Dental Health


When you get your picture taken, everyone says, "Say cheese! Smile!" So you do - you open your mouth and show your teeth. When you see the picture, you see a happy person looking back at you. The healthier those teeth are, the happier you look.

It's because your teeth are important in many ways. If you take care of them, they'll help take care of you. Strong, healthy teeth help you chew the right foods to help you grow. They help you speak clearly. And yes, they help you look your best.

Why Healthy Teeth Are Important
How does taking care of your teeth help with all those things?

Taking care of your teeth helps prevent plaque , which is a clear film that sticks to your teeth. The film itself might not sound so bad, but it's very sticky, and it acts like a magnet for bacteria and sugar.


Bacteria go crazy over the sugar on your teeth, breaking it down into acids that eat away tooth enamel, causing holes called cavities. Plaque also causes gingivitis ,which is gum disease that can make your gums red, swollen, and sore. Your gums are those soft pink tissues in your mouth that hold your teeth in place.

If you don't take care of your teeth, it won't be long before cavities and unhealthy gums make your mouth very, very sore. Eating meals will be difficult. And you won't feel like smiling so much.

Toothpaste

It was only about 100 years ago that someone finally created a minty cream to clean teeth. Not long after that, the toothpaste tube was invented, so people could squeeze the paste right onto the toothbrush! Tooth brushing became popular during World War II. The U.S. Army gave brushes and toothpaste to all soldiers, and they learned to brush twice a day. Back then, toothpaste tubes were made of metal; today they're made of soft plastic and are much easier to squeeze!

Today there are plenty of toothpaste choices: lots of colors and flavors to choose from, and some brands are made just for kids. People with great-looking teeth advertise toothpaste on TV commercials and in magazines. When you're choosing a toothpaste, make sure it contains fluoride. Fluoride makes your teeth strong and protects them from cavities. When you brush, you don't need a lot of toothpaste: just squeeze out a bit the size of a pea. It's not a good idea to swallow the toothpaste, either, so be sure to rinse and spit after brushing.

How You Can Keep Your Teeth Healthy
Kids can take charge of their teeth by taking these steps:

Brush at least twice a day - after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks. Brushing properly breaks down plaque.

Brush all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Spend some time on the teeth along the sides and in the back. Brush away from your gums.

Take your time while brushing. Spend at least 3 minutes each time you brush. If you have trouble keeping track of the time, use a timer or play a recording of a song you like to help pass the time.

Be sure your toothbrush has soft bristles (the package will tell you if they're soft). Ask your parent to help you get a new toothbrush every 3 months. Some toothbrushes come with bristles that change color when it's time to change them.

Learn how to floss your teeth, which is a very important way to keep them healthy. It feels weird the first few times you do it, but pretty soon you'll be a pro. Slip the dental floss between each tooth and up along the gum line. The floss gets rid of food that's hidden where your toothbrush can't get it, no matter how well you brush.

It's also important to visit the dentist twice a year. Besides checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the dentist will help keep your teeth extra clean, and he or she can help you learn the best way to brush and floss.

It's not just brushing and flossing that keep your teeth healthy - you also need to be careful about what you eat and drink. Remember, the plaque on your teeth is just waiting for that sugar to arrive. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink water instead of soda. And don't forget to smile!

Nephrotic syndrome is a set of signs or symptoms that may point to kidney problems. Your kidneys clean your blood by filtering out excess water and salt and waste products from food. Healthy kidneys keep protein in the blood, which helps the blood soak up water from tissues. But kidneys with damaged filters may leak protein into the urine. As a result, not enough protein is left in the blood to soak up the water. The water then moves from the blood into body tissues and causes swelling.
Both children and adults can have nephrotic syndrome. The causes of and treatments for nephrotic syndrome in children are sometimes different from the causes and treatments in adults. Childhood nephrotic syndrome can occur at any age but is most common between the ages of 1½ and 5 years. It seems to affect boys more often than girls.
A child with nephrotic syndrome has these signs:
• high levels of protein in the urine, a condition called proteinuria
• low levels of protein in the blood
• swelling resulting from buildup of salt and water
• less frequent urination
• weight gain from excess water
Nephrotic syndrome is not itself a disease. But it can be the first sign of a disease that damages the kidney’s tiny blood-filtering units, called glomeruli, where urine is made.
Homoeopathy in Nephrotic Syndrome
The system of homeopathic medicine has a promising role to offer for the treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome, inclusive of all its variants. Inspite of atrocious nature of the condition, it is possible to treat Nephrotic Syndrome successfully. The treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome has to be planned strategically on a long-term basis, being a chronic and deep-seated disease, there is no short cut in the treatment.
Homeopathy is a scientific medical alternative for treating a wide range of chronic ailments, one amongst them being Nephrotic Syndrome. It should be emphasized that homoeopathy treats patient who is diseased and not just the disease. Homeopathy firmly believes in enhancing body's own curative power to maintain the healthy status,by bringing the immune system back to normal.
The basic approach in homeopathy is to evaluate the disease in its whole extent, whereby a lot of emphasis is given to the patient as a whole, besides minutely studying various aspects of the Nephrotic Syndrome.
While making the case analysis of Nephrotic Syndrome, patient’s minutest of the details about the presenting complaints, severity of complaints, in which areas the edema is more marked, complaints regarding urination, associated complaints, triggering factors, amount of proteins in the urine and blood, etc. are noted carefully. Besides this, a greater deal of emphasis is given to patient’s individual features such as eating habits, food preference, thermal attributes, and sleep pattern. The study of the patient's mind and emotional spheres, psychosocial background, behavior and personality pattern is conducted meaningfully. Furthermore, patient’s history of past diseases and that of the family diseases is understood to know the miasmatic background of the patient.
After putting all the vital information together, and fine evaluation process carried out, an individualist medicine is determined. This constitutional medicine, which when administered in the correct dose treats the patient at an inner level and brings about harmony at the constitutional level. The homoeopathy medicine works at the immunological level, bringing about normalcy. The medicine administered reduces kidney inflammation, repairs glomerular damage, thus preventing protein leakage in the urine. This restores water balance of the body and brings down edema. Chances of relapse and recurrence go down with homoeopathy treatment. Homoeopathy medicines also assist in treatment of causative diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, tuberculosis and SLE. In a situation, where kidney damage has progressed too far, homoeopathy prevents further progress of disease and deterioration of the condition in future.

nformation about hernias and hernia repair.

What is a hernia?

A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening. Think of a ruptured tyre. When the tyre wall separates the inner tube can seep through the opening. Similarly when a hernia occurs tissue protrudes through the abdominal wall. As the hernia enlarges it forms a sac. Internal organs such as the intestines can fall into this sac creating one of the major hernia symptoms - a bulge.

A hernia induced bulge is most often visible when standing. Lying down allows the tissue in the sac to return to its proper position and the bulge temporarily disappears. While hernias occur throughout the body, 95% are in the groin area.

A hernia is a weakness or defect in the abdominal wall. It may be present from birth or develop over a period of time. If the defect is large enough, abdominal contents such as the bowel, may protrude through the defect causing a lump or bulge felt by the patient. Hernias develop at certain sites which have a natural tendency to be weak; the groin, the umbilicus (belly button) and previous surgical incisions.

How do I get HERNIA?
Hernias can be present at birth or occur over time due to stress and strain on the abdominal wall. Most hernias become apparent later in life because it takes time for the hernial sac to enlarge enough for tissue to fall into it.
What are my options?
Without surgery you simply tolerate the hernia. Wearing a truss or binder may temporarily alleviate symptoms but will not cure the hernia. Only surgery corrects the defect in the belly wall.

Why should hernias be repaired?
Once a hernia has developed it will tend to enlarge and cause discomfort. If a loop of bowel gets caught in the hernia it may become obstructed or its blood supply may be cut off. This could then become a life-threatening situation. Since hernias can be repaired effectively and with minimal risk most surgeons therefore recommend that hernias be repaired when diagnosed unless there are other serious medical problems.

How are hernias repaired?
The standard method of hernia repair involves making an incision in the abdominal wall. Normal healthy tissues are cut until the area of weakness is found. This area, the hernia, is then repaired with sutures (stitches). Usually a prosthetic material such as nylon is used to strengthen the area of weakness. (A nylon mesh patch or plug). Finally the skin and other healthy tissues that were cut at the beginning are stitched back together to complete the repair.

How does the laparoscopic method differ?
With the laparoscopic repair the defect in the abdominal wall is repaired from the inside of the abdominal cavity. This method is usually only used for groin hernias. Instead of closing or patching the repair from the outside the patch is secured in place from the inside. This eliminates the necessity of cutting the skin and normal tissues of the groin to get down to and repair the hernia.

What causes hernias?
Hernias are caused by congenital (defects at birth) or age-related weaknesses in the abdominal wall. In males they are caused by an improper closure of the abdominal cavity during the body's development in the womb. They can also be caused by an increase in pressure within the abdominal cavity due to heavy lifting, straining, violent coughing, obesity or pregnancy.

Signs and Symptoms
Lump in groin area when standing/straining and disappears when reclining

Pain at the site of the lump especially when lifting a heavy object

Swelling of the scrotum

Excruciating abdominal pain (if you have strangulation)

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and pain (if intestinal obstruction occurs)

Do you have any of these health problems?

It will be important for your doctor and specialist to know if you have any health problems prior to recommending surgery. In particular your doctor will wish to know from you Any current illnesses

Any past health problems

Any previous operations

Any medications taken

Any allergies particularly to medicines

Any breathing difficulties or anaesthetic problems

Whether or not you smoke

Treatment options
Learn more about how surgeons are diagnosing and treating inguinal hernias and the latest techniques being used to treat this health problem. At The DR KUBER Hernia clink surgeons are performing and evaluating several methods of hernia repair. All groin hernia procedures performed at Shriyash Hospital are subject to strict quality control.

Why should I turn to specialist?
A recommendation for surgery for the treatment of an inguinal hernia should only be given after a comprehensive assessment and under strict guidelines to assure the most successful outcome. Today new advances are being made but the procedures are still being refined at The Dr.Sachin Kuber Hernia Clink; research has been initiated to evaluate the outcome for utilising differing types of surgery for the successful treatment of inguinal hernias. With this research at The Dr.Sachin Kuber Hernia Clink surgeons are evaluating how long the results will last, who will benefit or who will be at the highest risk for complications.

Asthma also called bronchial asthma, occurs when the airways in your lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and constricted. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and your airways produce extra mucus that blocks your airways. Signs and symptoms of asthma range from minor wheezing, cough, difficult exercising, shortness of breath, chest tightness to life-threatening asthma attacks, needing ventilatory support.

Causes
It isn't clear why some people get asthma and others don't, but it's probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic (inherited) factors.

Asthma triggers are different from person to person. Exposure to various allergens and irritants can trigger signs and symptoms of asthma, including:

Airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, mold, cockroaches and dust mites
Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
Physical activity (exercise-induced asthma)
Cold air
Air pollutants and irritants such as smoke
Certain medications, including beta blockers, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Strong emotions and stress
Sulfites, preservatives added to some perishable foods
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your throat
Menstrual cycle in some women
Allergic reactions to foods such as peanuts or shellfish

Diagnostic tests -
1. Bedside clinical exam by a physician to determine wheezing/whistling sounds, however wheezing can occur in several other conditions too
2. Measurement of lung function by spirometry or pulmonary function tests

Treatment -

Inhaled corticosteroids - These medications reduce airway inflammation and are the most commonly used long-term asthma medication. Unlike oral corticosteroids, these medications are considered relatively low risk for long-term corticosteroid side effects. You may need to use these medications for several days to weeks before they reach their maximum benefit.

Long-acting beta-2 agonists. These inhaled medications, called long-acting bronchodilators, open the airways and reduce inflammation. They are often used to treat persistent asthma in combination with inhaled corticosteroids. Long-acting bronchodilators should not be used for quick relief of asthma symptoms.

Leukotriene modifiers reduce inflammation and decreasing mucus production.
Cromolyn and nedocromil - thought to decrease allergic reactions
Theophylline, a daily pill that opens your airways (bronchodilator) along with increase contraction of your respiratory muscles, helping breathing.

Quick-relief medications
Also called rescue medications, you use quick-relief medications as needed for rapid, short-term relief of symptoms during an asthma attack, or before exercise, if your doctor recommends it.

Short-acting beta-2 agonists, such as albuterol. These inhaled medications, called bronchodilators, ease breathing by temporarily relaxing airway muscles. They act within minutes, and effects last four to six hours.

Ipratropium - Your doctor might prescribe this inhaled anticholinergic for the immediate relief of your symptoms. Like other bronchodilators, ipratropium relaxes the airways, making it easier to breathe. Ipratropium is mostly used for emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Oral and intravenous corticosteroids to treat acute asthma attacks or very severe asthma. Examples include prednisone and methylprednisolone. These medications relieve airway inflammation. They may cause serious side effects when used long term, so they're only used to treat severe asthma symptoms.

Medications for allergy-induced asthma. These decrease your body's sensitivity to a particular allergen or prevent your immune system from reacting to allergens. Allergy treatments for asthma include:

Immunotherapy. Allergy-desensitization shots (immunotherapy). Over time, they gradually reduce your immune system reaction to specific allergens.

Anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies. This medication reduces your immune system's reaction to allergens.

Ref: Mayo Clinic, Emedicine, Chest (Journal of the ACCP)