Heartburn can be an ongoing problem
Most people will suffer from indigestion or heartburn at some stage.
This may be a short-lived episode following an over indulgence in food and
drink. Many however develop ongoing symptoms. It is estimated that 1 in 5
adults experience heartburn regularly. The medical name for the disorder
is Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD). In this disease the acid
contents of the stomach flow backwards (reflux) into the oesophagus or
gullet. The oesophagus does not have a protective mucous layer like the
stomach, so it is easily burned by the acid causing the classic pain of
heartburn (burning pain in the centre of the chest). The heart may cause
similar pain (hence the term ‘heartburn’) and a heart attack might be
described by some sufferers as “indigestion”.
The oesophagus is normally protected from acid reflux by the strong
muscle of the diaphragm, through which it passes to the stomach. This
keeps the opening to the stomach closed except when food is swallowed. If
the muscle relaxes, reflux may occur. Sometimes part of the stomach itself
may bulge back through the diaphragm – this is called a hiatus hernia.
Reflux can be aggravated by increased pressure from a heavy meal,
pregnancy or abdominal obesity. Alcohol and some drugs may relax the
diaphragm, increasing risk of reflux. It is important to treat reflux
symptoms and limit the exposure of the oesophagus to acid damage. There
are several consequences of long-term reflux including cancer of the
oesophagus, which has become more common in some western countries over
recent years. The oesophagus may become scarred and narrowed. Acid reflux
may also be associated with chronic cough, asthma, laryngitis and erosion
of dental enamel in some instances.
Treatment involves firstly avoiding things that aggravate the symptoms,
which can include alcohol, smoking, and heavy or acidic meals. For those
with night time symptoms, raising the head of the bed may help. Weight
loss helps symptoms in overweight sufferers. There are a variety of
antacid preparations available to counteract the acidity of stomach
contents and thus reduce damage to the oesophagus. A range of medications
actually reduce stomach acid production. Some of these are available at
supermarkets while others may only be obtained from a pharmacist.
While short-term treatment is available without a prescription, anyone
with ongoing symptoms should see their doctor for examination and advice.
Heart disease must always be excluded. A gastroscopy can provide
important information and exclude cancer. In this test, a fibre-optic tube
is passed down the throat under sedation. The oesophagus can be directly
seen and samples taken if necessary. A gastroscopy may also be used to
check recovery from oesophageal damage. Occasionally surgery may be
recommended.
GORD is common, however currently there is no proven cure. Medications
may be needed long term to control symptoms, along with changes to diet
and lifestyle. See your doctor to discuss how to best use medications and
whether further testing is needed.
Teaching toddlers healthy food habits
Good diet can prevent many adult illnesses - and correct eating habits
learned in childhood last a lifetime. Pre school children should be
encouraged to eat a variety of foods to supply their active growing bodies
with an adequate amount of nutrients. They should be given five or six
small meals a day. Select from a variety of simply prepared meats, dairy
products, cereals, fruit and vegetables. The tastes and texture of new
foods need to be learned. Offer them in small amounts at regular intervals
and be prepared for some of them to be rejected.
Three or four glasses of milk plus milk with cereal (600ml in total)
each day provide for growth and bone formation. Children under two years
need all the nutrients contained in whole or full cream milk. Children who
don’t like to drink milk may prefer it with soft fresh fruit blended into
it. Soft and hard cheeses and yoghurt also contain bone building
nutrients.
Sweet, salty and fatty foods such as chocolates, biscuits, muesli bars
and potato crisps are best offered as occasional treats after the real
meal. They should not be used as bribes or “fillers”. Fizzy drinks and
cordials contain a lot of sugar and no useful nutrients. Water is the best
thirst quencher. Most fruit juices have had the beneficial fibre removed
and should be limited to two small glasses a day.
Good eating habits are best learned in a relaxed environment. Avoid meal
times becoming a battle ground. If possible make at least one meal a day a
social occasion when the family eats together.
The following recipe is quick and easy to prepare. The patties can be
served alone or with meat or fish.
Good Health on the Menu
Vegetable Patties (makes 8 - 10)
1 1/2 cups grated raw vegetables (or use mashed cooked vegetables)
1/2 cup drained corn kernels
2 beaten eggs
4 rounded tbsp plain flour
1/4 cup grated cheese
Place all ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Heat a little oil in a frying
pan. Drop in spoonfuls and cook over medium heat until golden on each
side.
HRT still benefits many women
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is prescribed to menopausal women who
are no longer producing oestrogen and progesterone from their ovaries. The
loss of these hormones can lead to a range of symptoms in different women.
These include ‘hot flushes’, vaginal dryness, mood changes, headaches and
aches and pains. Reduced hormone levels are also associated with increased
heart disease risk.
Recent research into the effects of HRT showed that it could increase
the risk of breast cancer in some women. Initially this led to many women
avoiding treatment. Investigation into HRT is ongoing worldwide and it is
clear that some women are greatly helped in their quality of life by using
HRT. Risks may not be as great as was first thought. Each situation is
unique and the decision to use HRT should be made only after you have
discussed your particular risks and symptoms with your doctor.
Seek treatment for Solar Keratosis
Solar (or actinic) keratosis affects 40-60% of people over 40 in
countries with high ultra violet (UV) levels from the sun. Damage from UV
radiation accumulates over time, hence the increased risk in older people.
Solar keratosis may even occur in people in their 20s who have spent a lot
of time in the sun without protection. A solar keratosis is a scaly or
crusty bump that occurs on sun-exposed skin (often the face, scalp, ears
and backs of hands). It may be skin coloured or red or brown, with a dry,
rough scaly surface. Solar keratoses are slow to grow and may reach up to
5-6 mm in size. They may disappear then recur, and often appear in groups.
It is thought that the surrounding skin is probably also damaged by UV and
predisposed to developing solar keratosis.
While solar keratoses are not actually cancerous, if left untreated they
may develop into malignant skin cancer. There are a range of treatment
options to remove them and reduce cancer risk. Treatments range from
freezing and surgery to topical creams that can treat a wide area, laser
treatment and phototherapy. Discuss with your doctor which treatment is
most appropriate for your condition. Some treatments may cause redness or
scarring.
Remember that prevention is better than cure and follow these guidelines
to limit UV damage.
Avoid unnecessary sun exposure, especially during peak UV hours (10 am-
4pm).
Seek the shade.
Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat, long pants, a
long-sleeved shirt, and UV-blocking sunglasses.
Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15
or higher.
Avoid tanning parlours and artificial tanning devices.
Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens can be used on babies over the
age of six months.
Teach children good sun-protective practices.
Examine your skin from head to toe regularly.
Check any unusual spots with your doctor.
So which is the good oil and which the bad?
Now you’d think we’d know most of what’s important to know about
cholesterol. What could be more basic? After all, don’t we hear constantly
about LDL, the bad form of cholesterol, and HDL, the good kind?
Well, some experts reckon that other blood fats are better at assessing
your true risk of a heart attack or stroke. These other fats are
Apolipoprotein B – or Apo B for short – and Apo A1. Apo B is thought to be
the really bad part of the bad form of cholesterol, because it seems to
forge the path for cholesterol to enter the artery wall. Apo A1, on the
other hand, appears to be the really good bit of HDL, taking cholesterol
away from the artery wall.
What’s thought to count most is the balance between the bad Apo B and
the good Apo A1: their ratio. This has been supported in an international
study comparing 9,000 people who’d just had a heart attack to 12,000 who
hadn’t. The Apo B to A1 ratio was significantly better at predicting heart
attacks than the usual cholesterol tests. The B to A1 ratio explained over
half of all heart attacks, compared to only one-third when you used
cholesterol.
The findings weren’t perfect, but other studies have made similar
findings.
It’s not that cholesterol tests are a waste of time – far from it. The
argument is that if you’re going to take the trouble to go to the
pathologist to have blood taken to assess heart risk, why not have what
seems to be the more predictive test? That’s what needs an answer.
Meantime it is important to know your cholesterol level, particularly when
you’re over 40, and from your 20s or younger if there’s a history of
relatively young people in your family dying suddenly from a heart attack
or stroke.
Men’s health - ED means time for a medical check up
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is an important symptom that men should not
ignore. ED is a softening of the erection of the penis. Around 1 in 5 men
aged 40-64 and twice as many over 65 are affected.
A normal erection occurs when nerve impulses relax blood vessels in the
corpus cavernosum (two of these cavities run along the shaft of the
penis). The penis becomes filled with blood and expands, blocking off the
exit route for the blood. This keeps the penis erect and firm until
ejaculation or resolution occurs. Proper functioning requires the nerves
and blood vessels to be working well. Smoking, cholesterol and diabetes
may all cause damage to the cells lining the blood vessels, resulting in
reduced blood flow and a soft erection. The majority of ED is caused by
cardiovascular disease although it may be associated with several other
conditions including depression.
It is not appropriate to treat ED without investigating and treating any
underlying medical conditions. Your doctor will manage any contributing
medical problems and advise which of the variety of available treatments
are suitable. Treatments include medications or hormone injections to
increase blood flow, vacuum pumps and prosthetic devices that can be
surgically inserted. If you or someone you love has symptoms, use the
opportunity for a complete medical check to ensure any disorders are
diagnosed and treated. A checkup could save your life.
