Multiple sclerosis: antioxidant may slow disease progression –ACTIDOCTORSONLIN E

Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive neurological disorder known to affect more than 2.3 million people all over the world. It is an autoimmune disorder wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks and depletes the myelin sheath, the protective covering of the nerves in the nervous system. This interferes with the signalling between brain and spinal cord resulting in the symptoms of MS!

The feature of MS that is characteristic and makes the condition a dreadful is that the patient experiences frequent flare ups of the symptoms, known as Relapsing MS and periods of no symptoms, known as Remissions. Patients with Relapsing MS often progresses to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, which results in brain atrophy!

There is no treatment available for SPMS but there are a few disease modifying therapies which delays the progression of the disease! A study was conducted to understand the diseases which helps in the same and the study showed that regular consumption of high dose antioxidant on regular basis delays or slows the progression of MS!

Lipoic Acid is an over the counter antioxidant that has shown effective result in delaying the progression of the SPMS and helps in treatment. The study showed the results but the mechanism behind the same is still unknown. Also the effect was seen with higher doses of the Antioxidant! To assess the benefit of this on individuals, the much stringent pilot study has to be conducted and the results compared!!

If proven effectively, it is going to be a boon for patients with MS!

Obesity has been one of the major public health threats all over the world! Obesity indirectly has become the major killer disease. In order to reduce the mortality related to obesity, various strategies have been followed that helps in weight loss!

The overall population of obese individuals is increasing all over the world. Hence identifying and adapting new weight loss strategies has become the top priorities! Of the various strategies tried and researched, black tea consumption has found to be effective!

Black tea is found to have numerous health benefits. However most of the times, the benefits are overshadowed by green tea! But the studies and research has shown that black tea is as effective as green tea in reducing the pounds from the body!

Here is an overview on the benefits and the mechanism of attaining the benefits of both black and green tea. Both the form of tea contains Polyphenols which protect cellular structure from damage. Polyphenols can alter liver’s energy metabolism and thus promote weight loss. This mode of weight loss is the mechanism behind green tea

Black tea also promotes weight loss by another mechanism through the gut microbiome. A study was conducted wherein 2 different groups were given green tea and black tea respectively for about 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, researchers found that both the groups lost weight. Both the groups also experienced increased in gut bacteria related to lean body mass and decrease in gut bacteria related to obesity!

Black tea is too huge to be absorbed by the blood stream, however they promote weight loss by staying in gut and boost the growth of gut friendly bacteria, which release metabolites that help to control liver energy metabolism. Thus black tea promotes weight loss and hence advised for regular consumption for weight loss!

Tinnitus Could Be Worsened By Antidepressant Use

Tinnitus is the ringing sensation in the ears when actually no sound is present, which hampers one’s daily routine and makes life tough to lead on! Apart from ringing, the person suffering from tinnitus would even hear buzzing, hissing and whistling sound!!

Studies have suggested that people with Tinnitus are more prone to depression, cause being unknown!! To help people with depression, they would be started on treatment with an antidepressant and the first choice of the drug being Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)!!

A new study was conducted to understand the effect of SSRIs on patients with tinnitus. The result was surprising and was like a double-edged sword!!! While the antidepressants helped people to ease the symptoms of depression, it increased or aggravated the symptoms of tinnitus and thus making it worse!!!

The reason behind worsening of symptoms of tinnitus was explained as follows – Serotonin works on the fusiform cells of the dorsal cochlear nucleus, thus making it hyperactive and hypersensitive to sound!!!

If you are a patient suffering from tinnitus and depression, make sure you give a detailed history to your doctor, so that he treats you right based on what could benefit you more than the other effect!!!

Too Little Gluten In Our Diet May Increase The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Low gluten diet is not of benefit for all! People with celiac disease and gluten intolerant are the only ones to get the most out of low gluten diet. However, there are certain individuals who would follow a low gluten diet on the grounds that it would be helpful for their health! But is low gluten diet really beneficial for healthy individuals? May not be!! Read on!!

Gluten is a protein abundantly found in wheat, rye and barley. People with celiac disease find it harder to digest this protein and hence avoided! A lot of people adopt low gluten or gluten nil diet, hence a study was conducted to understand the effect of the same on human health!

Study results determined that –

• Gluten-free foods are known to have less fibre and other micronutrients, thus making the food less nutritious. An individual’s balanced diet would become devoid of nutrition. Gluten-free foods are also costlier when compared to other foods
• People who included about 12-grams per cent of gluten per day had a lesser chance of developing Diabetes when compared to people who consumed lower gluten. In the 30 year study period, people with low gluten intake had a higher chance of diabetes and turned out to be diabetics!!

Thus the low gluten diet was associated with increased risk of diabetes, other studies are still in process to know the mechanism or to reconfirm the results!!

Vitamin supplements are known to benefit human health, by adding on to the energy levels and improving metabolism!

Vitamin supplements are known to benefit human health, by adding on to the energy levels and improving metabolism! However, did you know that excess supplements are harmful??

A new study has established a relationship between the high dose of certain Vitamin B supplements and increased risk of lung cancer in male smokers!!

The most commonly diagnosed cancer in the whole world is Lung Cancer! It is also considered as the most common cause of cancer-related death. The study has shown the correlation between lung cancer and vitamin B supplement!!

Various studies were conducted, to establish the link between lung cancer and vitamin b, however, the results were inconclusive!! A heavy dose of Vitamin B6 and B12 for over a period of 10 years increased the risk of lung cancer. Though the study gave the inconclusive report, it could not explain the reason behind the increased risk of lung cancer!! The probable explanation was the interaction between vitamin B and one-carbon metabolism pathway! This pathway is essential for DNA integrity and regulation of gene expression. Vitamin B interferes and compromises the pathway, thus promoting carcinogenesis or onset of cancer!

Thus the probable explanation revealed an increased risk of lung cancer with high doses of Vitamin B!! However, the researchers have continued their studies to establish correct correlation!!

Vitamin d Guidelines May Be Changed Following New Study

The present generation lifestyle has left us with multiple deficiencies!! Most of them are related to faulty food habits and a few are linked with our lifestyle!! We have become sort of nocturnal animals!! We work most of the times indoors or even at nights!! This habit has made us more prone for Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin is popularly known as Sunshine Vitamin and is a vital constituent for calcium absorption and healthy gut!! There are no food substitutes for Vitamin D, and any variation from normal range results in deficiency!!

Increased risk and cases of Vitamin D deficiency, various studies were conducted pertaining to the treatment and a new guideline was put forth, treatment is now based on new guidelines which are as follows –

Vitamin D deficiency was treated by vitamin D supplements which are basically of 2 types – Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. Earlier the supplement was randomly chosen as both helped in correction. But a recent study has proposed that Vitamin D3 is twice effective in treating Vitamin D deficiency when compared to Vitamin D2!!

Vitamin D3 has proved to increase the levels of Vitamin D in the body more efficiently and thus concentrates on long-term good health!

If your Physician changes the management of your deficiency, don’t wonder; his effort is to give you a quality care!!!

Moderate Alcohol Consumption Linked To Brain Decline

Alcohol consumption is habitual for a few, party time drink for a few and all-time favourite drink for the rest. Everyone just needs a reason to sip on few sips of alcohol. People would even defend themselves for the habit of consuming alcohol by commenting alcohol on little quantity is good for health!!

For all those alcohol lovers, here is yet another reason to avoid alcohol consumption! A study was conducted and a shocking result was obtained out of it. The results of the study are as follows –

The quantity of alcohol consumed determines the effect it has on health. Moderate quantity effects health in a different way whereas heavy alcohol consumption effects in a different way. Here is an overview of the effect –

Heavy alcohol consumption results in increased risk on atrophy and tissue degeneration of Hippocampus, part of the brain which is very essential for spatial orientation and memory. Degeneration results in increased risk of dementia or memory loss!!

Moderate alcohol consumption was believed to be health-friendly. But the study showed that moderate alcohol consumption results in three times higher risk of atrophy!  Thus there is no safe limit for alcohol consumption!

Moderate consumption, in fact, has three folds higher risk when compared to heavy consumption. Keep yourself away from alcohol to enjoy a healthy life!!

Multiple Sclerosis: Are We Close To a Cure

Multiple Sclerosis is one of the debilitating diseases of the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis is a condition in which the immune system attacks the covering sheath of the nerves, thus causing a communication problem between the brain and the rest of the body!! The disease gradually progresses and causes permanent damage to the nerve fibres!!

Multiple sclerosis was also considered as one of the diseases which cannot be cured and treatment helps with speedy recovery, modifies the course of the disease and manages the symptoms!!

With the advancement in health and technology, various researches have been conducted to find out treatments for the disease. In contrary to the earlier drugs which used to help in delaying the course of Multiple sclerosis, the research concentrated on drugs which helps in curing Multiple sclerosis!

Disease Modifying Therapies are the main course of treatment for Multiple sclerosis. FDA approved a new addition to the treatment is Ocrelizumab!! Studies have shown that this drug reduces the relapse rate of Multiple Sclerosis. The other new addition to the drug list which helps in the cure is –

• Laquinimod
• AHSCT
• MD1003
• Siponimod

If are we close to a cure is the question, then the answer is resounding yes!! Researchers are in process to find out if these drugs help in the cure of multiple sclerosis!!

Eating Red Hot Chili Peppers Help Us Live Longer

Sweets are not liked by all whereas spicy foods are the hot favourite of most of them! Physicians, sweets and spices both are the same and is a strict no for both!! At times, sweets are accepted but not spices, on the grounds of various diseases!!

Here is a good news for all spicy food lovers!! Eating red hot chilli peppers is now recommended by most of the Physicians as they have proven to help us live longer. Wondering how?? Read on

A study was conducted with 16000 volunteers in the USA to study the effect of red chilli peppers on human health. Various forms of peppers were used and the effect of each pepper was studied individually. The result obtained from red chilli peppers were shocking and helpful for long life!!

Red pepper consumption activates TRP Vanilloid type 1 channels which stimulate cellular mechanism and thus works against obesity. Protection against obesity reduces or lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases and metabolic diseases. The other mechanism that helps with health is the presence of Capsaicin in the red peppers!!

This red hot chilli peppers consumption helps us live longer indirectly by reducing the risk of life-threatening diseases!

If you are one of the spicy food lovers, start including more and more of red chilli peppers. It adds taste to your mouth and years to your life!!

Impact Of Shift Work On Health

The job is the goal of everyone!! Everyone works hard and study well, to establish a good career and thus reach their dreams and live a life as they wish based on the money earned!! Money is everything, without which nothing is possible!! Having a job of your choice in the company you like is again a mission!!!

These days, 9 to 5 jobs have become obsolete!! Earlier only medical professionals or those employed in hospital sectors where known to work 24*7, but these days life is different!! You can see people working in all hours but though not for 7 days a week, definitely for 5 days a week!!! 9 to 5 job is reserved only for Government employees!!!

It is a known fact that no one wishes or voluntarily picks or choose to work in shifts but various reasons lives them with no other option but to work in shifts. The reasons for an employee to work in shifts can include and not limited to financial issues, better job profile, and Dream Company and so on. Anyone who works beyond 9 to 5 hours is considered a shift!!

With the race of running behind the dreams, we are completely neglecting our health. Have you ever wondered the effect or impact of the shift work on our health? Various studies have been conducted worldwide and all the studies have proved that working in shifts have a negative impact on the health. The impact of shift work on health includes –

• Increased risk of heart diseases
• Increased risk of diabetes
• Increased risk of metabolic syndrome
• Obesity
• Depression
• Mood disorders
• Tiredness or Fatigue
• Sleeping problems or sleep disturbances
• Disturbed appetite
• Hampered social life
• Hampered domestic relationships
• Digestion problems like acidity, ulcer
• Constipation
• Increased risk of accidents or injuries
• The general feeling of being unwell
• Increased risk of infertility
• Increased risk of cancer
• Increased risk of being Hypertensive

Why does shift work have a negative impact on our health? Shift work impacts our health because of the following reasons –

• Change in a normal circadian rhythm of the body
• An altered biological clock of the body
• Change in sleeping hours

What can be done to overcome the negative impact on health? Definitely, it is not practical to avoid working in shifts, hence if you are working in shifts then practice these simple measures to avoid negative impact  –

• Exercise regularly
• Get sound sleep of 8 hours
• Eat nutritious food
• Fix on to the same shift is possible
• Consult a doctor on a regular basis

Time has changed our lives when change cannot be avoided it is wise to change our lifestyle as per the changing circumstances! Being healthy is important than being wealthy!!!