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| Sunday, 09 March 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Chelation therapy offers new hope for heart patients by Dr. D.P. Atukorale Chelation is the process by which a mineral (such as lead, mercury, iron, arsenic, aluminium, calcium etc.), is bonded to another substance, in this case Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) an Amino acid. Intravenous chelation therapy is a simple procedure using EDTA that reverses and slows the progression of atherosclerosis (thickening of arteries) and other age related and degenerative diseases. Symptoms affecting many different parts of the body often improve for reasons that are not yet fully understood. Blood flow improves in blocked coronary arteries to the heart, to the brain, to the legs and gangrene can be prevented using this therapy. Need for by-pass surgery and baloon angioplasty (PTCA) often disappears after chelation therapy. Published data shows that chelation therapy acts as a preventive against cancer. The free radical theory of disease (caused by free oxygen radicals) provides one scientific explanation for many observed benefits following chelation therapy. This non invasive therapy is very much safe and far less expensive than surgery and angioplasty. Hardening of arteries need not lead to coronary by-pass surgery, heart attacks, amputations, strokes or senility. There is new hope for victims of these and other related diseases. EDTA chelation therapy administered by a properly trained physician in conjunction with a healthy life style, diet, stopping tobacco use and taking nutritional supplements is an option to be seriously considered by persons suffering from ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, brain disorders resulting from circulatory disturbances, generalised atherosclerosis and related ailments which can lead to senility, gangrene and accelerated physical decline. Chelation therapy benefits flow of blood through every vessel in the body from the tiny capillaries and arterioles most of which are too small for surgical treatment or are deep within the brain where they cannot be safely reached by surgery. Benefits of chelation occur from top of the head to the bottom of the feet. In chelation, EDTA is administered to the patient using an intravenous drip over several hours under the supervision of a qualified physician. Chelation does not cause any discomfort and in most cases very little discomfort occurs. Patients can be seated in a reclining position and can read, nap, watch TV, do needle work or chat with other patients while the fluid containing EDTA flows into their veins. Chelation therapy usually consists of giving anywhere from 20 to 30 separate infusions depending on each patient's individual health. Some patients require more than 100 chelation therapy infusions over several years. Risks Chelation therapy is 300 times safer than bypass surgery. Some patients rarely experience nausea, dizziness or headache as an immediate aftermath of the treatment. Symptoms of arthritis, Alzheimer's, Parkinsonism, psoriasis, hypertension and scleroderma have also been reported to improve with chelation therapy. In fact there is no better treatment for scleroderma. Vision has been restored in macular degeneration. Patients generally feel younger and more energetic following the therapy. A recent research paper from university of Zurich had shown that there is a 90 per cent reduction in cancer death rate in patients treated with chelation compared to those who did not receive chelation. There is a large body of research indicating that free radical damage to DNA is an important factor at the onset of most cancer. Chelation blocks the damaging free radicals. ************** Changing face of the dentist by Dr. Hilary Cooray Immediate Past President, College of Dental Practitioners of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka the first association of dentists was founded in 1932 as the Ceylon Dental Association. Dentistry is a science and an art. Though it started as a trade and a craft nearly 150 years ago in the Britain, dentistry was more or less limited to removal of teeth and replacement of lost teeth with artificial teeth. Modern dentistry as being practised today, has developed over hundreds of years of research based on various fields of science. The common face of the dentist as one who removes teeth is fast changing. Teeth are for ones entire life, is the paradigm shift undergone in modern dentistry. The present day dentist is primarily concerned with health promotions and prevention. He would advise the community, social leaders and the patients on the importance of good health and therefore the value of good general hygiene and oral hygiene. The key oral health messages, in the use of fluoridated tooth paste, brushing after meals, and control of sugar intake are emphasized to patient at every visit. In spite of these measures if some teeth are affected by dental caries or gum disease (periodontal disease) then the dentist will do his best to save the teeth and not take the easy path of extracting them. In the case of dental caries the dental surgeon has the option of either simple restorations or doing root canal therapy using the modern equipment and pharmaceuticals available to them. If the teeth are badly broken down porcelain crowns and bridges will be done. In more severe cases dental implants may have to be done. This is a process whereby titanium implants are embedded into the bone. If teeth becomes loose due to periodontal disease (gum disease) the treatment options are available to strengthen them by procedures like deep scaling, periodontal surgery splinting and bonding. Regeneration of alveolar bone and at times grafting of bone is done for these conditions. The incidence of oral cancer in Sri Lanka is the highest of all cancers of the body. Early detection is of utmost importance for a good prognosis in treatment of oral carcinoma. Oral Surgeons in the field of oral and maxillo facial surgery perform major surgery in carcinoma, tumours, cysts and correction of deformities and fractures of the mandible and maxilla. Irregularly arranged teeth, proclined teeth and other dento cranial deformities are treated by specialists in the field, the orthodontists. Another specialty which is now being developed is children's dentistry (paedodontics). Those who have an aptitude for research will be discovering new materials, drugs, equipment and methods of treatment. |
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