Therapist Unlimited Blog

 

 

 

Those persons seeking to use aspirin as prevention against cardiovascular disease better abandon the plan now.
A recent medical research has uncovered that the use of low-dose aspirin to ward off heart attacks and strokes in those yet to develop obvious cardiovascular disease can cause serious medical complications.
In the medical world, low-dose aspirin is widely used to prevent further episodes of cardiovascular disease in people who have already had problems such as a heart attack or stroke.
This method known as secondary prevention is well established and of confirmed benefit.
But it is the use of aspirin in primary prevention for those without symptoms, who have not yet had, for example, a heart attack or stroke, but who may be at risk of doing so, following an analysis of the available evidence.
In 2000, cardiovascular disease accounted for two million deaths across the European Union alone, and "worldwide, many people take aspirin every day in the belief that doing so helps prevent cardiovascular disease," says the researchers.

 

 

 

Aspirin could be fatal if not used properly.

 

 

 

The researchers points to various guidelines issued between 2005 and 2008 that recommend aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in various groups of patients. Examples include people aged 50 and older with type 2 diabetes and those with high blood pressure.
But the team explained that the current evidence does not back up the routine use of low-dose aspirin in such groups, because of the potential risk of serious gastrointestinal bleeds that accompany its use and the negligible impact it has on curbing death rates.
Doctors should review all patients currently taking low-dose aspirin for primary prevention, either as prescribed or over-the-counter treatment, says the research team.
"And the decision about whether to continue or stop treatment should be made only after fully informing patients of the available evidence", they added.
"Furthermore,  the researchers concluded that current evidence for primary prevention suggests the benefits and harms of aspirin in this setting may be more finely balanced than previously thought, even in individuals estimated to be at high risk of experiencing cardiovascular events, including those with diabetes or elevated blood pressure.
The researchers believe, that low dose aspirin prophylaxis should not be routinely used for primary prevention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A recent study done in Japan has shown that cancer can be transferred from mother to unborn child.
The study was the work of first author Takeshi Isoda from the Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Biology at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, and colleagues.
The researchers discovered that cases of mother to offspring transmission of cancer are rare and few have been recorded over the last 100 years, wrote the authors, and there is barely any evidence that shows the mother’s cancer cells match the baby’s.
In the paper, Isoda and colleagues describe a case where a 28-year old mother was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after giving birth to a baby girl who developed similar symptoms when she was nearly a year old.

 

 

 

 

Pregnant women should keep themselves healthy and away from cancer since they can transmit this deadly disease to their kids.

 

Using various methods, Isoda and colleagues were able to show that the cancer cells in the baby were a genetic match to those of the mother.
First they generated clones of the cancer cells from both mother and baby and found that they "shared the same unique BCR-ABL1 genomic fusion sequence, indicating a shared, single-cell origin", and then they showed that "microsatellite markers in the infant cancer were all of maternal origin".
They also found that the baby’s cancer cells had inherited a pattern of missing genes (notably a "major deletion on one copy of chromosome 6p that included deletion of HLA alleles") that probably helped the cells avoid detection and destruction by the placental barrier and the baby’s immune system.

 

 

A popular saying state that the eyes is the windows to the soul.
But recent medical research has shown that eyes is more than just a window for the soul since it can also offer important clues  to your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Researchers of the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) are currently doing an extensive study to prove that blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye reflect changes in blood vessels in other parts of the body, especially the brain, kidneys and heart.
The team of medical experts believed that that blood vessels in the retina can be photographed and the images analysed by a computer to accurately determine a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke cardiovascular diseases that change the appearance of blood vessels in the eye.
Lead CERA researcher, Professor Tien Wong, explained through their study they wish to show that that combining this non-invasive retinal scan with the results from current risk assessment methods will improve precision and reliability in predicting cardiovascular disease.
Wong and his team has taken thousands of eye images and created a program that recognises common features of conditions that cause damage to be seen on the retina.

 

 

Your eyes is not only the window of the soul but also an indicator if a man suffers from a form of heart disease.

 

 

Once a person has symptoms of cardiovascular disease, damage has already been done to the body. So finding and treating high risk people early, even before they have symptoms, could minimise blood vessel damage and potentially avoid heart attack or stroke.
At present, doctors estimate a person’s statistical chance of developing cardiovascular disease by looking at individual factors such as whether they smoke, their family history, weight, blood cholesterol and blood pressure. Once you get symptoms, more extensive and sometimes invasive tests, such as angiogram are needed to confirm the result and assess severity of damage to the arteries of the heart or elsewhere.
Professor Wong said, "Results from the retinal scan would be delivered to GPs for a better picture of their patient’s health.
Dr. Christine Bennett, chair of the MBF Foundation Steering Committee and Bupa Chief Medical Officer*, went on to say, "This early assessment of the likelihood that a person will develop diseases like heart disease, stroke or even type 2 diabetes has the potential to significantly improve quality of life, reduce hospitalisations and the 50,000 deaths each year caused by cardiovascular disease."
Once a person knows their risk they may be able to delay the onset of developing cardiovascular disease by modifying their lifestyle accordingly.
"We know that smoking, too much alcohol, inactivity and poor nutrition are bad for our health but seeing the evidence not with, but in, your own eyes could be the wake-up call that triggers change," Bennett said.
 

 

A leading medical organization has warned parents around the world warned parents to be careful with the disease dubbed as acid reflux since it can cause death if not given proper and immediate treatment.
The medical name for the disease is gastroesophageal reflux. It means stomach + esophagus + backwash.
The Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux (PAGER) Association has been helping families learn about acid reflux since 1992.
Beth Pulsifer-Anderson, Director of PAGER Association revealed acid reflux in children is often overlooked.
Based on medical facts some of the clues of the disease include excessive crying, ‘colic’, a burning sensation in the throat or chest, tummy aches, spitting up, a sensation of
food coming up, poor appetite, poor weight gain, trouble swallowing, night waking, ear infections, sinus problems, asthma, wheezing, tooth decay and bad breath.
Pulsifer-Anderson added untreated reflux can cause excruciating pain and serious health problems.
She explained a child with acid reflux is often miserable and this affects the whole family.
Moreover said she said PAGER Association has been contacted by more and more Spanish speaking families in recent years.
According to studies, about 6 million Hispanics in the US have acid reflux symptoms and most don’t seek treatment.
Pulsifer-Anderson says, "It is important for Spanish speaking parents to know about acid reflux so they can be sure their children can get appropriate medical attention.

 

 

 

Parents worldwide need to be careful about acid reflux since it can lead to the death of their children.

 

Young athletes are at higher risk if they suffer from a second concussion injury.

A recent study has shown that the feelings of depression could be one reason patients fail to follow their doctors’ orders on exercising and eventually become less physically active.
It is said that although past research shows that exercise improves chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, it also shows that patients with these conditions often suffer from depression.
To get the result, the researchers evaluated 11 studies comprising some 20,000 patients.
Based on eight studies reported that having symptoms of depression after a coronary event, such as heart attack, was a significant risk factor for developing a sedentary lifestyle or a poor adherence to an exercise regimen recommended by the patients’ doctor.

 

 

Those patients who are less active could be suffering from depression.

 

Babak Roshanaei-Moghaddam, M.D. of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at University of Washington in Seattle and lead author of the study explained there are both behavioral habits associated with depression, such as smoking and obesity, which may then limit exercise motivation and enjoyment, as well as biologic factors that can cause obesity and decrease energy level, exercise tolerance and pain threshold.
Evette Joy Ludman, Ph.D., of Seattle-based Group Health Cooperative, who had no affiliation with the study, for her part said depression can indeed make people have less motivation and energy to exercise.
Ludman added the physical activity is not only important for preventing and managing many chronic conditions; it can be very helpful for improving mood and other symptoms of depression.

 

 

 

Parents around the world should strive hard to keep their children away from smoking cigarettes since tobacco can lead to life-threatening diseases and premature death.
In a recent data gathered by the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) it was discovered that although it is illegal to sell cigarettes to children under the age of 18, 42% of 13 year old regular smokers and 57% of 15 year old regular smokers are reportedly buying cigarettes from a shop, while 13% of 13 year old regular smokers and 10% of 15 year old regular smokers buy their tobacco from a vending machine.
With the alarming result of their research a group of doctors in Scotland wants to see a robust approach to tobacco control in order to reduce the number of teens who smoke.
Dr. Peter Terry, Chairman of physicians group in Scotland explained it is essential that cigarettes are made less accessible to children.

 

 

Medical experts revealed children hooked on smoking cigarettes can suffer death if their addiction could not be stopped.

 

 

Terry said banning point of sale displays and getting rid of tobacco vending machines will go some way to doing this.
He said smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems.
He added smoking also ages skin, makes your breath smell and stains fingers yellow.
Moreover, Terry said every day doctors witness the death and despair caused by smoking.
Terry said there is a need to break the tobacco trap.
Terry added young smokers will become tomorrow’s parents who smoke and they will continue the cycle of smoking-related ill health.

 

 

 

 

Persons infected with Human Immuno Virus (HIV) should avoid giving pre-chewed foods to their love ones especially their children since doing so could help transmit the deadly disease to them.
Medical researchers recently discovered that some HIV infected mothers transmitted HIV to their young children through pre-chewed foods.
The researchers revealed their findings suggest that HIV-infected mothers or other caregivers should be warned against giving infants pre-chewed food and directed toward
safer feeding options.
With the discovery, researchers hope physicians and clinics should routinely include questions about pre-chewing food in their health
screening of infant caregivers who have HIV or are suspected of the infection.
In addition, the researchers also suggested that possible cases of HIV transmission through pre-chewed food should be reported to public health agencies to help increase understanding of the prevalence of such transmission.
According to the data gathered by the researchers giving infants’ pre-chewed food has been reported to transmit infections such as streptococcus and the hepatitis B virus,
The researchers explained until these cases there was no evidence that the blood-borne HIV could be similarly transmitted.
The researchers said the source of blood in the saliva of the person pre-chewing the food for the child may likely have been visible or microscopic bleeding from the gums or some other part of the mouth, he added.
Furthermore, the researchers concluded that that the findings do not warrant a blanket recommendation against pre-chewed food for infants.

 

 

 

Giving of pre-chewed foods should be avoided by HIV infected patients since doing so could help transmit the deadly disease.

 

The researchers said the practice, which has been reported from many parts of the world including the United States may be integral to providing adequate infant nutrition and grounded in culture and tradition.
The team said on a global level, educating HIV-positive caregivers will require cognizance of culturally sensitive issues and potential nutritional consequences linked to pre-chewing.
The team also said that their findings also do not imply that HIV can be transmitted through saliva during oral contact such as kissing.
The researchers revealed HIV transmission was likely enabled by bleeding gums or open mouth sores.
They said their report does not challenge the accepted belief that saliva does not carry HIV and that transmission does not occur in kissing.
They said the exception is that transmission can occur when the people involved have damaged mucosa in their mouths, and blood is mixed with the saliva.

 

Patients suffering from kidney trouble better refrain from eating fresh meats.
According to a latest medical study, uncooked meat products enhanced with food additives may contain high levels of phosphorous and potassium that are not discernable from inspection of food labels.
According to medical experts, dietary phosphorous and potassium that at high levels are harmful to kidney disease patients.
The experts advices that kidney disease patients on dialysis must watch their intake of dietary phosphate so that their blood phosphate levels do not rise.
The experts explained this is important because high blood phosphate levels may cause premature death in dialysis patients.
The experts added kidney disease patients also must limit their intake of potassium, because high blood potassium levels can cause sudden death.
The studies conducted by the medical experts has shown that one growing source of dietary phosphorous and potassium is through "enhanced" fresh meat and poultry products.

 

 

Kidney patients need to avoid fresh meat if they wish to avoid complications from their medical condition.

 

The experts said these foods are injected with a solution of water with sodium and potassium salts (particularly phosphates) as well as antioxidants and flavorings.
However, the researchers revealed while ingesting phosphates and potassium can be dangerous for dialysis patients, there is no requirement that these ingredients be included in nutrition labels.
The researchers added there also have been no studies on the levels of phosphates and potassium contained in fresh meat and poultry products that have been "enhanced."
Moreover, the researchers hoped that with their discovery, manufacturers will label their foods properly so that the public will be aware of its components which could be harmful to their health.

 

According to reports the repeal of the federal speed control law in 1995 has resulted in an increase in road fatalities and injuries.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.
It is said that the, which restricted the maximum speed limit to 55 mph on all interstate roads in the United States, was initiated in
1974 in response to the oil embargo and had an immediate impact.
According to Lee Friedman, assistant research professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at UIC and lead author of the study during the first year there was a drop of almost 17 percent in fatalities after the speed laws were reduced to 55 miles per hour.
Friedman revealed the law was modified in 1987 and allowed states to raise the legal speed limits to 65 mph on some interstates.
He said in 1995, the federally mandated 55 mph speed law was revoked, allowing states to set their own speed laws.

 

 

 

The decision to lower the speed limits resulted to 12,500 death of motorist in the United States.

 

He added the decision to repeal the National Maximum Speed Law, proved to be deadly since it leads to 12,500 deaths due to the increased speed limits across the U.S the past 10 years.
Friedman and his team suggest that policy makers reevaluate national policy on speed and road safety and consider reduced speed limits and improved enforcement with speed camera networks to save lives.
The lead researcher said speed camera programs have been implemented in England, France and Australia and have shown immediate reductions in motor vehicle crash fatalities.
Moreover, the researchers said this is a failed policy because it was, in essence, an experiment over 10 years.
The researchers explained people assumed that increasing the speed limit would not have an impact but result of their study proved otherwise.
The group hoped their study would compel officials to reduce speed limit to protect the lives of motorists.