Health VOL 2, ISSUE 2
APRIL - JUNE 2016
Line
A VOICE OF ASIA PUBLICATION
Coming soon in Stafford, Texas!
HealthLine Wellness Expo-2016
A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP FOR YOUR KIDS
TIPS ON TRAVEL MEDICINE
WHAT IS ZIKA VIRUS DISEASE?
FACTS ABOUT LEAD TOXICITY THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
CAN A DENTIST CORRECT SLEEP APNEA?
FRE E E V
E NT
EVALUATE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR BASAL JOINT ARTHRITIS
THERE’S POWER IN NUMBERS. MAY 01, 2016
SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2016 IN FRONT OF - MINUTE MAID PARK
& 5K RUN EVENT SPONSORS
501 Crawford Street Houston, Texas 77002 Every step raises awareness and funds to help solve the cruel mystery. Sign up today at
LUPUSTEXAS.ORG
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
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Wellness Expo 2016 We have completed one full year of HealthLine magazine reaching to over a million readers in the last one year. It gives me immense pleasure, comfort and gratitude to the doctors, scientists, professionals, healthcare providers and our great readers for their contribution to the society. Technology is fast changing, what we learned ten years ago is not what we apply now. HealthLine is always trying to catch up with the changes. In the last four issues we covered different aspects of health concerning seniors, women’s health, and children. Over 60 eminent doctors and scientist shared their expertise and knowledge about certain diseases that commonly occur in families. Our readers are greatly benefiting from such information and are enjoying reading the magazine at their leisure and privacy. This not being enough, we decided to extend our service by involving in other community outreach activities. The first being the HealthLine Wellness Expo that we will be held on sprawling 20,000 square feet Stafford Convention Center on September 17, 2016, City of Stafford, Texas. This Expo is very crucial as it will focus on changes in the Healthcare law and insurance benefits applicable in January, 2017. We will be bringing Hospitals, Health insurance companies, Medicare service providers, and services like blood screening, and such under one roof for the benefit of the community. It would a great opportunity to get one on one with the providers. Do not miss it. We urge you to reserve the date as family fun day bring children and grandchildren, enjoy the event and go home with a feeling that you did right thing! Sincerely
KOSHY THOMAS Publisher and CEO 713-774-5140
[CONTENTS ]
APRIL - JUNE 2016 ISSUE
[06]
[08]
[11]
OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE
SPRING ALLERGIES: HOW TO GO ABOUT IT NATURALLY
Aging and Pulmonary Fibrosis
[14]
[18 ]
[21]
REIKI The Energy Healer
Tips on Travel Medicine
Can a Dentist Correct Sleep Apnea?
ON PAGE
ON PAGE
ON PAGE
ON PAGE
ON PAGE
ON PAGE
12.
Advance Directives
13.
Concierge MedIcine
17.
LUPUS A Chronic Auto Immune Disease
20.
A Better Night’s Sleep For Your Kids
22.
Fast Foods for Fast Times: Time to Reevaluate a Losing Strategy
24.
Celebrate Global Employee Health and Fitness Month!
26.
Evaluate Treatment Options for Basal Joint Arthritis
28.
Nature cures what drugs may not
31.
32.
What is Zika Virus Disease?
34.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease? Food Allergies: In Children and Adults
10.
Facts About Lead Toxicity that You Need to Know
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COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER All rights reserved. No Material herein or portion thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher. HealthLine assumes no liability resulting from action taken Based on the information included herein. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the management. HealthLine reserves the right to edit as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. HealthLine does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement. Published quarterly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite #325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143. Email for editorial submission:voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submission:ads@voiceofasiagroup.com. For reprint rights, please email; voiceasia@aol.com Subject line:Reprint rights.
HEALTHLINE
April - June 2016 Publisher Koshy Thomas
Editor-in-Chief Shobana Muratee Marketing Manager Jacob David Marketing Susan Pothanikat Accounts Manager Priyan Mathew Administration AR Vadlamani Magazine Layout AR Media Cover Photo Fotolia
(All Rights Reserved)
Printing Richmond Printers LLC
Advisory Board
Catherine Papasakelariou, MD Arjun Ghose RN, MBA, CEO, DD Abraham P Thomas, MD Hanh Trinh, MD Chandra Mittal, PhD
Our Contributors
Arthur Chau, MD Elizabeth Strauch, MD Denise J. Giuffrida, MD Diane H. Hart, BS Kanika Monga, MD Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, PhD Nikos Vasilakis, PhD Noreen Khan-Mayberry, PhD Pei-Yong Shi, PhD P. Karthik, BNYS Pratik Vakil, MD Pooja Arora, CPA Pooja Shivshankar, PhD Rajeev Raghavan, MD Rebecca Kramer, CEO Richa Mittal, MD Rosemary Buckle, MD Sabari Sundarraj, MD Sarat C. Susarla, MD Scott Weaver, PhD
EDITORIAL
Dear Reader,
Springtime brings much joy, especially with nature’s best blooms tempting for more outdoor activities. It’s also laced with the discomforts of allergies, illness caused by influenza viruses, frequent doctor visits and long waits for flu shots. Matters get worse if there are travel plans because it’s not as simple as it used to be. A few useful tips should help you ease your mind. The Zika virus for instance, is the more recent of threats to vacationers’ especially pregnant women (it causes microcephaly, a neurological condition that results in babies having abnormally small heads). There are so many reports emerging on Zika virus, that it can be confusing which is why we have a comprehensive report by experts that break it down simply. There are also some good developments in the control of other viruses like dengue (which is the same family of flaviviruses as Zika) which is prevalent in more than 120 countries in the world and is known to infect 390 people each year. Now there’s a 100 percent effective vaccine for dengue fever, researchers report. HealthLine has maintained a holistic approach to health and wellbeing which is why the articles range to cover children, women, men and seniors. We also like you to know more about alternate medicine, nutrition and exercise so you can make your choice of change when you are ready. Although it’s unlikely that we cover everything in the world of medicine and health, HealthLine will keep you abreast of the latest of what affects us most commonly. Our effort to continue pursuing our medical and scientific experts, allowing them to share their information on the latest developments in their fields has enabled us to publish nearly 90 articles over the one year of our publication. We greatly appreciate the contributions of our writers and the Advisory Board for their valuable suggestions. We are excited about our upcoming HealthLine Expo 2016 in September and are working hard on adding something of interest to all ages. There will be ample information to take home particularly for seniors. This year, nearly 2.5 million baby boomers will turn 70. Already, there is a noticeable shift toward an increasingly older population in terms of services and programs, some of which are covered in this issue. Hoping this issue is as beneficial to you as the others. Wishing our readers a healthy and informed springtime!
SHOBANA MURATEE Editor-in-Chief
OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE What you need to know about partial and total knee replacement
Osteoarthritis (OA) that deals with wear and tear of the joints, is known to be the most common disease that affects a significant section of the population, especially people older than 50 years of age. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint has been the most common condition that interferes with the mobility and daily activities of the affected person. Unfortunately, this condition or disease cannot be prevented since it is most commonly caused by genetic makeup. In some cases, the knee joint can be degenerated by certain conditions that damage the articular cartilage, such as trauma, infection or autoimmune diseases. The symptoms: The person with osteoarthritis of the knee usually experiences pain, swelling and stiffness in the affected joint. Such symptoms usually worsen with prolonged activities. The swelling and stiffness often are significant in the morning and improve with some ambulation. Such symptoms are caused by the thinning of the articular cartilage which in turn incites an inflammatory reaction of the synovium, the lining tissue of the knee joint.
toms, strengthening the muscles, especially the quadriceps and hamstrings. The range of motion should also be emphasized to reduce stiffness in the joint. A steroid injection can also be recommended to alleviate arthritic symptoms. Such injections can be done once every three months if the patient is not diabetic, since the steroid will cause an increase of blood sugar. For diabetic patients, hyaluronic injections may be an option, however it is not covered by most insurance plans due to the high cost. The off-loading brace can reduce the pain in the affected knee by transferring weight bearing to the healthier compartment of the knee. Persons with knee osteoarthritis should avoid high impact activities or those that involve twisting, squatting or kneeling. The Surgical Treatment The surgical options should be discussed with the patient when the above nonsurgical modalities fail to relieve the symptoms.
As time goes by, the symptoms worsen slowly. In a few cases, the symptoms can progress significantly If the articular cartilage’s thickness is still relatively in a short period of time. The affected knee joint can thick, an arthroscopic procedure can be performed slowly produce a knock-knee or bow-leg deformity. through 2 small incisions with delicate instruments to debride and smooth out the cartilage. This Nonsurgical treatments outpatient procedure usually takes about 20 minNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such utes and can alleviate the pain in the affected knee. as ibuprofen, Celebrex, or meloxicam are recommended if the patient does not have any gastritis or If only one part of the knee joint is damaged, the bleeding ulcer. single or uni-compartmental arthroplasty or partial knee replacement can be performed. An incision Physical therapy is also an important treatment about 4 inches in length is made in front of the knee. modality that should not be ignored. The therapy One eighth of an inch of bone is removed from the should be oriented toward the reduction of symp- end of each knee on the arthritic side. Titanium
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These operations are performed with several different techniques.
anesthesia. These blocks can be maintained for 48 hours after the operation to relieve the postoperative pain along with oral pain medications. The patient is usually discharged home in the next day after the physical therapy session that teaches ambulation with a walker with full weight bearing. Rehabilitation: The patient will attend physical therapy for 8 to 12 weeks after the operation. The physical therPhoto Credit: Fotolia
alloy components are cemented to the knee with a plastic like insert. If more than one compartment of the knee is damaged, the total knee arthroplasty or replacement is preferred. In this operation, the total surfaces of both bones are resurfaced and the titanium alloy component and plastic like insert are applied to the knee. The knee cap is also resurfaced and a small button is cemented to the undersurface of the knee.
The surgeon can use the blocks of different sizes and alignment instruments during the operation to make proper cuts and to select the proper components of the knee replacement. The surgeon can also use the preoperative CAT scan to measure and select the components prior to the operation. The Computerized Navigation System is the latest advancement to facilitate the operation. The operated knee and limb are digitized. Through this navigation system, the surgeon can correct the deformity, restore the proper alignment and select the proper components. These above two techniques can shorten the operation time significantly and allow the surgeon to obtain better results.
apist concentrates on obtaining a good range of motion for the first 6 weeks. Strengthening is emphasized during the next 6 weeks.
The total knee arthroplasty can be performed in The patient walks with a walker for 4 weeks and one hour. then a cane for 4 weeks. The anesthesiologist can perform a regional block on the affected limb in addition to the general
Most patients have a normal walking gait and complete pain relief after 2-3 months.
ARTHUR CHAU, MD. Dr. Chau received his orthopedic training at the University of Virginia and did his Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic under Dr. Lester Borden, He is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and specializes in total joint replacement surgery of the hip, knee and shoulder. He has practiced in the Sugar Land area since 1996. HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
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Photo Credit: Fotolia
SPRING ALLERGIES:
How to go about it naturally Spring brings warmer weather and longer days, while the autumn ushers in crisp air and pumpkin-spice lattes. But these seasonal changes aren’t welcomed by everyone. For many of us, they’re eclipsed by the itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion of hay fever and other allergies. What to do?
relieving arthritis, lowering blood pressure, and of course helping seasonal allergies. The peppermint contains a type of flavonoid called luteolin-7-O-rutinoside which can help inhibit the activity and secretion of anti-inflammatory enzymes, such as histamines, and greatly reduce the dreadful discomfort that comes along them.
Bee Pollen If local honey isn’t doing the trick for you, try bee pollen. The concept lies behind how it works-starting in small amounts and gradually increasing the dosage daily will help build up your immunity to the pollen in your area. Here you expose yourself to allergens before allergy season so your system doesn’t take a huge blow when the air fills with pollen. Bee pollen is crunchy, musty, and very floral-enjoy Green Tea You may already have one proven allergy it plain or sprinkle some over yogurt or oatmeal fighter in your pantry, Green tea is a natural in the morning! antihistamine that’s powerful enough to actually interfere with allergy skin testing. Drinking this Refreshing Citrus Drink does give relief. Citrus filled drink contains plenty of vitamin C, which can provide relief from seasonal allergies, thanks to its incredible ability to nourish the Nettle-Peppermint TeaNettle has such a negative image, but immune system. Since the immune system is it’s one of the most incredible herbs you can struggling to function right when you experiuse once you add it to your repertoire. From ence allergies, the benefits of this are obvious! Some allergies are severe and require the attention of a doctor or other health care professional. For milder cases, though, home remedies may provide all the relief you need, with relatively little expense or hassle. Even people with bad allergies who need medication may find these at-home tips helpful for easing symptoms.
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Red Onion Water Onions contain a water soluble chemical compound called quercetin, which has been demonstrated in preliminary studies to reduce the amount of histamine produced by the body, therefore reducing symptoms of allergies. It is, essentially, nature’s version of an antihistamine. Quercetin itself has also been shown to inhibit inflammation, as well as act as a bronchodilator, opening up airways and helping you breathe easier
doctor before you give herbal treatments a go. Some butterbur products contain an ingredient that can damage your liver and lungs. And if you’re allergic to ragweed, marigolds, or daisies, butterbur could cause a reaction. Use licorice with caution, too. Taking large amounts can cause high blood pressure and heart problems. Pregnant women should avoid licorice supplements. They can cause preterm labor.
Dietary Changes Try adding cayenne pepper, hot ginger, or Apple- Walnut Trail Mix fenugreek, to your meals. While not as fiery, This mix will help you hit the trail in no time, onion and garlic can also help calm your sore without the sneezing and itching. Walnuts are nose and un-stuff your head. People allera daily snack that you can enjoy to help ease gic to ragweed, pollen, or other weed pollens allergy symptoms. High in magnesium, they help should avoid eating melon, banana, cucumber, tamp down any wheezing or coughing that’s tak- sunflower seeds, and chamomile. All these foods ing place, while their vitamin E content can boost can make symptoms worse. immunity and protects your body from reacting to allergens. Apples, like onions, contain quer- Tips cetin, and naturally reduce the production of lBe aware that line drying your clothes can histamine. Several studies have confirmed that an contribute to allergies as all of the pollen sailapple a day really does keep allergies at bay. ing around sticks to it (and consequently, sticks to you.) Other remedies lIf you simply must open your window, don’t fling An herb called butterbur may block allergies it open all the way. Allergens will fly into the house as well as over-the-counter antihistamines. and settle on everything. Licorice root is another good choice, because it lAt the end of the day, briefly rinse off with cool raises your body’s level of naturally produced ste- water. Doing so will rinse any pollen stuck in your roids. It may also help loosen mucus, so you’ll hair or on your skin off, and also ensures you don’t breathe easier and cough less. Check with your transfer a bunch to your bedding!
MEENAKSHI BHATTACHARJEE, PhD. Dr. (Mrs.) Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, Faculty Fellow and Executive Director, (CAAR), Biosciences @Rice University. She is an internationally renowned Biotechnologist and Cyanobacteriologist and a recipient of several International and National awards for her cutting edge research on Algal and Environmental Biotechnology. She has more than 200 publications in her field of work. Before coming to the US she was Professor and Head, Department of Biosciences at a reputed University in India.
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>>>
Toxicity Facts About Lead
that You Need to Know
Did you know that Lead is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous system? Lead Toxicity interferes with a variety of everyday body processes. Routs of exposure to lead include air, water, soil, food and consumer products. Here are some facts that you should know: l Lead is HIGHLY toxic to children. Lead causes learning and behavioral problems that can often be permanent, since it hampers normal development of the nervous system. l Bathing, showering and washing items in lead contaminated water is a route of toxic exposure. There is NO safe minimum exposure level. Even the smallest amount can be highly toxic. l Signs of lead toxicity include stomach pain, confusion, headaches, irritability and anemia. Very high lead exposures can cause seizures, coma, and death. l Lead detected in blood only indicates how much is circulating throughout your body. It does not indicate how much lead your body is storing. Chelation therapy is used to bind to lead and remove it from the body. This therapy can be effective if the source of lead contamination is removed permanently. l Chelation is particularly difficult if brain encephalopathy has occurred. l The presence of toxic amounts of lead can be detected in blood and bone tests. Micronutrients matter: Studies suggest that low intake of vitamin D may increase accumulation of lead
in bones. Low intake of vitamin C and iron may increase lead levels in blood (of middle-ages to elderly). l Micronutrients matter: Suggestive data has shown that calcium and iron deficiency in children lead to increased lead absorption. l Once treated for lead poisoning, all patients require extensive follow-up in order to monitor lead levels long term. l How toxic lead will be, depends on how much the body absorbs. Lead absorption is dependent on several the physical form of lead, the size of lead particles ingested, the amount of time that the lead travels along the GI tract, and the nutritional status of the exposed person. l People who are malnourished, including those that consume a micronutrient poor diet are more likely to absorb higher amounts of lead. l Nutrition matters: Lead absorption is dependent on several the physical form of lead, the size of lead particles ingested, the amount of time that the lead travels along the GI tract, and the nutritional status of the exposed person. l Skin absorption of lead: Although inorganic lead is not absorbed through intact skin, organic lead compounds (ex. Tetraethyl lead) are absorbed through the skin. l Approximately 99% of the lead in blood is associated with red blood cells (RBCs) with the rest in blood plasma. Source: http://www.doctornoreen.com/facts-aboutlead-toxicity-that-you-need-to-know/
DR. NOREEN KHAN-MAYBERRY, TOX DOC Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry also known as The Tox Doc, is a toxicologist that specializes in environmental, space, food and nutritional toxicology. Her personal mission is to translate the language of science for non-scientists in order to educate and inform the public of critical issues that affect their health and quality of life.
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AGING AND
PULMONARY FIBROSIS
Human lungs project differentiated functionalities in physiological and immune systems with progressive aging, especially between the ages of 50 – 70 years. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is an alarming age-associated pathological condition of human lung, affecting millions worldwide. More importantly, as the name depicts idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has numerous unknown contributors to the development of the disease, hence the name “Idiopathic” (mean=unknown or spontaneously pathogenic). Although smokers largely exhibit emphysematous lesions in their lungs, known commonly as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), these pathological lesions also trigger chronic fibrosis of the lung paranchyma, resulting in impaired lung elasticity, and poor prognosis. Additionally, impaired immune cell infiltration affects airflow mechanics and conductance of lungs.
pneumoniae as a primary infection or secondary to influenzas. With IPF per se or with COPD, patients show poor prognosis due to acute respiratory decline exacerbated with these opportunistic infections. Age-associated inflammation of lung epithelia plays a pivotal role in increased susceptibility to pathogenic conditions including IPF. Physiologically, lung epithelial cell senescence increases production of inflammatory mediators that exacerbate focal proliferation of fibroblasts resulting in atypical interstitial pneumonia, a common pathologic index of IPF. Senescent lung epithelial cells also produce copious amounts of a membrane-scaffolding protein called Caveolin-1, leading to increased membrane ruffles and impaired transforming growth factor β-signaling, a process known to be involved in chronic fibrosis of lungs.
Finally, age-associated autoimmunity against periplakins proteins (important factors of autoimmune disease “Bullous pemphigoid” (BP)- a skin condition that cause fluid-filled blisters on the elderly) has been directly associated with pathobiology of IPF. The basement membranes of lung parenchyma and blistered skin show presence of autoantibodies to periplakins, and accumulation of immune complement factor C3, a critical sign of IPF, COPD and asthma commonly predispose to exaggerated inflammation and interstitial pneucommunity-acquired pneumonia, an opportu- monia. Such complicated conditions are generally nistic infectious assault caused by streptococcus life threatening, especially for the elderly. Many of the common yet unclassified symptoms of IPF include, individuals ≥ 50 years of age from both genders, non-specific dry cough with exertion, shortness of breath with exercise, and clubbing of finger tips and toe tips, besides clinical diagnostic measures that include crackling sound during inhalation or inspiration (heard with the stethoscope), and other functional parameters.
POOJA SHIVSHANKAR, PhD. Dr. Pooja Shivshankar, PhD, is an Instructor at UTHealth, a Professor of Biology HCCS.
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ADVANCE DIRECTIVES Have you thought about the kind of medical care you want at end-of-life? Advance Directives are legal documents that allow you to decide ahead of time, making your wishes known to family and healthcare professionals when you are too sick to express them.
nel and other healthcare professionals not to attempt resuscitation and to allow a natural death. The OOHDNR does not affect comfort care, pain medications or water and nutrition.
Although Advance Directives are legal documents, they do not require the help of a The State of Texas Health and Safety Code lawyer, only your signature plus signatures of 2 witnesses or that of a notary public. Directives provides for three types of Advance Directive: remain in force until you change them. Once Texas Medical Power of Attorney allows you your directives are in place, review them periodto appoint someone you trust to make medical ically to make sure they continue to reflect your decisions for you when your physician certifies preferences. that you are unable to make decisions for yourMaking your care preferences known in Advance self. Directives before you experience serious illness Texas Directive to Physicians, or Living Will, or injury can help ensure that your wishes will documents your end-of-life treatment choices. be honored and relieve your family of the stress Examples include whether or not to have resus- of making medical decisions for you. citation, tube feedings, dialysis and breathing machines. This document communicates your choices to physicians at a future time, when you More information and downloadable forms are available at the Texas Department of are unable to make your wishes known. Aging and Disability Services website: Texas Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate https://www.dads.state.tx.us/news_info/pubOrder (OOHDNR) tells emergency person- lications/handbooks/advancedirectives.html
ELIZABETH STRAUCH, MD, FACP, FAAHPM
Dr. Strauch is Medical Director at Houston Hospice, where she has cared for terminally ill patients since 1992. She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
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Concierge medicine is a model of medical care with a focus on highly personalized healthcare. Under this model, patients are treated in an unhurried setting which allows physicians to get to know his or her patients well beyond their immediate needs. Physician and patient then are able to work as a team to find each patient’s unique path to better health. One of the most established networks of physicians practicing this type of model is an organization called MDVIP, which was established in 2000.
Photo Credit: Fotolia
CONCIERGE MEDICINE patients, with most routine appointments scheduled for 30 minutes (up to 5 times longer than what is typical under the current managed care model), patient concerns can be addressed completely without feeling rushed.
Additionally, since appointments build in ample opportunity for patients to have all their questions answered, concierge offices are able to run on time; no more waiting an hour or longer after the time you were scheduled to see your doctor. And because A second focus to concierge medicine is a strong concierge practices are smaller, same-day or nextemphasis on prevention and wellness, with a com- day appointments are readily available rather than prehensive annual physical exam as the hallmark appointments a week or more from when you need with the MDVIP model. The exam commonly it. includes not only the basic laboratory studies, but also a hearing test, spirometry (a breathing We have been led to believe that personal test), and other specialized screening tests for attention, time and quality are only within reach for cardiovascular disease not generally covered by the wealthy. On the contrary, concierge practices are intended to be affordable. The fee, which is payable private insurance or Medicare. out of a flexible spending account (FSA) or health As an MDVIP physician, my patients will have my savings account (HAS), i.e. pre-tax dollars, is usually cell phone number so that my patients can contact around $1500 to $2000 per year, or $125 - $167 per me more easily for emergencies during after hours. month – perhaps the same as a Starbucks pastry and If appropriate, simple medical problems such as si- coffee daily. nus or bladder infections can be treated over the phone. Being able to contact your doctor while trav- But the most important benefits of a concierge eling can be a great comfort; just think of being away practice remain the emphasis on prevention and from home and having the ability to call and ask your wellness and the personal relationship that develops between doctor and patient. Your doctor comes to doctor, “What should I do?” know you as an individual – and that is a prescription Because concierge physicians take more time with for great medical care.
DENISE J. GIUFFRIDA, MD. Denise J. Giuffrida, M.D., is a graduate of the Autonomous University of Guadalajara and completed her residency in internal medicine at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. She also completed a pulmonary disease fellowship with Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan and a critical care fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. She practices in north Houston.
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REIKI The Energy Healer Reiki is the energy healing technique was formalized by Dr. Mikao Usui in Japan in early 1900 after his quest as a seeker led him to a beautiful initiation by divine. After the experience he became aware of his dormant healing abilities and he took on a journey to enlighten others. “Rei” means Universal and “Ki” means Energy. This meditative healing technique allows access to the abundant all-knowing universal life force energy in our body balancing all our chakras and strengthening our aura at all levels of consciousness and then to let it flow to the ones in need. Dr. Usui highlighted that through Reiki healing one can connect to its energetic core. Reiki is not a religion nor is it bounded by cultural beliefs so anyone can learn practice and heals themselves and others. Reiki is intelligent so it finds its path to the source of the ailment and activates the necessary defense mechanism. Although no one can undermine the advancement in the field of conventional medicine as there are now ways to support, repair and replace our physical body parts which is brilliant yet, none of it can ensure peace, calm and harmony which are the core essence of our emotional energetic being. Time and again it has been revealed through research and scientific experiments that we are a combination of mind, body and spirit. Dr. Usui wanted to harmonize
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all the three elements as any imbalance disrupts the energy flow and manifests in the form of disease or discomfort in the body. Reiki is universal life force energy with unlimited reach and some of its extraordinary benefits are: 1. It activates and boosts body’s immunity by complementing conventional and parallel treatments thereby enhancing the innate healing powers of human body. 2. It calms our conscious mind by soothing all nerves and muscles which allows us to connect deeply with our soul and enhances our ability to hear our inner voice. HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
Photo Credit: Fotolia
The five elements of Reiki are its percepts, meditation/ breathing techniques, symbols and mantras, spiritual blessing and palm healing which when applied encourage us to live everyday with honesty, gratitude, and compassion and free of anger and worry.
3. It can be incorporated with Yoga and therapeu- and office. tic massages to balance and cleanse our energy chakras and Aura, thus promoting sound sleep. Reiki is a journey which allows us to unveil the light within us which when integrated with 4. Reiki equally benefits animals and plants healthy lifestyle and mindful choices, results in a and can also improve the vibrations of home wholesome fulfilling life.
POOJA ARORA Pooja Arora is a certified CPA with multinational corporate experience. She is a certified teacher of Reiki, Theta healing, an Advanced EFT practitioner and a regression therapist. She and her spiritual teacher of nine years founded a nonprofit organization, Loving Life ™ and hosts free weekly Healing meditations every Wednesday in Bellaire, TX which are open to all. She can be reached at pooja@lovinglife.in HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
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The Medical Resort at Sugar Land
The orthopedic rehabilitation program at The Medical Resort at Sugar Land helps patients in regaining function following a joint surgery or recovering from a traumatic fall or injury. We utilize advanced protocols for elective joint replacements and spinal surgeries. O U R F E A T U R E S
• Private luxury suites. • State of the art therapy gym and equipment. • Individualized physical, occupational, respiratory, and speech therapies with services available 7 days a week. • Comprehensive nursing care for surgical wounds and pain management. • Therapy courtyard with putting green. • Free high speed internet access. • Restaurant style dining room with custom meals. • Beauty salon with services that include manicure, pedicures, and facials.
1803 Wescott Ave. Sugar Land, TX 77478 (Next to Costco) 281-329-4300 • Fax: 281-240-3477 • www.tmrsugarland.com
• SENIORS FOCUSED WEBSITE • TXCSS RESOURCE DIRECTORY Brian Mertz • UPCOMING CAREGIVER EVENTS CEO • ADVERTISE IN OUR RESOURCE DIRECTORY
“We are a caregiver information and advocacy website that all Texans could use”
Visit us at: support@texascaregiversupport.com www.texascaregiversupport.net
LUPUS
A Chronic Auto Immune Disease
With more than 1.5 million Americans affected by the disease, lupus is described as a chronic autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system is overactive and begins attacking healthy organs and tissue. If left untreated, lupus can be life threatening. Statistically, lupus mostly affects women and often strikes during childbearing years. It is still unclear what causes lupus, although experts know that genetics and environmental factors do play a role in the disease manifestation.
antibodies in the serum of the blood. The antibodies that target “normal” proteins within the nucleus of a cell are called antinuclear antibodies. When the ANA test results are positive, it means there is a presence of large amounts of antibodies or ANAs, leading to an autoimmune diagnosis such as lupus.
Types and Tests There are 5 types of lupus, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, or discoid lupus, which only affects the skin, neonatal lupus, drug induced lupus, and systemic lupus erythematosus, which is the most serious as may lead to a vast amount of organ damage and lupus nephritis, which, still very serious, but only affects the kidneys. A physician will review current symptoms, laboratory test results, medical history and family medical history before giving a definitive diagnosis. There is no one lab test for lupus, therefore an antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is run. The ANA test is a panel of blood tests which expose the
Kramer states, “We want to give the patents reliable information and resources to help them have access to earlier diagnosis and the best treatments available. Lupus can be a very scary thing to face, and one of the biggest hurdles for us is getting the word out that we are here. If patients and *The chapter is one of the medical professionals 22 affiliates of the National Lupus don’t know about our Foundation of America. For more organization then we information about lupus and the chapter programs and services can’t serve the complease call 713-529-0126 or visit munity.”
The Lupus Foundation of America, Texas Gulf Coast Chapter is a support and service organization established in 1984 for the lupus community in the Texas Gulf Coast Region. Rebecca Kramer, President and Symptoms CEO of the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter and her team Symptoms of lupus include extreme fatigue, strive to support patients and medical professionals headaches, swollen joints, fever, a butterfly shaped to create a better stream of information and commurash on the face, abnormal blood clotting and nication so patients can have a better understanding photosensitivity. of the disease and the treatments options available.
www.lupustexas.org
REBECCA KRAMER, PRESIDENT & CEO HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
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Tips on Travel Medicine
Are you planning to travel in the near future? If so, plan a visit to the nearest travel clinic before you even start packing. The last thing you want is to catch flu or have a bad case of diarrhea to dampen your vacation. Try to visit a clinic at least 4-6 weeks before the planned vacation to give yourself enough time to get vaccinated, and to get any medications.
would recommend the vaccine for travelers that plan on exploring the outdoors and/or caves in areas that are at risk according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC).
Travelers’ Diarrhea: How to Avoid Travelers’ Diarrhea: l Keep your hands clean! Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and water purification tablets Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on routine vaccinations against the l Eat food that is completely cooked, and hot l Only eat raw vegetables and fruits if they have been following diseases: peeled and washed by clean water l Measles-mumps-rubella l Drink beverages from factory-sealed containers l Diptheria-tetanus-pertussis l Avoid ice l Varicella l Polio l Yearly Flu shot Treatment for Travelers’ Diarrhea: l Stay hydrated Other vaccinations (depending on where you are l Over the counter drugs like Bismuth subsalicylate Usually two 262 mg tablets or 60 mL four times daily traveling to) include but are not limited to: l Hepatitis A which can be acquired from contami- for up to 3 weeks l Antibiotics that your doctor can give you based on nated food and water. l Hepatitis B which can be acquired from sexual part- where you are traveling to ners, blood products, and contaminated needles! Be Ex: Ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for 1-3 days extremely careful when getting tattoos and engaging Rifaximin 200 mg three times daily for 3 days Azithromycin 500 mg daily for 1-3 days or 1,000 mg in sexual activity with new partners abroad. l Rabies which can be acquired from animal bites. I in a single dose
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Malaria:
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Please visit the CDC’s website to see whether your destination puts you at risk for acquiring Malaria. Your doctor can provide you with prophylaxis and treatment medications to keep you malaria free, if indicated!
Please ask your doctor which would be the best option for you. The information above is provided for educational purposes only and the list of indications and contraindications is not exhaustive. Other things to remember: l Your prescribed medications (with a copy of your prescriptions) l Antacids l Cough suppressants l Medication for pain/fever (Ex: Acetaminophen/ Ibuprofen) l Sunscreen
l Insect repellent l Antiseptic wound cleaner l Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination (required by some destinations) l Documents of health insurance (personal and/or travel insurance) Important websites to peruse before the trip: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel http://www.who.int/ith/en/ With a little bit of planning, and some caution you can be rest assured that your vacation will be one for the books, Facebook, and Instagram!
KANIKA MONGA, MD.
Kanika Monga, M.D. (with Distinction in Research Honors), graduated from the University of Texas- Austin and Paul L. Foster School of Medicine She is an Internal Medicine resident at the University of Texas Houston. A recipient of AMA’s National Leadership Award, she also serves as a member of the prestigious Gold Humanism Honor Society.
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A Better Night’s Sleep
For Your Kids Sleep plays a crucial role in wellness. It is restorative, may help our bodies preserve energy, and helps consolidate memories. Conversely, the consequences of sleep deprivation are many, including poor concentration, obesity, cardiovascular risk, memory impairment, and reduced immunity. Sleep problems are an under recognized problem in primary care. According to some estimates, greater than 2/3 or children and adolescents will experience symptoms of non restful sleep and difficulty sleeping. Pediatric insomnia (30%) and obstructive sleep apnea (1-3%) are not rare conditions. For many of you parents, you may have noticed a correlation between inadequate sleep and poor daytime behavior in your kids. In fact, many children display symptoms of sleepiness very different from adults. Difficulty focusing, hyperactivity, and behavioral problems are common side effects of sleepiness in children. Delay in development and learning can also be a consequence of poor sleep quality. Part of healthy sleep is understanding what sleep needs are like in children. Sleep needs vary by age. A recent survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation in 2014 revealed that parents report that healthy sleep is extremely important to their child’s
mood, wellbeing, performance at school and behavior. The same poll also revealed that a majority of teenagers get less than the recommended number of hours of sleep.
In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics published updated guidelines regarding the screening of pediatric sleep apnea. Yes, sleep apnea does happen in children, but it often presents differently than in adults. In addition to snoring, one commonly observed symptom is inattentiveness/hyperactivity not unlike children with ADHD. Age appropriate sleep testing is crucial to properly diagnose this condition and is recommended BEFORE treatment is initiated. For parents worried about their child’s sleep habits, start with the basics. Understand what your child’s sleep requirements are. Be sure that they are following some of the basic tenets of sleep hygiene: keeping regular sleep times, avoiding electronic devices close to bedtime, and having a “cool down” routine prior to sleep. Most importantly, know that signs of sleepiness may look like problems with behavior, mood, focus, and even learning delay. Consult a sleep specialist if needed, preferably pediatric, since the rule “children aren’t little adults” is especially true when it comes to sleep!
SARAT C. SUSARLA, MD. Dr. Susarla is a board certified pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist with offices in Memorial City, Sugar Land, and Katy. He treats children and adolescents with respiratory disorders and sleep disorders in all ages.
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CAN A DENTIST CORRECT
SLEEP APNEA? Snorer are often made the butt of a joke but it is no laughing matter when half of all snorers have a much more serious condition called “Obstructive Sleep Apnea” or “OSA”. Snoring tends to be more common as we age and may be worsened by certain anatomic conditions, such as being overweight, a large tongue or tonsils, and even a deviated nasal septum. It may also be affected by lifestyle choices, such as smoking and alcohol consumption.
cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, memory and concentration impairment. Some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea include, daytime exhaustion, snoring, gasping for air or choking during sleep, short term memory loss, weight gain, poor concentration, headaches, heartburn, and indigestion, and night sweats.
In addition to snoring, people with sleep apnea have altered breathing patterns which can range from very shallow breathing to gasping, choking or even pauses that can last for a few seconds to a minute or more. This makes it very difficult to get enough air and lowers the amount of oxygen reaching the brain.
Your dentist may be able to correct obstructive sleep apnea by fitting you with an oral appliance that is worn during the night. If your sleep apnea is caused by the tongue resting on the airway, a tongue- retaining device can possibly correct the problem. Dental devices worn inside the mouth to treat sleep apnea look like athletic mouth guards. They are removable and worn only at night.
Sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing during sleep, a common problem that affects both adults and children. The National Institute of Health estimate that more than 12 million Americans have sleep apnea, most often undetected and misdiagnosed. If sleep apnea is left undiagnosed and untreated for too long, it can lead to severe health complications, including stroke, heart attack,
Patients with high moderate or severe sleep apnea are generally not good candidates for oral appliances as it will not help-adequately resolve their apnea. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy remains the standard of care for those patients. However, if you do not respond to or are not a candidate for CPAP, you may re-evaluated your options by consulting your sleep physician.
PRATIK VAKIL, MD. Dr. Vakil completed his BSc from University of Texas, San Antonio. He received his dental degree from Boston University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA while receiving his Masters of Medical Sciences at Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.
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We live in fast times. Everything from being on social media, having instant access to information on the internet, to the challenge of balancing work and family life, we have become accustomed to seeking instant and “easy” solutions. Although on the surface, these “easy” foods, which are being consumed in copious amounts, are heavily processed. As a result, we develop illnesses: hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, just to name a few. In addition to moving away from these processed quick options in favor of more wholesome foods, we also need to be mindful of which nutrients our diet is made up. Our heavy consumption of meat raises our risk of cancers of the colon, pancreas and prostate.
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FAST FOODS FOR FAST TIMES: TIME TO REEVALUATE A LOSING STRATEGY This has recently been studied by the World Health Organization and was reported on by all the news outlets in 2014. The traditional American diet has become too meat-centric and carbohydrate heavy. Processed foods unfortunately, tend to be carbohydrate rich with various forms of corn and soy, the favored subsidized crops in our country. These two foods, in their processed forms, make their way into most products on our grocery shelves today. How many times have you read a food label and asked yourself “what is THAT?!” Processed foods contain many FDA-approved additives in products like soda, bread, and baked goods. There
RICHA MITTAL, MD. She received her medical degree at the University of Texas in San Antonio and completed her residency training at the McGaw Medical Center at Northwestern University in Chicago. She resides in Northern Virginia where she practices Internal Medicine (part-time). She has been a medical director of a weight loss clinic in Dallas, TX.
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has been concern over the effects of these additives and many studies have showed mixed outcomes. Several of these additives have been banned in Europe. Some examples are: Artificial food coloring, specifically yellow #5, has been linked to hyperactivity in children. High fructose corn syrup which is used as a sweetener, is possibly metabolized in a different way that increases risk for diabetes. Sodium benzoate is a preservative that also may increase hyperactivity. There has been much concern over trans fats, found in partially hydrogenated oils in baked and fried goods, which increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes by lowering HDL (good cholesterol). So what are we to eat? Taking a look at previous generations and how they ate, may be a good start. Portion sizes were smaller and we consumed “real foods.� Several diets have been studied to evaluate their effect on chronic medical diseases. One of these diets is the Mediterranean diet, which has been found to decrease risk of heart attack, stroke and death. This diet emphasizes primarily plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. It also emphasizes healthy fats like olive oils instead of butter, consuming fish and poultry instead of red meat and drinking wine in moderation. It is perhaps time to slow down and actually think about what we are consuming. We are all familiar with the saying- you are what you eat. With more consideration and knowledge about our food, we can make more informed choices. For better health, it is imperative that we make our food and nutrition a priority. HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
6213 Skyline Drive, Suite 2100, Houston, Texas 77057
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C
elebrate Global Employee Health and Fitness Month!
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month (GEHFM) is an international and national observance of health and fitness in the workplace and its mission is to make “healthy the norm” by generating a persistent demand for healthy living among all sectors of society. GEHFM promotes the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to employers and their employees through workforce health promotion activities and environments. This initiative is held in May of each year which is traditionally employee health and fitness month. To accomplish this goal, the National Association for Health and Fitness (NAHF) (www. physicalfitness.org) are enlisting and equipping people and places to build and sustain healthy communities and worksites. NAHF is committed to improving the quality of life for individuals in the world and was founded in l979 by the President’s Council on Sports and Fitness. The United States Chamber of Commerce states: “It is disturbing that few health promotion programs are available to employers/employees.” GEHFM stands ready to fill this void
to create Healthy Moments, form Healthy Groups and develop a Culminating Project. Participants will be able to register and log these activities on the GEHFM website throughout the month, allowing employers and employees to track, share and promote their individual and group activities. Worksite health promotion is a sound business strategy and joining the GEHFM movement this May (and every May www.healthandfitnessmonth.org) is the best place to start or rededicate your organization’s efforts to the imperative cause of health becoming the norm in our world! Healthy Moments are focused on the individual, and are occasions of healthy eating, physical activity or personal/environmental health. Examples of Healthy Moments include: trying a new recipe, cooking dinner at home instead of eating out; planting an extra row in a backyard garden to harvest and share with a local food pantry; scheduling a health assessment; going to a doctor.
Healthy Groups are small groups of employees The good news is that participation is FREE and par- formed to create a sustainable activity continuing ticipating employers will challenge their employees even beyond the month of May. Creating lunchtime
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exercise groups who meet during mealtimes to walk, run, or bike; forming commuter groups who bike or walk to and from work together; establishing healthy meal clubs that share recipes and distribute healthy snacks to each other throughout the day. Healthy Moments occur daily, even multiple times a day and are created by individuals and groups at the start of GEHFM. Healthy Groups implement activities to be performed several times throughout the month. The Culminating Project is an event or series of events that promote health through the whole company or community. This project could include support for a healthy workforce in the Company’s vision or mission statement. Other examples include: planting a community garden; adopting a company-wide physical activity or tobacco cessation polity; facilitating “brown bag lunches” open to the community during which a program emphasizing health and fitness is presented; creating a company or family fitness event. The Culminating Project is developed during GEHFM and executed at the end of May each year. Capability for logging and tracking Healthy Comments, Groups and Projects is built into the website. GEHFM is a powerful, thoughtful initiative. A FREE TOOL KIT helps guide activities and events and promotional items advertising GEHFM for employees are available at 4POINT4. com 4POINT4 is a sportswear and technology company dedicated to using sports to improve communities. They donate a portion of every order to the cause of the participating company’s choice.
A I
DIANE H. HART
Lupus Foundation of America - 2 Harry Patel ABFA - Fellow - 16 Houston Hospice -16 Minuteman Press / Signarama -16 The Medical Resort -16 Texas Caregiver Support Services-16 Sherly Thomas - Philip, Attorney at Law - 23 Santhigram Wellness - Ayurveda -25 Immigration - Sharlene S. Richards Law Firm -25 Texas Caregiver Support Services - 27
vertiser ndex
Diane H. Hart BS; NETA, ACSM, owner of Hart to Heart Fitness, is a Nationally Certified Fitness Professional, trained by American College of Sports Medicine, Master Personal Trainer, SOPHE Health Educator, Health Specialist for Blue Shield of Northeastern New York with more than 25 years of expertise. She is President and Executive Director of the National Association for Health and Fitness. HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
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EVALUATE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR
BASAL JOINT ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation and stiffness in the joints. It often affects the joint at the base of the thumb, called the basal joint, which allows for the swivel and pivoting motions of the thumb. It is also referred to as thumb CMC (carpometacarpal) joint. Because of its design, it tends to wear out and develop arthritis early in life. Basal joint arthritis is also common in people who have osteoarthritis. It is most common in women over 40, but anyone can get it, and it often happens in both thumbs.
it slowly destroys the joint. The ends of the bones are covered with cartilage. This covering acts like a cushion, allowing the bones to move smoothly. Arthritis wears away or destroys the cartilage. Then the bones rub against each other when you move your thumb. This causes the joint to become stiff, inflamed and painful. With time, the bone in the thumb may collapse and then you will no longer be able to straighten your thumb.
What causes Basal Joint Arthritis? Basal Joint Arthritis Symptoms Basal joint arthritis occurs as a result of wear The most common symptom is pain in the lower and tear on the joint. It is more part of the thumb. You may feel pain when you lift likely to occur if you have fracsomething with the thumb and fingers, unscrew a tured or injured your thumb, jar lid, grip an object, or turn a door handle or a and at a young age. Repeatedkey. You may find yourself dropping things. Weathly gripping, twisting or turning er may also make the thumb hurt. The joint may objects with the thumb and swell, and with time, the thumb may become stiff or fingers may make the arthrideformed. tis worse. It causes pain at the base of the thumb, particularly Treating Basal Joint Arthritis during pinching or gripping, Treatment will depend on how severe the pain is and also results in weakness of pinch.  and also if the joint is exceptionally worn. There are nonsurgical and surgical treatments to considInside the Thumb er. If arthritis is diagnosed early, it often responds The basal joint is formed by one of the wrist bones to treatment without surgery. Your doctor may and the first of the three bones in the thumb. This put a splint on your thumb for three to six weeks. joint allows the thumb to move and to pinch with This limits movement and helps reduce the inthe fingers. When arthritis occurs in the basal joint, flammation. You may be given a pain medicine
ROSEMARY BUCKLE, MD. Dr. Rosemary Buckle is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who sees patients at St. Joseph Medical Center campuses in downtown Houston and the Heights.
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such as acetaminophen. You may also be given oral anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen or aspirin. If your symptoms don’t improve, your doctor may give you injections of an anti-inflammatory, such as cortisone, right into the joint. If nonsurgical treatment does not relieve the pain and stiffness, or if arthritis has destroyed the joint, your doctor may recommend surgery where the diseased joint is removed. Then the joint is rebuilt, usually with a piece of tendon (graft) taken from your arm or wrist. Your arm, or sometimes your entire body, is anesthetized so you don’t feel anything during surgery. You can probably go home the day of surgery with your hand wrapped in a dressing, then you will have a cast or a splint on your thumb for 3–6 weeks to keep it stable during healing.
make the joint more flexible. Regaining use of your thumb will take time. Surgery helps more than four out of five people with this problem, but as many as one out of five will have numbness on the back of the hand or tenderness of the scar following surgery.
Treatment really depends on how much the basal joint is bothering you. The good news: it does not spread to other parts of the body. Many people have thumb pain that subsides after a few years, when the arthritis and irritation in this joint “burns out.” However, there is a limited period of time during which surgery can provide the best result. After a Once you can move your thumb, your doctor period of years, the thumb weakness and the loss will give you exercises, or refer you to a physical of motion of the thumb may not be reversible even therapist, to help strengthen the muscles and with surgery.
• SENIORS FOCUSED WEBSITE • TXCSS RESOURCE DIRECTORY • UPCOMING CAREGIVER EVENTS • ADVERTISE IN OUR RESOURCE DIRECTORY
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“We are a caregiver information and advocacy website that all Texans could use”
Email us at: support@texascaregiversupport.com HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
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Nature cures
what drugs may not
“ The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease ” - Voltaire It is natural that we all want to take the medicine that has been improved upon and perfected over generations. Then why do we ignore the natural? While modern drugs are being worked upon for improvement for not more than a couple of centuries, there are medicines that have been perfected by the nature for over thousands of centuries and made available to us in the form of fresh and natural food.
• Saritha (name changed) a 25 years old woman, was suffering from SLE since past 3years. With this she added on complication on heart related problem. She was prescribed cyclophosphamide 10 mg for SLE and aspirin, clopitab for heart problems. She suffered from over bleeding (menorrhagia) with low hemoglobin levels which was a direct side effect of the above cardiac medication. She was advised by the gynecologist to consume iron and folic acid tablets. With this article, I would like to educate the readers When she consulted with Rheumatologist, cardioloabout the benefits of nature cure over other recent gist and gynecologist separately she was advised not methods of disease control. It is not my intention to to stop taking any of the tablets. She was in a state write off other methods of medicine. of complete confusion because each tablet had a contradicting impact on the other which devastated We must first understand the her mentally as there was no hodifference when I say ‘cure’ and “Most men die of their remedies, listic treatment for her problems. ‘disease control’. While nature However, at nature cure, after one not of their illnesses. ” is capable of curing almost month of holistic treatment that >>> all diseases, modern drugs in Moliere involved mud bath, natural foods most cases are only capable and massage she has started of control the diseases in both cases, adherence to getting better. Slowly she could wean other a regime of medicine is required for positive results. medicines and started recovering from her disease. The process of testing the efficacy and studying the side effects of the drugs is continuous. In the lifetime of the drug the side effects can crop up at any moment., drugs like corticosteroid, cyclophosophamide, and other drugs used to treat chronic disorders are often prescribed for lifetime, leading to many side effects being discovered over time.
Nature cure on the other hand eliminates all such side-effects as nature has eliminated such side-effects for us as part of evolution and natural selection. One simple demonstration of nature’s way of dealing complex things in simple ways where drugs have none but complex solution is in how nature deals with seasons. Nature has ensured that we get food that suits our nutritional requirements in that In such a case, we need to understand that in most particular season. In summer we need a lot of water medical conditions we take a drug to treat the and other substances that retain water in our body, disease another drug to treat the side-effects of the withstanding the heat around. While drinking water first drug and another drug to treat the side-effects as a remedy is a very easy and general practice, naof the second drug. ture has also given us food in the form of water melExample on which not only gives us water but also helps us
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“ The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with the >>>drugs but rather will cure and prevent the disease with nutrition ” Thomas Edison
retain the water in the body for longer time by giving us necessary minerals and vitamins that help retain water. Similarly, citrus fruits are monsoonal fruits. It helps us in winter when our body is effected by flu virus. It is imperative for us to have more of the seasonal foods in our diet. Furthermore,there are many misconceptions about food in relation with various medical conditions. Many have no medical basis. Healthcare cannot ensure health. Nature can. In fact the beauty of nature is that we need no medicine if we follow the nature and its very simple rules and eat what nature gives us in very simple forms. Nature has given as natural relaxant in passion flower, natural pain killer in pomeogranates, carrot juice and uncooked raw salads. What we are taking are drugs that have some or the other side-effects and thus are not in effect treating the condition but not the system. Nature cure on the other hand cures the system as a whole.
of food and activity (exercise). How does a chemical formulation become a drug? When chemical formulations are invented to be a probable future drug, a lot of research is done and thus satisfied inventor has to further convince hundreds of doctors about its efficacy and safety, the two crucial parameters for any drug. If it gets a goahead after ascertaining that safety, it goes through
“ Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food ”
>>>
Hippocrates
drug trials in following sequence.
The first stage involves clinical trials on lower animals like dogs, pigs, rats. If this passes the first trials, then it moves to apes, monkeys and human beings to further validate the efficacy and safety of Robert C. Peale said “The best and the most the drug. efficient pharmacy is within your own system”. This further allows for in Manufacturing, promotion We just need to give it the right ingredients in form and distribution of the drug .
DR. P. KARTHIK Dr. P. Karthik, BNYS,is certified in Naturopathy and Yoga working for Autoimmune disorders especially on Lupus at his “Nature Cure” facility. He is the Director SLNS Nature Cure Hospital, Bibinagar, Hyderabad, INDIA. You can learn more about Dr.Kartik at www. slecure.com or you may contact him at drkarthikbnys@gmail.com
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W H AT I S
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CHRONIC KIDNEY
D I S E A S E?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition the disease can be treated by two main ways: in which the kidneys lose their function over dialysis or kidney transplantation. time. An estimated 13 percent of the U.S. adult In dialysis, an artificial kidney machine is used to population has some form of kidney disease. filter waste and excess fluid from the patient’s Kidneys filter waste products and excess fluid blood. Your blood is pumped a few ounces at a from the body and remove them in the form of time through a special cleansing filter. The clean urine. When the kidneys stop working properly, blood is then returned to your bloodstream. waste builds up to dangerous levels (uremia), minerals within the body get out of balance, and If you qualify for a kidney transplant, a physithe body is unable to make as many red blood cian can attach a healthy kidney from a living donor or someone recently deceased, into your cells as it needs (anemia). Even at advanced stages of CKD, more than 30 body. Today, more than 160,000 patients in the percent of patients can maintain stable kidney U.S. have functioning transplanted kidneys, and function by reducing dietary protein and salt and more than 13,000 transplants are performed taking medications. The rate of CKD progression each year. Due to a shortage of donated organs is typically slow and depends on factors, such as and a growing wait list for transplantation, kidage, ethnicity, magnitude of proteinuria, and the ney donations by friends or family are strongly cause of kidney disease encouraged. CKD, caused by certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can be detected easily using simple laboratory tests or a kidney ultrasound. In its advanced stages,
Speak with your physician and your family to decide which treatment is best for you based on your medical condition, lifestyle, or personal preference.
RAJEEV RAGHAVAN, MD. Dr. Rajeev Raghavan is a board-certified Nephrologist at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. Dr. Raghavan serves as director of the fellowship training program at Baylor College of Medicine and sees patients at Baylor Clinic. He is also a cellist and performs with the Texas Medical Center Orchestra.
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What is Scott Weaver
M.S., Ph.D
Scott Weaver, globally recognized for his expertise in mosquito-borne diseases, is the director of the UTMB Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and scientific director of the Galveston National Laboratory. His work has been widely published and he holds nine patents in vaccine development.
Pei-Yong Shi
Pei-Yong Shi is the I.H. Kempner Professor of Human Genetics at UTMB and is an adjunct professor of emerging infectious diseases at the Duke - NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore. Shi came to UTMB after spending seven years serving as the Dengue Head Unit and Executive Director to lead drug discovery at the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases.
Zika Disease? Virus
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that is a member of the flavivirus group. This group includes several other viruses that cause serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases such as yellow fever, dengue fever, West Nile and Japanese encephalitis.
Zika virus has been known for decades to circulate in Africa and Asia and more recently in the Pacific Islands, but very few cases of human disease were documented before 2007. In May of 2015, the first infections were confirmed in Brazil. Since then, the Brazilian government estimates that more than 1.5 million people have been infected with Zika virus. Zika is now confirmed to be circulating in 26 countries and territories in the Americas including Mexico and is probably present in even more. According to the Pan American Health Organization, locally-transmitted Zika has not been reported in the United States but has been reported in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa. The list of countries where Zika virus has been identified can change with new cases identified. Cases have been reported in people who have recently traveled to an affected region. Given the widespread recent outbreaks and spring vacation travel season, more Americans will likely contract Zika virus disease in this way.
Nikos Vasilakis Nikos Vasilakis is an associate professor in the UTMB department of pathology. He has extensive experience in mosquito-borne disease vaccine development, genetics and evolution. Vasilakis spent several years directing and coordinating research programs while at Wyeth Vaccine Research, giving him a deep understanding of both academic preclinical and pharmaceutical perspectives.
It is likely that cases of Zika virus disease will occur in regions of the US inhabited by the mosquito believed to be responsible for spreading the virus in most parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, Aedes aegypti. The southern US is infested with this mosquito and therefore is at risk for local transmission of Zika virus disease in a manner similar to dengue and chikungunya viruses. Aedes albopictus has also been implicated in Zika virus transmission in Africa and occurs further north in the eastern US. What are the symptoms of Zika virus? In children and adults, Zika virus infection
is generally mild - some develop flu-like symptoms, joint pain, eye inflammation and red rashes, while other people may not have any symptoms. In some cases, infection is associated with serious complications, including Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disorder where the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves and eventually causes paralysis. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Zika virus disease nor are there any treatments to resolve disease symptoms. Concerning the possibility of the Zika virus being transmitted in semen, a few suspected cases have been identified but it remains unclear how often this occurs or how long the virus persists in infected men.
What is the link between Zika virus and microcephaly? Microcephaly is a neurological condition where a baby is born with an abnormally small head because its brain did not develop correctly. These children almostw always have lifelong mental retardation and many die young. There have been reports in Brazil of microcephaly in babies of mothers who had been exposed to the Zika virus, and Zika virus has been detected in the amniotic fluid and tissues of several fetuses. However, more research is needed to confirm the causal link. Nonetheless, the CDC suggests that pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to regions where the Zika virus is active. And women trying HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
to become pregnant should consult with their doctor or health care provider before travel to those regions. So far, the majority of babies born with microcephaly cases have not been confirmed with laboratory tests to be linked with Zika. Therefore, in most cases experts cannot say for sure with certainty that this condition was caused by the virus. More definitive case-control and prospective cohort epidemiological studies are underway to provide more definitive information. However, the overall evidence that Zika is responsible for the vast majority of these cases is strengthening: Between 2010 and 2014 in Brazil, 139-175 babies were born with microcephaly each year. In 2015, there were more than 3,500 cases of this disease, coincident with the arrival of Zika virus. The Zika virus has been found in the placenta of a few babies born with microcephaly, which has prompted Brazilian doctors to warn women not to become pregnant if possible, for the time being. Some of the hardest hit areas have declared a state of emergency. The virus’s genetic material (RNA) has been detected in the tissues of some of the babies with microcephaly whose mothers were confirmed to have Zika during pregnancy. The CDC has identified the Zika virus in the tissues of babies who died from Brazil from microcephaly. What is recommended for pregnant women at risk of Zika? Women who are pregnant or are HEALTHLINEMAG.COM
Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide long lasting protection. If you use both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply the sunscreen first and then the repellent. Do not spray insect repellent on the skin under your clothing considering becoming pregnant should talk to their obstetrician and make sure they are familiar with the latest guidance from the CDC. This is particularly important if there has been recent travel to countries affected by Zika virus. Keep in mind that the virus is spreading rapidly so the list of countries affected may not reflect the current distribution due to the inherent lag in diagnostic testing and reporting. What can people do to minimize their risk of becoming infected with Zika virus? Currently no vaccine exists to prevent Zika virus disease. The best prevention is avoiding mosquito bites. If you or someone you know plans on traveling to countries where Zika virus (see map) or other viruses spread by mosquitoes are found, take the following steps: Use insect repellents When used as directed, insect repellents are safe and effective for everyone, including pregnant and nursing women. Most insect repellents can be used on children in proper concentrations. Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus in children under the age of three years.
Treat clothing with permethrin or purchase permethrin-impregnated clothing. Always follow the label instructions when using insect repellent or sunscreen and especially note recommendations for use on children. When weather permits, wear longsleeved shirts and long pants. Use air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home, hotel room or place of work. Remember that the mosquitoes believed to transmit Zika virus bite during the daytime as well as early morning and evening. Help reduce the number of mosquitoes inside and outside your home or hotel room by emptying standing water from containers such as flowerpots or buckets. If you live in areas inhabited by A. aegypti or A. albopictus, eliminate sources of standing water near your home to reduce populations of these mosquitoes and lower the risk of local Zika virus circulation if you or another traveler returns infected. Source: http://www.utmb.edu/ APRIL - JUNE 2016 I HEALTHLINE
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Food Allergies: In Children and Adults Food Allergies: According to CDC these affect 4-6 % of children and 4 % of adults. These symptoms are most common in babies and children, but can appear at any age. You can even develop an allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no problems. While allergies tend to run in families, it is impossible to predict whether it be will inherited. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Just because an initial reaction causes few problems doesn’t mean that all reactions will be similar; a food that triggered only mild symptoms on one occasion may cause more severe symptoms at another time. While any food can cause an adverse reaction, eight types of foods account for about 90% of all reactions: Eggs Milk Peanuts Tree nuts Fish Shellfish Wheat Soy. The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis and must be treated promptly with an injection of epinephrine.
is diagnosed, the most effective treatment is to avoid the food. In Children the common allergens are Milk, Eggs, Peanut and Tree nut allergies. The most common food allergens in adults are Fruit and vegetable pollen, Peanuts and tree nuts, Fish and shellfish. A person allergic to one tree nut may be cross-reactive to others. Those allergic to shrimp may react to crab and lobster. Negative tests may be very useful in ruling out an allergy. In case of positive tests to foods that you have never eaten an oral food challenge is the best way to determine whether the food poses a danger. Because of the possibility of a severe reaction, an oral food challenge should be conducted only by experienced allergist’s office or at a food challenge center, with emergency medication and equipment on hand. A food allergy will usually cause some sort of reaction every time the trigger food is eaten. The Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 mandates that manufacturers of packaged foods produced in the United States identify, in simple, clear language, the presence of any of the eight most common food allergens in their products. Allergies to milk, eggs, wheat and soy may disappear over time, while allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish tend to be lifelong. In 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a study recommending against introducing solid foods to babies younger than 17 weeks. The general practice in the United States and other Western countries is to delay the introduction of highly allergenic foods, such as peanuts, tree nuts and seafood, until after age 3 but is controversial by newer recommendations.
Most food-related symptoms occur within two hours of ingestion, rarely it may be delayed by four to six hours or longer. Delayed reactions are most typically seen in children who develop eczema as a symptom. Another delayed food allergy reaction stems from food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, a severe gastrointestinal reaction that generally occurs two to six hours after consuming milk, soy, certain grains and some other solid foods. It mostly occurs in young infants who often have repetitive vomiting and can lead to dehydration. Not everyone who experiences symptoms after eating certain foods has a food allergy or needs to avoid that food entirely; for instance, some people experience an itchy mouth and throat after eating a raw or uncooked fruit or vegetable. This may indicate oral allergy syndrome - a reaction to pollen, not to the food itself. The allergen is destroyed by heating the food, which can then Excerpts from www.acaai.org patient info article be consumed with no problem. Once a food allergy on allergies.
SABARI SUNDARRAJ, MD. Dr. Sabari Sundarraj MD is a family medicine doctor and is part of Houston Methodist Primary Care Group. She received her medical degree from Coimbatore Medical College and has been in practice in the US for over 14 years. She can also speak Tamil and Telugu languages. She is located at 7105 FM 2920 Spring, TX 77379.
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HEALTHLINE I APRIL - JUNE 2016
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