A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction (MI) in medical terminology, is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. A lack of blood to the heart may seriously damage the heart muscle and can be life threatening. (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/) Heart attacks are very common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800,000 people in the United States have a heart attac
How is atherosclerosis diagnosed? Physical examination involves listening to your heart and blood flow through your arteries. Presence of a whooshing sound called a “bruit” may indicate the presence of plaque. A positive family history and unhealthy lifestyle may also add up to the hypothesis of having atherosclerosis. The following tests may help to detect atherosclerosis: * Blood tests: Blood tests can check blood sugar and cholesterol levels. High levels of blood sugar and cholesterol rais
Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis in which there is buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls. This buildup is called “plaque”. The plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow. The plaque also can burst, leading to a blood clot. It can affect arteries anywhere in the body. In America, about half of people age 45 to 84 have atherosclerosis but aren’t aware of it, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Diseases linked to a
Obesity is an alarmingly increasing global public health issue. Obesity is estimated to account for more than 20% of all annual health care expenditures in the United States. During the course of weight-loss, people are more than often concerned about its effect on their bone health. It is important to preserve bone mineral density to reduce the risks of fractures, while following weight loss routine. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are used in obesity management because th
Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, defined by the National Oceanic and atmospheric administration. They have been detected in human lungs as well as blood samples, sparking further research into their effects on human health. Why are microplastics environmental pollutants? Most plastics are known to be nonbiodegradable. Microplastics fragmenting to nano plastics to 1-1000 nm may take decades or centuries longer than natural fiber like cotton or linen to decompos
Vitamin D is an essential pre-requisite nutrient in the body for enhancing calcium absorption. It not only helps for healthy bones but also regulates many other cellular functions in the body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties support immune health, muscle function, and brain cell activity. How much vitamin D intake is required? Birth to 12 months 10 mcg (400 IU) Children 1–13 years 15 mcg (600 IU) Teens 14–18 years 15 mcg (600 IU) Adults 19–70 years
4% of the adults in the United States of America are affected by Gout. It is one of the most common inflammatory arthritis associated with an increased co-morbidity burden, premature mortality and negative mental health outcomes. Plant-based diets are proving to be increasingly beneficial in the management of several diseases. A large-sampled prospective cohort study published recently by JAMA network open explores association between healthy or unhealthy plant-based diets and Gout. COHORT DA
TOPLINE Adhesive capsulitis is caused by the abnormal process of synovial inflammation and capsular fibrosis in the glenohumeral joint. It leads to dysfunction of daily activities with pain and stiffness in the shoulder. Various physical therapy modalities are known to alleviate symptoms such as therapeutic ultrasound, hot-packs, interferential currents, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, etc. Thermo-therapy modalities like ultrasound therapy (UST) are commonly used for ACS treatment. UST
What are the acute complications of Diabetes? * Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state: This complication mainly affects people with Type 2 diabetes. It happens when your blood sugar levels are very high (over 600 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL) for a long period, leading to severe dehydration and confusion. It requires immediate medical treatment. * Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA): This complication mainly affects people with Type 1 diabetes or undiagnosed T1D. It happens when your body doe
What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Hyperglycaemia, also called raised blood glucose or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels. Glucose (sugar) mainly comes from carb
OSTEOPOROSIS What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes. This can lead to a decrease in bone strength that can increase the risk of fractures (broken bones). How common is osteoporosis? More than 50 million people in the U.S. live with osteoporosis. It is common in people over 50. Experts estimate that half of all people assigned female at birth and 1 in 4 people assi
Despite effective pharmacotherapy, asthma continues to impair quality of life for most patients. Non-pharmacological approaches, including breathing retraining, are therefore of great interest to patients. A recent international guideline regarding physiotherapeutic management of adult patients having asthma recommends breathing exercises for patients to increase asthma control and quality of life. Physical training is advised to increase fitness and cardiorespiratory endurance, to decrease dysp
BRONCHIAL ASTHMA What is bronchial asthma? Bronchial asthma (BA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by bronchial hyperreactivity and a variable degree of airway obstruction. It is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out and shortness of breath. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-203
What are the clinical tests to assess instability? Aberrant movement on flexion-extension The standard examination involves documenting the range of movement. The quantitative range of movement may not be as significant as the qualitative range of movement. The important feature of spinal instability is the aberrant motion that occurs when flexing and extending the spine. A catch, a painful arc, supporting the arms on the thighs, or a reversal of the lumbopelvic rhythm when standing from the
What is core stability? The term core refers to the lumbo–pelvic–hip complex, where the center of gravity is located. The muscles that make up this complex provide a stable base from which the extremities work. The term core strength refers to the strength and endurance of the muscles of the lumbo–pelvic–hip complex, whereas stability refers to the ability to use strength and endurance in a functional manner. Function is defined as a multiplanar movement that involves acceleration, deceleratio
Shoulder subluxation is defined as partial or incomplete dislocation of the glenohumeral joint or translation between the humeral head and glenoid fossa while the humeral head is in contact with the glenoid fossa. The weakness of rotator cuff muscles or laxity of the glenohumeral ligaments causes the humeral head to slip out of the glenoid fossa easily and results in glenohumeral subluxation. What is the etiology of shoulder subluxation? The etiology can be classified as traumatic, non-traumat
TREATMENT FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatment typically focuses on speeding recovery from attacks, reducing new radiographic and clinical relapses, slowing the progression of the disease, and managing MS symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that no treatment is necessary. What is the medical management of MS? Glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, interferon-beta preparations, natalizumab, and mitoxantrone are some of the primary di
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, gliosis, and neuronal loss. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most frequently seen demyelinating disease, with a prevalence that varies considerably, from high levels in North America and Europe (>100/100,000 inhabitants) to low rates in Eastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (2/100,000 population). Knowledge of the geographical distribution of the disease
The medications and treatments used vary depending on the type of stroke and how soon a person receives treatment after the stroke. There are also long-term treatments for stroke. These happen in the days and months after emergency treatment deals with a stroke’s immediate threat. ISCHEMIC STROKE HEMORRHAGIC STROKE Thrombolytic drugs (within three to four and half hours) Blood pressure management Thrombectomy (within 24 hours if there is no significant brain damage) Reversal of any med
The FDA has recently updated the labels for all glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of medications used for weight loss and diabetes management, with a new safety warning. This update, issued on November 5, 2024, addresses the risk of pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation. The affected medications include: * Semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) * Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza) * Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) New Warning Details The u
Stroke is defined as an abrupt neurological outburst caused by impaired perfusion through the blood vessels to the brain. It is important to understand the neurovascular anatomy to study the clinical manifestation of the stroke. The blood flow to the brain is managed by two internal carotids anteriorly and two vertebral arteries posteriorly (the circle of Willis). Ischemic stroke is caused by deficient blood and oxygen supply to the brain; hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding or leaky blood
What are the treatments for PD? There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, but things like medication, surgical treatment, and lifestyle changes can provide effective symptom control for a long time. (https://parkinsonseurope.org/i-have-parkinsons/treatment/) Medication for motor symptoms Parkinson’s motor symptoms are caused by a lack of the chemical dopamine in the brain. Medication to treat these symptoms works in different ways to: * Increase the amount of dopamine in the brain. * St
Parkinson`s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominantly the dopamine-producing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. What are the symptoms of PD? PD symptoms can be different for everyone. Early symptoms maybe mild and go unnoticed. Symptoms often begin on one side of the body and usually remain worse on that side, even after symptoms begin to affect limbs on both sides. Parkinson`s symptoms may include: * Tremor:
What is dizziness? Healthcare providers describe dizziness as having impaired or disturbed spatial orientation. Feeling woozy, lightheaded or a need to sit down in anticipation of fall, may be associated with dizziness. Frequent or severe dizziness may affect quality of life. People experience dizziness in different ways which may include: * Feeling faint * Feeling nauseous * Feeling unsteady on their feet, as if they lost their sense of balance. * Feeling disoriented or confused (htt
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that is inherently stable because of its bony geometry and strong ligaments, allowing it to resist significant increases in mechanical stress. Pain or discomfort felt in or around the hip region can be due to several reasons. List of hip pain causes can be the following but not limited to: * Problems in bone or cartilage: * Hip fractures: seen more commonly in geriatric population. * Infection of the bone or joints. * Osteonecrosis of the hip (due
Mpox(previously known as monkeypox) is an emerging zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. The virus responsible for Mpox belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, the same family as the variola virus, which causes smallpox. Although it is less severe than smallpox, Mpox has gained global attention due to its potential to spread and cause outbreaks. Origins and Transmission Mpox was first identified in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colo
What is shortness of breath? Shortness of breath is an uncomfortable feeling of running out of air or inability to breath deeply enough and feeling “air hungry”. The medical term for this is “dyspnea”, which may occur while walking, climbing stairs, performing daily activities like cooking, cleaning or even while sitting still. Shortness of breath can come on gradually over weeks or months or happen suddenly. (https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease/shortness-of-
According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. Anxiety is not the same as fear but the terms are often used interchangeably. Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. The American Psychiatric Association`s diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition classifies depressive disorders into:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease (DJD), in which the tissues in the joint break down overtime. It is the most common type of arthritis and is more common in older people. The most commonly affected joints include: * Hands * Knees * Hips * Neck * Lower back For some people OA can be very mild and does not affect activities of daily living (ADL), compared to others who have severe pain and disability. Who can get Osteoarthritis? Anyone can get OA, however, it is more
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease that mostly affects joints. RA occurs when the immune system, which normally helps protect the body from infection and disease, attacks its own tissues. The disease causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in joints. Uncontrolled inflammation damages cartilage, which normally acts as a “shock absorber” in the joints. In time, this leads to bone erosion, deformation and rarely bone fusion as an effort of body t
વ્યાયામ આખા શરીરના હોમિયોસ્ટેસિસ માટે એક મોટો પડકાર છે અને મેટાબોલિક માંગમાં વધારો થવાના પ્રતિભાવમાં અસંખ્ય કોષો, પેશીઓ અને અવયવોમાં વ્યાપક ફેરફારોને ઉશ્કેરે છે. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25417152/) કસરત કોલેસ્ટ્રોલ કેવી રીતે સુધારે છે? કોલેસ્ટ્રોલ એ લોહીમાં વિવિધ પ્રકારના લિપિડ્સ (ચરબી) માટે વપરાતો એક છત્ર શબ્દ છે. તે વ્યાપકપણે લો ડેન્સિટી લિપોપ્રોટીન (LDL) એટલે કે ખરાબ કોલેસ્ટ્રોલ અને હાઈ ડેન્સિટી લિપોપ્રોટીન (HDL) એટલે કે સારા કોલેસ્ટ્રોલમાં વહેંચાયેલું છે. એલડીએલનું ઊંચું સ્તર લોહી
व्यायाम पूरे शरीर के होमियोस्टैसिस के लिए एक बड़ी चुनौती का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है और बढ़ती चयापचय मांग के जवाब में कई कोशिकाओं, ऊतकों और अंगों में व्यापक परिवर्तन को उत्तेजित करता है। (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25417152/) व्यायाम से कोलेस्ट्रॉल में सुधार कैसे होता है? कोलेस्ट्रॉल एक व्यापक शब्द है जिसका उपयोग रक्त में विभिन्न प्रकार के लिपिड (वसा) के लिए किया जाता है। इसे बड़े तौर पर कम घनत्व वाले लिपोप्रोटीन (एलडीएल) यानी खराब कोलेस्ट्रॉल और उच्च घनत्व वाले लिपोप्रोटीन (एचडीएल) यानी अच्छ
Health benefits of regular exercises Exercise represents a major challenge to whole-body homeostasis and provokes widespread changes in numerous cells, tissues and organs in response to increased metabolic demand. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25417152/) How does exercise improve cholesterol? Cholesterol is an umbrella term used for different types of lipids (fat) in the blood. It is broadly divided into low density lipoprotein (LDL) i.e. the bad cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (
What is the definition of “life expectancy”? The World health Organization defines “life expectancy” as the average number of years that a newborn could expect to live if he/she was to pass through life exposed to the sex- and age-specific death rates prevailing at the time of his/her birth for a specific year, in a given country, territory or a geographic area (https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/65). Life expectancy at birth reflects the overall mortality leve
🤲 Cube Lift Exercise For relieving back pain 🤲 1. Starting Position: - Begin on your hands and knees. - Ensure palms are directly under your shoulders. - Align knees under your hips. 2. Lift Knees Off the Floor: - Lift both knees off the floor by about an inch. - Keep knees flexed throughout the movement. 3. Maintain "Cube" Position: - Hold the lifted position, forming a "cube" with your body. - Engage your core muscles by drawing your belly in. 4. Symmetrical
Tobacco smoke is incredibly harmful to health. Replacing cigarettes with cigar, pipe or hookah won`t reduce health risks posed by smoking. According to American lung association, cigarettes contain about 600 ingredients, many of which are also in cigars and hookah. When they burn, they generate more than 7,000 chemicals many of which are toxic. At least 69 of them are carcinogenic, or known to cause cancer. The centers for disease control and prevention reports more than 4,80,000 deaths per year
Various studies have led us to a convincing conclusion of links between stress and its impact on aspects of health. What is stress for the human body? In medicine, stress is defined as the body`s response to physical, mental or emotional pressure or a perceived threat. Stress causes biochemical changes in the body that can raise blood pressure, heart rate and sugar levels. It may also lead to feelings of frustration, anger, anxiety and depression. Stress can be caused by normal life activiti
Role of Magnesium in the body Magnesium is a crucial element essential for various body functions. It is utilized in metabolic processes like producing energy and building proteins. An adult body contains approximately 25 grams of magnesium of which 50-60% is present in bones and most of the rest in soft tissues (https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/). Dietary sources of Magnesium include nuts, seeds, legumes, beans and green leafy vegetables. Studies show that peopl
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” was quoted by the well-known father of medicine, Hippocrates around 400 BC. With increasing global burden of chronic inflammatory diseases, there is increasing availability of research proving importance of diet in disease control. What is inflammation? Inflammation is a normal reaction of the body which occurs when body releases chemicals to defend itself against infection or injury. Once the infection or injury is healed, the inflammation
Plantar fasciitis (PF) is the most common cause of heel pain. There are approximately 1 million visits annually in outpatient clinics presenting with the condition (Benjamin et al 2022). It accounts for 15% of all adult foot complaints requiring professional care and is prevalent in both athletic and non-athletic populations (Rome et al 2008). The peak incidence among the general population is between 40 to 60 years (Nahin et al 2018). Patients with limited ankle dorsiflexion, runners and worker
What is Tennis Elbow? Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a condition which commonly occurs due to pain and inflammation of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon. It is usually diagnosed in people between ages 30-60. (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lateral-epicondylitis-tennis-elbow) What are the causes of TE? Despite its name, most people who don`t play tennis get TE. The condition usually develops over time and is often linked to repetitive movemen
What is carpal tunnel syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common hand and wrist condition which is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side of the wrist. When the median nerve is compressed, symptoms can include numbness, tingling and weakness of the hands and fingers. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/symptoms-ca
What is DeQuervain`s Tenosynovitis? DeQuervain`s tenosynovitis (DT) manifests as thickening and myxoid degeneration of tendon sheaths, specifically affecting the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons as they traverse through the fibro-osseous tunnel situated along the radial styloid at the distal wrist. Patients with this condition often experience exacerbated pain during thumb and wrists movements especially with radial or ulnar deviation at the wrist. DeQue
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)? AS is a type of auto-immune disease that causes arthritis in the spine usually starting from lower back and spreading all the way to the neck and sometimes peripheral joints. “Ankylosis” means fused joints or other hard tissue. “Spondylitis” means inflammation of the spinal joints or vertebrae. It is a life-long condition and in severe cases it can cause a permanent hunched spine. What are the common symptoms of AS? * Lower back and/or hip pain and stiff
What is Gout? Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling in joints. It usually last for a week or two in the big toe or knee, and then resolve. Gout happens when high levels of uric acid builds up in the body over a period of time which can then form needle-shaped crystals around the joint. Areas of body which can get affected by gout are joints, bursa, tendon sheaths and kidneys. (https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/gout) What causes gout? A build up of exce
Cervical Spondylosis is often referred to as the arthritis of the neck, which includes general wear and tear that affects the cervical spine. “Cervical” refers to the seven stacked vertebral bones in the neck region. “Spondylosis” is when parts of the spine begin to wear out which is often age-related. The condition is also commonly known as “osteoarthritis” of the neck. Cervical spondylosis (CS) is a natural consequence of aging and often appears when people are in their 30s. By 60, nine out
Whiplash can be defined as “an acceleration–deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck. It may result from rear-end or side-impact motor vehicle collisions, but can also occur during diving or other mishaps. The impact may result in bony or soft-tissue injuries (whiplash-injury), which in turn may lead to a variety of clinical manifestations called Whiplash-Associated Disorders” (WAD). What is the classification of WAD? The Quebec Task Force classifies patients with whiplash, based
CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE What is cervicogenic headache (CGH)? A cervicogenic headache presents as unilateral pain that starts in the neck and is referred from bony structures or soft tissues in the cervical spine. It is a common chronic and recurrent headache that usually starts after neck movement. It is usually accompanied by reduced range of movement of the neck. It could be often confused with migraine, tension headache or other primary headache syndromes. Diagnostic criteria must include all
Forward head posture (FHP) is one of the most common cervical postural deviations and is characterized by head protrusion or forward head placement in relation to the shoulder in the sagittal plane. Sustained FHP is associated with an imbalance in muscles around the cervical spine, such as the shortened (or tightened) upper trapezius (TPZ), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), levator scapulae, suboccipital muscles, and lengthened (or weakened) deep neck flexor muscles. FHP is associated with various dis
Epidemiology Plantar fasciitis (PF) is the most common cause of heel pain. There are approximately 1 million visits annually in outpatient clinics presenting with the condition (Benjamin et al 2022). It accounts for 15% of all adult foot complaints requiring professional care and is prevalent in both athletic and non-athletic populations (Rome et al 2008). The peak incidence among the general population is between 40 to 60 years (Nahin et al 2018). Patients with limited ankle dorsiflexion, runn
Lower back pain affects 60-85% of adults during some point in their lives (Anderson et al 1999). About 90% of those recover within 6 weeks with mild and transient symptoms (Dillane J et al 1966). In United States, incidence of low back pain is 3% in 20-29 aged people and it rises to >80% in 40 years or over population. The term Spondylosis has been utilized in literature in many different contexts such as arthrosis, spondylitis, osteoarthritis and hypertrophic arthritis (Middleton & Fish 2009).
Commonly known as frozen shoulder, Adhesive capsulitis of shoulder is an inflammatory condition characterized by shoulder pain, stiffness and loss of active and passive range of movements (St Angelo et al 2023). It affects 5.3% of population with the average duration of 1 to 3.5 years (Ryan et al 2016). The mean age of symptom occurrence has been found to be 55 years and the prevalence is slightly more in females. Etiology Primary adhesive capsulitis is idiopathic and has gradual onset. It is
Osteoarthritis of the knee Epidemiology One in four persons over the age of 18 report of chronic joint pain in at least one joint. Knee is the most frequent site (17%). Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is the major cause of disability in elderly. The pooled global prevalence of OA was 16.0% in people aged 15 years and over, and 22.9% in people aged 40 years and over (Cui et al 2020). Women are more predisposed than men to having OA. Estimated cost of total knee arthroplasty is $11 billion per year (Lo
