Health Newsletter:March 2006
Related Links:| Vaginal Surgery Female Incontinence Women's Health | Dementia Proper Diet Exercise | Cystic Fibrosis Nasal Congestion Cough | Herbal Remedies Medicine Alternative Medicine | Ovarian Cancer Healthy Eating Exercise |
From WebHealth
Contents |
Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery Helps Body Image
Plastic surgery in the vaginal area is not a new procedure. It has been performed for decades to help patients with medical conditions like urinary incontinence due to weak vaginal muscles or uterine prolapse.
Recently female genital enhancement surgery has come into the forefront and as many as 15 purely cosmetic procedures are on the list at a Toronto-based clinic. Dr. Robert H. Stubbs has been pioneering in this particular area of plastic surgery. Women who lost a lot of weight frequently request pubic liposuction and reduction of the labia majora. Another procedure, vaginal tightening, involves stitching the muscles of the vaginal wall and creating a smaller circumference. Most of these surgeries are done in private clinics, which do not have to report to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. As a result no numbers are available, but these surgeries are definitely on the rise.
Probably the most controversial procedure of them all is the hymenoplasty. Dr. Bruce Allen, who recently incorporated cosmetic genital procedures into his gynecology practice, reports, that there is not a large demand for them. However, women from certain cultures turn to the physicians for help. In some groups of Middle Eastern descent the loss of virginity is considered a disgrace, and as a result the young female may be shunned and maybe even killed. When desperate women turn to the specialist for protection, they need help. In a safe and simple half hour procedure the ends of the ruptured membrane can be stitched together or patched with tissue from the vaginal wall.
Some flashy advertising for a Los Angeles based clinic promises good sex. What those billboards don't tell is the fact that no scientific proof exists that any of these surgeries actually enhance sexual pleasure. Nevertheless patients have cited a better sex life as a very common bonus. The reason is the fact, that the patient is more comfortable with her body. Patients with relationship problems due to self-consciousness about the genital appearance will experience a sense of emotional relief as soon as the procedure is over.
Dr. Stubbs also noted, that vaginal enhancement procedures are no different from any other type of cosmetic surgery. It is the job of the specialist to explain the risks, after which the woman can make an informed decision.
National Review Of Medicine, January 30, 2006, Pages 1 and 5.
Dementia Prevented With Diet And Exercise
According to an Australian review a low-fat diet along with physical and mental activity is the best way to avoid dementia late in life. The Australian team looked at numerous studies and concluded that many drugs and supplements promoted as treatments do not work. They did find that maintaining healthy blood pressure levels and an ideal body weight, staying physically and mentally active and consuming a low-fat diet reduces the risk of developing dementia. Dr. Michael Woodward, lead researcher of the report "Dementia: Can It Be Prevented?" states a very simple fact: any advice that is good for the heart is also good for the brain. A number of dietary supplements and medications have been suggested as being useful in the prevention of dementia, but none of them have been conclusive. One small study from Portugal suggested that even coffee could prevent dementia. It made headlines in the media, especially in the American press. However this was a small study involving only 54 people in Portugal. Another study a few years ago claimed that hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women reduced the risk of dementia. Again, this study got a lot of coverage. The study had a strong selection bias: these women were generally more health conscious, in better physical health and from a more socioeconomically privileged background.
The results of this review are further confirmed by Australian and American researchers led by Dr. Ralph Martins of the Center for Aging and Alzheimer's disease in Joondalup, Australia and Dr. Samuel Gandy of the Farber Institute of Neurosciences in Philadelphia. They found that overweight and obese people are having a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than normal weight individuals. Increased body mass index and higher levels of plasma amyloid-beta, which is a key substance in the development of Alzheimer's, go hand in hand. Experts in the area of dementia caution that we cannot count on drugs and supplements, instead prevention is the key with dementia, which comes in the form of a healthy lifestyle.
The Medical Post, January 24,2006,page 39.
Cystic Fibrosis Patients Benefit From Inhalation
Inhaling has been a humble home remedy for patients who were suffering of cough or nasal congestion and it has not made big headlines in medical treatments.
Scientists from the University of Carolina and the University of Sidney have found, that there is more to old remedies than what meets the eye. In a collaborative study the researchers looked at 188 patients with cystic fibrosis (=CF) for a period of a year. The patients were given saltwater by aerosol to inhale. It turned out that this treatment keeps lung damage at bay. It appears to restore the very thin five to 10 micron layer of water that is missing from the lungs of CF patients, and it facilitates clearance of mucus . All it takes is a little water and ordinary NaCl (table salt). Patients must inhale this inexpensive saltwater solution for 10 to 15 minutes twice daily.
This treatment does not constitute a cure of CF, but it s definitely enhancing the treatment and control of this disease.
National Review Of Medicine, January 30,2006, page 5.
Knowledge Needed For Herbal Remedies
Herbal remedies have stood the test of time, and today roughly 80% of the world's population relies on traditional medicines for primary health care needs. Herbal remedies and their efficacy have been confirmed in research, but nevertheless caution is necessary.
Not all herbal preparations are equal. Herb potency can differ due to growing and storage conditions. Toxic contaminants can be present in herbal preparations, and the best way to ensure a quality product is to purchase a product from a quality controlled source.
Anybody using herbal products should bear in mind that "natural" does not mean "harmless". Many plants like catnip, juniper, lobelia, jimson weed, wormwood and nutmeg can inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system significantly and cause severe hallucinogenic effects. Patients with allergies to asters, chrysanthemums and ragweed should avoid teas from goldenrod, marigold, yarrow, St. John's Wort and chamomile, as there is the possibility of cross-reactivity. Comfrey, which is a commonly used folk remedy in Europe and North America, has been shown to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which causes liver damage and cancer in animals and in humans.
There is a common notion that herbal teas that are used as laxatives would be entirely safe. Unfortunately it is not as simple as that. The continued use of cathartics (herbs that are laxatives) can be dangerous, as they cause a dependency or the so-called lazybowel problem. If herbs are used it is important to be vigilant to negative interactions with medications. St. John's Wort interferes with cyclosporin, digoxin, epileptic drugs and indinavir. Gingko should be used with caution by patients who are on warfarin (a blood thinner) because it can cause excessive bleeding. Deaths have been associated with the use of ephedra.
It is also of importance that herbal remedies should not been taken during pregnancy, unless the safety of taking them has been assured. To get qualified information the consumer should beware of flashy headlines promising miracle cures and seek the advice from a licensed health professional who is properly trained in the prescription of herbs. It is also of importance to mention the use of herbal medications along with other medications that are used in order to assure the therapeutic benefits for the patients who uses them.
The Canadian Journal Of Diagnosis, January 2006,page 35 and 36.
Daily Tea Lowers Ovarian Cancer Risk
Due to the fact that ovarian cancer is silent and as a result often diagnosed at a later stage, it is one of the killing cancers in women. New treatments have made a big difference in the survival rate of patients, but the need for prevention remains an important point. Studies have shown that alcohol consumption represents a risk factor for ovarian cancer. It is also true that healthy lifestyle habits in the form of healthy eating and exercise are very useful for prevention.
Swedish research has come up with more news. They examined the association of tea consumption as a risk-lowering factor in 61,057 women 40 to 76 years of age. These participants completed a validated 67-item food frequency questionnaire between 1987 and 1990. They were followed for cancer incidence through December 2004.
The researchers found a 46% lower risk of ovarian cancer in women who drank two or more cups of tea a day, compared to those who did not drink tea. The tea was primarily black tea. Each additional cup of tea was associated with an 18% decreased risk of ovarian cancer.
The Medical Post, February21, 2006,page 23.
