates directed at four different targets, with Regulus eligible to receive up to $144.5 million in milestone payments for each.
In addition, Regulus will get $20 million in upfront payments, including a $15 million option fee and a $5 million note convertible into Regulus common stock. It will also receive up to double-digit percentage royalties on worldwide sales of products resulting from the alliance.
For Glaxo, the deal is another example of "virtualising" some of its drugs pipeline by complementing in-house research with external alliances.
The high price it is paying for such early-stage research underlines the current hunger among large pharmaceutical companies for promising biotech assets.
Xanthopoulos said Regulus had also seen strong interest from big drugmakers in its oncology and virology programmes, some of which are more advanced than the inflammatory work. But he added it was not his goal to strike further deals in 2008.
MicroRNAs are a recently discovered class of molecules that are believed to regulate the expression of a large number of human genes. The inappropriate absence or presence of specific microRNAs has been linked with cancer, viral infection, inflammatory and metabolic disorders.
The tie-up covers research into experimental drugs designed to block or "silence" microRNAs -- tiny strands of RNA, or ribonucleic acid, that help turn genes into proteins.
Regulus is a joint venture between U.S. biotech companies Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc .
The aim of the deal is to develop and market new microRNA-targeted treatments for conditions caused by chronic inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
The collaboration, however, will not yield any early results and there is no guarantee of success. Regulus Chief Executive Kleanthis Xanthopoulos told Reuters it could be three years before drug candidates were identified for clinical trials.
Still, Jose Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos, head of Glaxo's inflammation research centre, thinks it is worth a gamble.
"When associated with an aberrant inflammatory response, microRNAs represent disease targets whose therapeutic modulation could revolutionise the way we treat immune diseases," he said.
Europe's biggest drugmaker by sales has an option to license product candidates directed at four different targets, with Regulus eligible to receive up to $144.5 million in milestone payments for each.
In addition, Regulus will get $20 million in upfront payments, including a $15 million option fee and a $5 million note convertible into Regulus common stock. It will also receive up to double-digit percentage royalties on worldwide sales of products resulting from the alliance.
For Glaxo, the deal is another example of "virtualising" some of its drugs pipeline by complementing in-house research with external alliances.
The high price it is paying for such early-stage research underlines the current hunger among large pharmaceutical companies for promising biotech assets.
Xanthopoulos said Regulus had also seen strong interest from big drugmakers in its oncology and virology programmes, some of which are more advanced than the inflammatory work. But he added it was not his goal to strike further deals in 2008.
MicroRNAs are a recently discovered class of molecules that are believed to regulate the expression of a large number of human genes. The inappropriate absence or presence of specific microRNAs has been linked with cancer, viral infection, inflammatory and metabolic disorders.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Mega Lifesciences introduces skin care products
When the skin is exposed to such environmental conditions, sun, air-conditioning and pollution it would drab in such hectic lifestyle in global backdrop and therefore it is important that care should be taken to improve the texture of the skin, said Ms Rosy Senanayake at the launch of Flexsa – Glucosamine Sulphate Orange flavoured drink and NNO – Nourishing Night Oil, enriched with Vitamin E.
Mega Lifesciences (Australia) Pty Ltd, launched two new products to the Sri Lankan market at a Press Conference and fashion show held at the Hilton last week with the presence of Mega Lifescience’s Country Head Praveen Viswakumaran, Director A Baur & Co, A Mahanama; Brand Ambassadors for Glow Mrs Rosy Senanayake and Rozanne Diasz, Beautician Ramani Fernando, Fashion Guru Kirthi Sri Karunaratne and Dr Harshini Fernando.
Ms Senanayake said that she always believed that Glow could be used as an outside application to preserve the skin. She also stressed the importance of exercising, good nutrients would be components for this purpose. She said that Glow does not have preservatives.
Dr (Ms) Harshani Fernando said that nearly 10 to 12 percent of the world population suffers from Osteoarthritis the common form of arthritis – pain and inflammation of joints - and people passing the age of 45 years. Osteoarthritis is a condition primarily concerning the joints causing joint pain, swelling, stiffness and even immobility. It’s a progressive disorder that can worsen with time and age leading to discomfort and loss of productivity.
Medical science has contributed immensely in improving the mortality and morbidity resulting in a longer life span, higher life expectancy and of course a better quality of life.
Mega Lifesciences (Australia) Pty Ltd, launched two new products to the Sri Lankan market at a Press Conference and fashion show held at the Hilton last week with the presence of Mega Lifescience’s Country Head Praveen Viswakumaran, Director A Baur & Co, A Mahanama; Brand Ambassadors for Glow Mrs Rosy Senanayake and Rozanne Diasz, Beautician Ramani Fernando, Fashion Guru Kirthi Sri Karunaratne and Dr Harshini Fernando.
Ms Senanayake said that she always believed that Glow could be used as an outside application to preserve the skin. She also stressed the importance of exercising, good nutrients would be components for this purpose. She said that Glow does not have preservatives.
Dr (Ms) Harshani Fernando said that nearly 10 to 12 percent of the world population suffers from Osteoarthritis the common form of arthritis – pain and inflammation of joints - and people passing the age of 45 years. Osteoarthritis is a condition primarily concerning the joints causing joint pain, swelling, stiffness and even immobility. It’s a progressive disorder that can worsen with time and age leading to discomfort and loss of productivity.
Medical science has contributed immensely in improving the mortality and morbidity resulting in a longer life span, higher life expectancy and of course a better quality of life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)