Therapist Unlimited Blog

Drinking too much liquor might be bad for the health but for some instances it is not that harmful.
A recent medical study has shown that drunk patients have better chances of surviving trauma injuries than their sober counterparts.
According to the report, trauma patients who were intoxicated before their injuries were more likely to survive than trauma patients who suffered similar injuries but were sober at
the time.
To get the result, researchers at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) surveyed 7,985 trauma patients of similar age and with similar injuries to determine if the consumption of alcohol prior to injury affected
outcome.
Based on their study they discovered that 7 percent of the sober patients died compared to just 1 percent of the patients who had been drinking.

Getting drunk is not that all bad after-all.

"This study is not encouraging the use of alcohol," said Christian de Virgilio, MD, LA BioMed’s principal investigator for the study. "It is seeking to
further explore earlier studies that had found alcohol may improve the body’s response to severe injuries. If alcohol is proven to improve the body’s
response to traumatic injury, it could lead to treatments that help patients survive and recover more quickly."
Alcohol consumption is already known to be one of the leading causes of accident and injury, with a previous study finding it contributes to about
one-third of all trauma-related deaths. Previous studies found trauma patients who had abused alcohol for a long period of time had lower survival rates.
But recent studies also found alcohol consumption may protect against death by changing the chemical response to injury.
"This study adds further support to the possibility that alcohol could be altering the body’s response to injury in a way that helps ensure survival," said
Dr. de Virgilio. "Given these findings, more research is needed to determine if there is some role for alcohol in the management of trauma patients.

MEDICAL researchers has recently discovered that having their own pets at home or work offers huge health rewards to humans.
According to the study, having a four-legged, furry pet can lower blood pressure, encourages exercise, and improves psychological health.
Researchers from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) conducted the recent study to gather new evidence on the positive impact pets have in the lives of humans.
Rebecca Johnson, associate professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, the College of Veterinary Medicine and director of ReCHAI explained pets are of great importance to people, especially during hard economic times.
Johnson said pets provide unconditional love and acceptance and may be part of answers to societal problems, such as inactivity and obesity.

Having pets is beneficial to humans.

ReCHAI sponsors several projects that attempt to further the understanding and value of the relationship between humans and animals. In 2008, ReCHAI sponsored the "Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound and Stay Fit for Seniors." In the preliminary program, a group of older adults were matched with shelter dogs, while another group of older adults were partnered with a human walk buddy.
For 12 weeks, participants were encouraged to walk on an outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week. At the end of the program, researchers measured how much the older adults’ activity levels improved.
She revealed the older people who walked their dogs improved their walking capabilities by 28 percent.
She added they also had more confidence walking on the trail, and they increased their speed.
Johnson said the older people who walked with humans only had a 4 percent increase in their walking capabilities since human walking buddies tended to discourage each other and used excuses such as the weather being too hot.
Moreover,  Charlotte McKenney, assistant director of ReCHAI revealed today, pets are in more than 60 percent of American homes.
McKenney said research involving human-animal interaction can be extremely beneficial.
She said more people are incorporating pets into their leisure time, such as making them part of their exercise routines, taking them to dog parks and bringing them to family events.

Young women around the world should be careful if they wish to engage in cheerleading.
This developed after a recent research has shown that cheerleading is leading cause among young women.
Based on the data gathered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission the rates of injuries from cheerleading accidents have gone from nearly 5,000 in 1980 to close to 26,000 to 28,000 in the past few years.
Statistics taken from the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research also revealed that approximately 65 to 66 percent of all female catastrophic injuries in either high school or college.
Researcher Miller Bohn revealed most of the injuries cause by cheerleading are still more the common types of things that people should think about such as muscle strains or pulls, ligament injuries, tendon injuries.
Bohn said the concern is that there are certainly a fair number of increasingly severe injuries.
Other medical experts said because of the increase in degree of difficulty in cheerleading skills, increased acrobatics and stunt activities may be increasing the risk of severity of injury.

Young women hooked on cheerleading should be careful since their sport could cause catastrophic injury for them.

It is said that catastrophic injuries seen in cheerleading involve either death, injuries that results in disability that are often related to head trauma or spine trauma.
The Doctors are also seeing more injuries that a person may not be able to recover from completely such as concussions or severe fractures.
According to the latest data, cheerleading injuries appear to be on the rise partly because of an increase in participants, but the sport has also changed significantly in the last 25 years.
It is observed that cheerleading no longer consists of athletes standing on the sidelines, rooting for a team.
The experts said to protect their children from cheerleading related injuries parents should ask questions about the coach’s experience, what type of athletes the coach has worked with and if they have experience with gymnastics stunt work.
The parents also need to know what the plan is for that cheerleading squad, what types of activities they will perform, who is supervising and where activities will be performed.

A recent study conducted in Denmark has shown that those who took hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause had a significantly higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who did not.
In a study conducted on 910,000 Danish women aged 50 to 79 for an average of 8 years (equivalent of 7.3 million women-years).
During that time 3,068 incident ovarian malignancies (2,681 of which were epithelial cancers) were diagnosed.
Epithelial ovarian cancers are those that start on the surface layer of the ovaries as opposed to in the eggs (germ cell cancers).
At the end of the follow up period, 63 per cent of the women had never used HRT, 22 per cent had used it but were using it no longer, and 9 per cent were still using it.
Based on the study it as also discovered that compared to women who never took HRT, current and previous users had a higher risk of developing an ovarian cancer (relative risk, 1.38 and 1.15, respectively).
The research also yielded results that the incidence rates in current and never users of hormones were 0.52 and 0.40 per 1000 years, respectively, an absolute risk increase of 0.12 per 1000 years.

Women who undergo hormone therapy need to be careful since the medical procedure could lead to ovarian cancer.

With the findings, the researcher concluded that regardless of the duration of use, the formulation, estrogen dose, regimen, progestin type, and route of administration, hormone therapy was associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
These findings appear to confirm those from the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study, which was stopped early because researchers found an increased risk of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and other diseases linked to use of HRT.

Those women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer through radiotherapy on their left breast better be careful.
This developed after medical researchers have found pieces of evidence that breast cancer patients are at risk of heart disease after radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy is a treatment use to those patients who have had breast conservation surgery, and those who are at high risk of the cancer returning after mastectomy.
The researchers discovered that when the breast tumor is on the left side, a small part of the heart is within the treatment range which can lead to heart disease.
Dr. Paul Symonds, of the University of Leicester’s Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, made the study involving 149 patients who had undergone radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Symonds revealed after treatment some patients developed red dilated blood vessels (telangiectasia) on the breast or chest wall, previously thought to be unsightly rather than of any medical significance.
He said based on the study, only those who had radiotherapy on the left side developed heart problems, which occurred between three and 12 years after treatment.
He added over half of those who developed heart problems showed signs of telangiectasia.

Women undergoing radiotherapy to treat breast cancer need to be vigilant since the medical procedure could lead to a heart disease.
 

The medical expert believes these figures are significant enough to suggest that telangiectasia could be a marker to predict the risk of heart disease after radiotherapy for breast cancer on the left side.
The medical expert added ultimately this research could lead to a test to predict which patients will develop severe radiotherapy side-effects.
He said clinicians can then use this information to advice patients of their risk before treatment and help the radiotherapist give the most appropriate treatment.
Meanwhile, Pamela Goldberg, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign, which funded the study said, "More and more women are living with breast cancer as a long term manageable condition rather than an incurable disease.
Goldberg said it is therefore vital that treatment not only improves the chance of survival but does not lead to other negative health consequences and maintains a good quality of life.

Plug as a potential cure for damaged knees are now being closely studied by a group of medical experts in the United States.
According to a medical report investigators from Hospital for Special Surgery have shown that a biodegradable scaffold or plug can be used to treat patients with damaged knee cartilage.
It is said that the study is unique in that it used serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and newer quantitative T2 mapping to examine how the plug incorporated itself into the knee.
Dr. Asheesh Bedi, M.D., a fellow in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery who participated in the research said the data has been encouraging to support further evaluation of this synthetic scaffold as a cartilage repair technique.
Bedi revealed the Trufit plug has been designed to have mechanical properties that are similar to cartilage and bone.
He said damage to so-called articular cartilage can occur in various ways, ranging from direct trauma in a motor vehicle accident to a noncontact, pivoting event on the soccer field.
The added articular cartilage lacks the intrinsic properties of healing.

If proven to be an effective cure, biodegradable scaffold or plug could bring joy to those patients suffering from damaged knees.

The medical expert explained if left untreated, these injuries can increase loads placed on the remaining intact cartilage and increase the risk of progression to degenerative arthritis.
Bedi said one way to treat patients with symptomatic chondral lesions is an OATS procedure, in which cartilage is transferred from one portion of the knee to treat another.
To make the procedure for beneficial to the patient, he and his team made the study to examine whether they could use a biodegradable plug, the Trufit CB plug, to fill the donor site.
He revealed the goal was to monitor how the plug incorporated itself into the knee and to evaluate the quality of the repair cartilage.
According to medical facts, the Trufit plug has two layers.
The top layer has properties similar to cartilage and the lower layer has properties similar to bone.
The bilayered structure has mechanical properties that approximately match the adjacent cartilage and bone.
Surgeons inserted the plug in the knees of 26 patients with donor lesions from OATS procedures and followed up with imaging studies (with MRI and T2-mapping) at various intervals for a period of 39 months.
Bedi said so far the result of their study is encouraging since the plug demonstrated a predictable process of maturation on imaging studies that paralleled the biology of their incorporation.,
He added with increasing postoperative duration, the repair tissue demonstrated encouraging properties with T2-values that resembled native articular cartilage.
Furthermore, Bedi and his team believe that there is a role for scaffold-based cartilage repair strategies in the treatment of symptomatic cartilage lesions.
Bedi and the other researchers hope thy can successfully treat these cartilage problems over the long term, thus restoring normal knee function and slowing the progression of knee arthritis.

During important celebrations such as Independence Day celebration having fireworks, display is part of the tradition around the world.
Having fireworks, display adds fire and excitement to the event, which is why it is a favorite by people worldwide.
Despite the lure and sparkle, it provide it is good to remember that fireworks display can cause eye injuries to those who are not that careful in using it.
According to the study conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) each year, fireworks are responsible for thousands of injuries to adults and children.
Many injuries affect eyesight, causing permanent damage and in some cases blinding the victims.
Based on the recent data gathered by CPSC, fireworks were involved in an estimated 9,800 injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms in 2007.
The CPSC also reported the eyes were the second most commonly injured part of the body with approximately 1,400 instances.
Of those eye injuries, one-third resulted in permanent eye damage.
While most of these injuries were contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies in the eyes the most important thing to note is that many of these injuries were preventable.

Fireworks display might be a thing of beauty but it can also offer eye injuries to users and bystanders alike.

Moreover, CPSC revealed bottle rockets and sparklers are two of the most common fireworks associated with eye injuries.
Bottle rockets can cause serious eye injuries because they are very unpredictable and tend to fly erratically which can cause injury to bystanders.
They can also break the can or bottle used to shoot them off throwing shards of glass or metal into the air. Many children enjoy sparklers; however, they also send numerous children to the emergency room. Parents may not be aware that sparklers can easily burn children since they heat up to 1800 degrees (hot enough to melt gold).
In addition, the sparks given off can damage the eye.
The individuals shooting off the fireworks are not the only ones being injured. Data from the United States Eye Injury Registry shows that bystanders are injured by fireworks 50 percent of the time.
Be safe this year by staying away from private firework use.
Protect the eyes by attending a professional display, and enjoy the spectacle in the sky.
With the possible eye, injuries it offers are you still keen on using fireworks? Well, the decision is yours.

According to a latest medical study, those children who are physically abused are most likely to end up having cancer when they reach adulthood.
Based on the research it is discovered that childhood physical abuse is associated with 49 per cent higher odds of cancer in adulthood.
Lead researcher Esme Fuller-Thomson, a faculty in Social Work and Department of Family and Community Medicine from the University of Toronto said few talk about childhood physical abuse and cancer in the same breath.
Thomson said from a public health perspective, it is extremely important that clinicians be aware of the full range of risk factors for cancer.
The lead researcher said through their study should provide important new knowledge about a potential childhood abuse-cancer relationship.

More care should be given to physically abuse children since they are prone to cancer.

Meanwhile, co-author Sarah Brennenstuhl, a doctoral student at Uof T, notes that various psychophysiological factors could help to explain the link between childhood physical abuse and cancer. Brennenstuhl revealed one important avenue for future research is to investigate dysfunctions in cortisol production - the hormone that prepares us for ‘fight or flight’ as a possible mediator in the abuse-cancer relationship.
The researchers hoped that the result of their study would compel the parents and the government in general to care more for physically abused children so that they will not end up having cancer when they reaches adulthood.

According to a recent study, patient suffering from alcohol-related liver disease could find effective cure from their medical condition through abstinence. Yes, you heard it right abstinence, based on the research conducted it was discovered that abstinence from alcohol is an integral factor in long-term prognosis, even with relatively severe alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver.

Dr. Nick Sheron, the lead researcher of the study and senior lecturer at the University of Southampton and consultant herpetologist at Southampton General Hospital explained his team decided to conduct the research to discover the impact of pathological severity of cirrhosis on the survival in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis. Sheron said with the use of up-to-date mortality data from the National Health Service Strategic Tracing Service they determine that drinking status was the most important factor in determining long-term survival in alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver.He said the research team also discovered that the degree of cirrhosis on biopsy had less impact on survival.

Heavy drinkers suffering from alcohol-related liver disease should stop or abstain from their habit if they wish to find effective cure in their medical condition.
 

Furthermore, Sheron revealed they found out that abstinence from alcohol at one month after diagnosis of cirrhosis was the more important factor determining survival with a seven-year survival of 72 per cent for the abstinent patients against 44 per cent for the patients continuing to drink.

The medical expert hoped people around the world who are suffering from alcohol-related liver disease should now abstain from drinking if they wish to get cure of their life threatening medical condition.

According to a latest research, a number of cancer patients undergoing treatment have less idea; their medical operation could adversely affect their fertility.
Based on the report published on the New York Times it was discovered that many doctors fail to properly discuss with cancer patients the big possibilities that the chemotherapy they are undergoing could affect their fertility.
Due to this report, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, issued some guidelines on the matter recommending, “any oncologist seeing reproductive-aged patients for consideration of cancer therapy should be addressing potential treatment-related infertility with them or, in the case of children, with their parents.
The guidelines also state, "sperm and embryo cryopreservation are considered standard practice and are widely available."
It was also observed that despite these guidelines, doctors’ focus on beginning effective treatment as soon as possible can sometimes lead them to overlook potential effects on their patients’ fertility.
The report also state that out of desperation to find cure on their medical condition many cancer patients fail to consult their doctor the effects of the treatment on their sexuality.

Cancer patients need to be vigilant to always ask to their doctors the side effects of their operation since that treatment could affect their fertility.

The University of North Carolina’s Fertility Preservation Program also revealed that about 25% of U.S. oncologists discuss fertility issues with their patients before treatment begins.
This report should serve as eye opener to doctors to be vigilant on their duty by properly informing their patients on the negative possibilities of their medical procedure.
On the other hand, cancer patients need to be also responsible by asking their doctors on the side effects of their medical operation so that whatever happens they are aware of the possibilities and could find immediate and appropriate treatment on the matter.