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Health guide
Compiled by Shanika Sriyananda

Regular exercises way to prevent osteoporosis :

'Move or lose it'

by Prof. Sarath Lekamwasam, Center for Metapolic Bone Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Galle.

Osteoporosis refers to a disease, affecting bones, making them weak, finally resulting in fractures. The basic functions of bones are to bear the stresses and strains that occur due to daily physical activities and to protect the internal organs in the body.

To fulfill this function effectively, bones need to be strong and also have sufficient bone material that help to absorb and dissipate energy arising from a fall, without damaging its own structure. The amount and the quality of bone material are important in maintaining the strength of bone. Reduction in the amount of bone material is the main abnormality seen in osteoporosis and it is the main reason for mechanical failure of bone tissue.

There are marked gender differences with regard to bone quantity. Compared to women, men tend to have higher bone mass all the time. Men achieve a higher bone mass than women at the end of adolescent growth period and this difference was found to be about 18% in the survey conducted recently. Men tend to lose bones at a lesser rate in old age while women lose bone mass at a higher rate after the age of 50 years. This explains why osteoporosis is commonly seen in women after the menopause.

Although there are many diseases and drugs that can induce rapid bone loss, their contribution to the burden of osteoporosis in a country is relatively small. Nevertheless proper control of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and some bowel diseases, prevent progressive bone loss in these patients.

Unsupervised intake of drugs such as corticosteroids is not recommended.

Osteoporosis is not a new disease. It has come to focus due to the high incidence of hip fractures in many European countries. The number of hip fractures has increased as a result of recent changes in the population composition in many developed countries.

More elderly people are living in the modern society and they are the high risk population as far as osteoporosis and fractures are concerned. We in Sri Lanka too are going to witness this population changes and the exponential rise in the incidence of hip fractures has been predicted in Asian countries in future years.

Although fractures anywhere in the skeleton is possible with osteoporosis, fractures at hip, spine and forearm are the three main osteoporosis-related fractures.

Hip fracture is the most serious fracture as it is potentially fatal. Further a significant number of patients following hip fractures are unable to return to their previous work. Spine fractures are not fatal but cause lot of symptoms. Since it is the most common fracture type in osteoporosis, spine fractures are associated with reduced quality of life in affected people.

Osteoporosis remains clinically silent until a fracture occurs. This is comparable to the presence of high cholesterol in the blood.

Cholesterol itself does not produce symptoms and many patients with high cholesterol are recognized only when they suffer a heart attack. Since screening of the general population for the presence of osteoporosis is not practicable even in developed countries, maintaining a life style which promotes healthy bones should be encouraged.

A balanced nutrition with adequate protein and calcium during the critical periods of life such as during pregnancy and growing period of children is important.

Green leaves, small fish and dairy products are the rich sources of calcium and they should be included in the daily diet.

Apart from diet, the degree of physical activity is a major determinant of bone mass.

Most of the studies examining the relationship between bone mass and physical activities have shown a positive association between the two. Benefits of physical activities were not restricted to bones.

Active women, especially in old age had more strong muscles and lesser tendency for falls. In our recent survey, men and women who were "very active" had a higher bone mass compared to those who were either "moderately" or "less active". Men and women who were "less active" recorded the lowest bone mass.

These differences were real differences and were independent of their age and milk consumption. High impact physical activities such as jumping and running are more beneficial to the bone health than low impact exercises such as swimming or walking.

Maintenance of normal body proportions (weight according to height) is another important aspect of maintaining healthy bones. People with a thin body tend to have a smaller skeleton and hence a low bone mass at any given skeletal site. This will make them susceptible to fractures.

Children should be encouraged to maintain body weight appropriate to body height especially during the preadolescence and adolescence.

Hard time for human sperm

From steroids to sexual lubricants, researchers have found many things that give sperm a hard time. New research suggests that men who use anabolic steroids to bulk up their muscles, for example, may be compromising their ability to produce sperm - and risking their chance at fatherhood.

The study is the first ever to investigate a group of men who are having difficulty conceiving and have a history of steroid use. "The longer the steroid abuse, the more the likelihood of sterility," says Stanton Honig, at the University of Connecticut, US.

They have also found that out of 15 patients with a history of steroid use, 11 showed low blood-hormone levels indicative of classic anabolic steroid-induced infertility.

Of this 11 patients, nine "had absolutely no sperm in their ejaculate", says Honig - they had become azoospermic. "And the others had very little sperm." One of the men had stopped using steroids 19 years earlier, but five were still using and told to stop. Although fertility was restored in 7 of the azoospermic men, 2 remain sterile even after treatment.

The researchers call the illicit use of anabolic steroids a major public health problem. Most users - who range from professional athletes to law enforcement officials - are not aware of the potential impact on their fertility. "It's hard to convince a 20-year-old that it matters," says Honig.

But even men who have strong, healthy sperm risk completely immobilising them if they use common lubricants, such as K-Y, Astroglide or FemGlide, found another study.

Ashok Agarwal, at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, US, and colleagues incubated semen from 13 men in a synthetic analogue of vaginal fluid mixed with a 10% concentration of a lubricant for 30 minutes, simulating a typical single use, he says.

Agarwal also investigated the longer-term effects of lubricants by looking at how 4 hours of incubation affected sperm DNA.

- NewScientist

Well cooked eggs, no risk of bird flu

Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before consumption to avoid any risk of bird flu, food experts advise. Although the risk of these products carrying avian flu is extremely low, the European Food Safety Authority has reiterated its advice. Raw eggs and chicken can carry bugs and viruses that people can catch, such as salmonella and theoretically bird flu. By thoroughly cooking these foods people can avoid the risk, no matter how small it is.

We are not aware of any reports of people getting avian flu from eating poultry or eggs A spokeswoman for the Food Standards Agency An EFSA spokeswoman said, given measures already in place, the risk of bird flu entering the food chain was in fact very low. She added: "Should this happen in future cooking will also be protective."

The advice has been issued because anxiety about bird flu has raised public concern about the safety of poultry products. The spokeswoman said: "We are not saying anything new, we are simply reiterating food safety advice." Cook thoroughly.

A spokeswoman for the Food Standards Agency said: "Like EFSA, we are not aware of any reports of people getting avian flu from eating poultry or eggs. "The issue is people having contact with live birds that have the disease.

"EFSA appears to be reiterating long-standing food safety advice about cooking poultry and eggs thoroughly to kill bugs and viruses." The European Commission said that the consumption of poultry eggs and meat in the EU poses no bird flu risk to humans. "We don't have avian influenza in commercial poultry in the European Union and we consider that poultry meat and eggs, especially when properly cooked, pose no risk to human health," said spokesman Philip Tod.

Professor Hugh Pennington of the Society for General Microbiology, said: "The virus is transmitted by live birds. It's not in the poultry meat and it's certainly not in eggs." We eat about 30 million eggs every day in the UK.

The European Food Safety Authority is to publish shortly its recommendations to consumers in light of growing concerns in the public about bird flu. The H5N1 strain of avian flu has killed at least 60 people in Asia since 2003. Humans catch avian flu through close contact with live infected birds.

Birds excrete the virus in their faeces, which dry and become pulverised, and are then inhaled.

Therefore, the people thought to be at risk are those involved in the slaughter and preparation of meat that may be infected. However, the World Health Organization recommends, to be absolutely safe all meat should be cooked to a temperature of at least 70C. Eggs should also be thoroughly cooked.

- BBC News

Holistic healing - Skin ailments

by Dr. Danister L. Perera

Eczema is a rough red oozy rash that appears in patches. The fluid, which has oozed then, dries up to form a hard scab. Because the area is itchy, it often gets scratched and may become infected. Eczema can develop into a condition caused by irritants.

Irritation of the skin can lead to eczema; the common causes are over exposure to water, soaps and detergents. Just about anyone can develop an irritant eczema, but the problems is much more common in people with dry skin. Allergic reactions to substances, which come in contact with the skin, can also result in eczema.

This could result from contact with metals (jewellery), vegetables, plants and medicine. Eczema can also result from eating certain types of foods or taking certain medicines. Almost any foodstuff can cause eczema, but the ones that most commonly cause problems are eggs and dairy products.

Inherited eczema or what the doctor would call "Atopic Eczema" is a problem seen most commonly in small children. The eczema tends to improve as the child grows up. It is less frequently seen in children who are breastfed and close relatives of children who are suffering from atopic eczema or may have asthma or skin problems. A few of these children may also develop asthma when they grow up.

Misconceptions

All these varieties of eczema have been successfully treated by ayurvedic formulations. Patients are also advised to take lots of fruits and fresh vegetables. Avoid sea fish, prawns, meat, salt and other non vegetarian food. They should also avoid stale, fermented, sour food including curd.

Leucoderma is the area of skin, which has lost its colour, when it occurs without any preceding disease it is called vitiligo. Sometimes it follows with burns and injuries. This loss of colour is due to hazardous chemicals present in plastics. Patches of leucoderma can be of variable sizes and shapes.

They can occur just about anywhere on the body. In fair individuals, leucoderma often goes unnoticed, but on dark skinned people it can be very visible and cause severe embarrassment.

Leucoderma does not cause any health problems it is not contagious or dangerous at all. There are a number of misconceptions regarding the availability of treatment for leucoderma. With ayurvedic herbals medicines, there is plenty of hope for vitiligo leucoderma patients. The results with our treatment are excellent.

They are more excellent if the treatment is taken at early stages within 3 months of onset of disease. The patches of leucoderma, which occur in areas of the skin that are naturally hairless, like the palms and soles, take long to improve. Ayurvedic treatment involves both internal medication and external applications for better results.

Diet consisting of too much hot, spicy, oily, sour, fermented, non-vegetarian, seafood too much salt and sugar contribute to skin diseases.

Lifestyle such as unhygienic personal and surroundings, daytime sleeping, irregular diet, stressful life, other chronic diseases, worm infestations, Mentally depression, unhappiness, frustration and underlying psychosomatic issues are related to cause various skin diseases in humans.

Ayurveda is the art of healthy and balanced living through incorporating care of self at the deepest level by practicing preventative care. In Ayurveda texts, many herbal preparations are recorded for healing and remedying skin ailments, which have been applied to the modern formulations as Herbal Skin Care.

From ancient times, women have been borrowing from nature's bounty to restore balance into their skin and hair and remain youthful.

These ancient recipes have stood the test of time and can never be outdated.

Potent healer

We are just beginning to recognize the enormous importance of returning to remedies of the ancient times now. Therapeutic herbs, fragrant flowers and skin-friendly spices such as saffron and turmeric, and you have all the ingredients you need for healthy glowing skin and strong lustrous hair.

It is a truly holistic approach to beautiful skin and hair, with beautiful appearance a result of perfect health, not artifices that are temporary and may actually do more harm than good in the long term.

Ayurveda philosophy holds that herbs, essential oils, flowers, massages, exercise, diet and lifestyle are highly important to feel and look beautiful. Natural remedies have survived because "Nature" is a potent healer.

Natural products are safer and the human body responds very well to natural ingredients. Natural products activate the dormant processes in the body and create an ideal environment in which healing takes place. Natural herbal care is vital to a beautiful, healthy, radiant skin with normal functions.

These herbal rasayanas, when made correctly from whole, mature herbs without using chemical solvents or preservatives, act just like whole foods in delivering healing benefits to your skin and hair.

There is no doubt that you have to maintain a proper daily routine of caring for your skin and hair. When you combine a regular regimen of cleansing and nourishing externally using natural, botanicals-rich topical products with whole herbs that offer support from within, your skin and hair will look their very best, no matter what your age.

Panchakarma is also recommended if the patients are diagnosed to have toxin accumulations in large intestine (Vata) or mucous accumulation in Stomach (Kapha) or (Pitta) aggravation in Blood. The Panchakarma treatment helps cleaning the channels (Shrotha) so that the medication, which is taken by the patient, reaches the affected parts.

All patients should open up their minds to accept this method of treatment at the onset of any skin lesion and should not hide it or expect it to be cured on its own or take harmful chemicals including steroids of conventional therapy. Skin diseases take fewer times to get completely cured when you take ayurvedic medicines from a knowledgeable ayurvedic physician at the earliest.

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