HYDERABAD | THURSDAY 21 MARCH 2013

| HEALTH |5

Youngsters prone to gastrointestinal cancers

NAGA SUNDARI he bad news first many youngsters are falling prey to gastrointestinal cancers. Now the good news - 40 per cent of the cases are preventable if they are detected early. Cancer is the second leading cause of deaths in the world. And digestive cancers account for large proportion of cancer deaths in India. In AP too, gastrointestinal cancers are on the rise due to lifestyle disorders and fast food culture. More alarmingly, it is the young population that is getting affected by digestive cancers, especially the gastric, esophageal and pancreatic cancers. Nirmal Deb, a sociologist says, Working in graveyard shifts, eating fast food and leading a sedentary lifestyle is taking a toll on youngsters health. Tobacco is linked to some types of gastrointestinal cancer. By avoiding smoking, the risk of many types of cancers and diseases can be reduced, says Dr Kiran, Gastroenterologist, Global hospitals. Adults are at high risk of colon and rectal cancer. Hence it is recommended to begin screening at the age of 50. Gastrointestinal cancers include colon, esophagus and stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, rectal cancers. Esophagus is the most common gastrointestinal cancer in

NUTRITION

Demystifying top four food myths

ome eat to live, others live to eat. Whatever be the case, food is an everyday requirement. With food come myths that decide what you eat at the end of the day. Lets demystify the common myths that surround around food. Here we go . Myth 1: Bananas Demystifying it . It is not true. Hundred grams of rice will give us 345 calories energy while 100 grams of banana will give 112 calories of energy. Its much less than our cereals. Therefore in reality one can replace cereal with banana to lose weight. Myth 2: Potatoes Demystifying it 100 grams of potato will give 97 calories, much less than

Dr Janaki, Nutritionist Fruits like vegetables are rich in fiber and many phyto nutrients which will work wonders for diabetics, especially in keeping the blood vessels in top condition, Take fruits in between meals for maximum benefit. Myth 4: Salt Demystifying itYes, but with a twist. Cut down on added salt on top when eating food. Dont use salt for cooking rice, batter mixing, dough making, as there will be salt in chutneys and curries. But before you embark on cutting the excess salt first find out whether you have a salt sensitive or salt insensitive BP, with your doctor. Remember extra sodium comes from preservatives, additives and medicines.

In what can be termed as an alarming trend, the younger generation is falling prey to digestive cancers. Sedentary lifestyle, stress, junk food, lack of sleep coupled with excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and obesity is leading to cancers
India. Liver cancer is also on the rise. Risk factors of liver cancer include Hepatitis- B (2-4% of the Indian population has this viral infection) and Hepatitis C (1 % of the population is affected). Gastric cancer or cancer of stomach is another common cancer that affects people in India and the major risk factor is a stomach infecHow to keep GI cancers at bay A well-balanced diet Intake of diet rich in fruits and vegetables Avoid animal fats A low sodium intake can reduce risk of few GI cancers. tion with bacteria H pylori that is present in 80 per cent of Indian population. 40 per cent of the cancers are preventable if they are detected at initial stages. The same thing is applicable to Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers too. According to oncologists in the city, the number of GI cancer cases coming to hospitals is at advanced stage. Lack of awareness and education among people, especially youngsters is the reason for the alarming rise in GI cancers feels an expert of gastrointestinal cancers in Hyderabad. The cause of GI cancers cannot be pinpointed to any one specific reason but excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, age, obesity etc are a few factors that lead to cancers. Sudden loss of weight and appetite, symptoms like bloating, vomiting, fatigue, change in bowel habits etc should be taken seriously and a doctor should be consulted says a senior doctor.

Innovative surgical techniques Minimally invasive esophagectomy, mastectomy, pancreatectomy, hepatic resection and colorectal resection Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy for pancreatic, hepatobiliary and esophageal cancers Laser confocal microscopy Gene therapy for upper GI cancers Combined chemo radiation therapies Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which targets tumors better than conventional radiation Organ preservation for patients with rectal cancer. cancers are best treated with a combination of therapies. Surgeons, medical oncologists radiation oncologists and many other specialists are involved in the cancer treatment procedures. Global hospitals recently started a screening programme for colorectal cancers. The high risk adults should undergo screening as early as possible without fail added Dr Kiran.

Weighty problems

our cereals. The problem lies when potatoes are deep fried in oil that result in steep rise in calories which amounts to 900 calories. Boiled potatoes are safe or use as less oil as possible. Myth 3: Fruits Demystifying itNo again! All fruits can be eaten with limitation.

Treatment for GI cancers

Diagnosis of the GI cancers depends on the nature of the cancer and stage, to chalk out a treatment for the patient. GI cancers are identified through biopsies, endoscopy, image tests and lab tests. Gastrointestinal cancers are treated by surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy and in some cases the three procedures would be applied on patients. Most GI

HEALTH TIP

Berries are full of skin-loving antioxidants

HEALTH NEWS

RESEARCH

Grape extracts can fight fat-induced kidney disease

BY DR Y BALA MURALI KRISHNA he powerful antioxidants contained in the grape seed and skin extracts (GSSE) can effectively fight high-fat-induced kidney disorders, says a new study. This study, first of its kind, was published in the open access journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. The authors examined the effect of GSSE processed from a grape cultivar ('Carignan') of Vitis vinifera from northern Tunisia on rats. Rats were fed a high-fat diet that induced a low-grade reno-lipotoxicity, that is, kidney damage associated with lipids. The researchers found increased deposits of triglycerides (TG) increased signs of oxidative stress and depleted copper levels in the kidneys. "In our research, obesityinduced leaky kidney and proteinuria are shown to be prevented by GSSE, which suggests the use of GSSE as a preventive nutriceutical for high-risk patients," says co-

Cause of alzheimer`s identified

study led by researchers at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience may hold a stunning breakthrough in the fight to treat Alzheimer`s disease. The study potentially identifies a cause of Alzheimer`s disease-based on a newly-discovered signaling pathway in cellular models of Alzheimer`s disease-and opens the door for new treatments by successfully blocking this pathway. The Institute focuses solely on basic neuroscience research that aims to analyze, map, and decode the human brain-the most important and least understood organ in the body. "This study transforms our understanding of the direct cause of Alzheimer`s disease," Principal Investigator Dr. Ryohei Yasuda said. "With further research, we may open up an entirely new avenue for treatments to combat this disease," Yasuda said. The scientific community so far has widely accepted that Alzheimer`s disease is caused by the accumulation of a peptide called Amyloid beta. Utilizing an RNA silencing technique, they turned down the cellular production of CentA1, and showed that affected neurons, exposed to Amyloid beta and exhibiting Alzheimer`s related symptoms, returned to normal morphology and synaptic function, even with the continued presence of Amyloid beta. They further found that increased CentA1 activates a series of proteins, and these proteins form a signaling pathway from CentA1 to neuronal dysfunction. Thus, inhibiting other proteins in the pathway also "cured" affected neurons.

author Kamel Charradi.

Medicinal Uses
Grapes (Vitis vinifera) have been heralded for their medicinal and nutritional value for thousands of years. European folk healers made an ointment from the sap of grapevines to treat skin and eye diseases. Grape leaves were used to stop bleeding, inflammation, and pain etc. Unripe grapes were used to treat sore throats, and dried

grapes (raisins) were used for constipation and thirst. Round, ripe, sweet grapes were used to treat a range of health problems including cancer, cholera, smallpox, nausea, eye infections, and skin, kidney, and liver diseases. The grapes may be green, red, or purple. Today, standardized extracts of grape seed may be used to treat a range of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Grape seed extract has also been shown to protect against bacterial infections. Another study revealed that "Bad" LDL cholesterol levels were lower in those taking the grape seed supplement. And grape seed extract might help treat hypertension or high blood pressure. Antioxidants found in grape seed help protect blood vessels from damage. Studies have found that grape seed extracts may prevent the growth of breast, stomach, colon, prostate, and lung cancer cells in test tubes. Grape seed extract may also help prevent damage to human liver cells caused by chemotherapy medications. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before combining antioxidants with any chemotherapy drugs to make sure they interact safely together and that they don't interfere with effects of the chemotherapy medications. Grape seed is available as a dietary supplement in capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts.

Heart disease and anxiety: A fatal combo

atients with heart disease who have anxiety have twice the risk of dying from any cause compared to those without anxiety, a new study has revealed. Researchers said that patients with both anxiety and depression have tripled the risk of dying. "Many studies have linked depression to an increased risk of death in heart disease patients. However, anxiety hasn't received as much attention," Lana Watkins, Ph.D., lead author of the study and an associate professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C said. Studies show that depression is about three times more common in heart attack patients. The American Heart Association recommends that heart patients be screened for depression and treated if necessary. Depressed heart disease patients often also have anxiety, suggesting it may underlie the risk previously attributed solely to depression, Watkins said. "It's now time for anxiety to be considered as important as depression, and for it to be examined carefully," she said. Anxiety and depression each influence risk of death in unique ways. Anxiety, for example, increases activity of the sympathetic (adrenaline-producing) nervous system that controls blood pressure. "People who worry a lot are more likely to have difficulty sleeping and to develop high blood pressure," Watkins said. The link between depression and mortality is more related to behavioral risk factors, she said. Future studies should test strategies to manage anxiety alone and with depression in heart disease patients, Watkins said. ANI

Sugary soft drinks claim 180,000 lives

Beat antibiotic drug reaction with naturopathy

ere is a patient presented with complaints of severe gastritis, burning eyes, rashes all over his body and, even more worrisome for him is that, he could not smell or taste anything after an episode of antibiotic drug reaction, as doctors put it. He has come to the nature cure hospital for detoxification. Its definitely a challenging case for two reasons. One is to restore normalcy and the other is to re-assure. The answer is a definite Yes. First, one should have faith in natures capacity to heal. Secondly, follow the naturopathy principles to activate the eliminative organs to keep the internal organs healthy so that the accumulated toxins and the morbid matter collected due to allergy to recent antibiotic therapy are removed from the system completely. Based on the symptoms

ugar- sweetened sodas, sports drinks and fruit drinks may be associated with about 180,000 deaths around the world each year, according to a research. The study presented at the American Heart Association`s Epidemiology and Prevention/ Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions pointed pit that sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to excess body weight, which increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. The data collected as part of the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study. Researchers linked intake of sugar- sweetened beverages to 133,000 diabetes deaths, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 6,000 cancer deaths.

and severity of the sickness, doctors would undertake treatments starting with compulsory in-house treatment to ensure complete rest and relaxation. The hydrotherapeutic treatments using water as the medium to dilute the synthetic chemicals of antibiotics that have vitiated the (bio) chemistry in the body - by application

Dr Satya Lakshmi, Naturopath Expert purge accumulated toxins from intestines etc., are employed as per the need. Meanwhile, the patient is made to practice self relaxation techniques which work on the neuro-immune system to help boost the recuperative power of the individual. The 2-7 days of treatment will go a long way in improving the immunity of the person - provided certain healthy practices are carried out at home after discharge. Follow-up, post-discharge, is as important as the treatment at the nature cure centre.

Mud application to detoxify of hot/cold poultices and packs, administering eliminative and soothing diets (vegetable soups, porridges, boiled vegetables, boiled rice, curds, etc.) at regular intervals, mud packs, enemas to