Bladder incontinence among women

Urinary incontinence

A sudden and involuntary loss of urine is commonly termed as incontinence. This is more prevalent among females and can often be a depressing situation which affects their quality of life. Being unavoidable with advancing age, the passage of urine may take place with sudden coughing, full bladder or in between sexual intercourse.

What are the causes?

The incontinence is found to be the outcome of basic in coordination between bladder muscle, detrusor and contraction of bladder opening. This results when the bladder is stimulated as in excessive caffeine, tobacco or cola intake, or when the nerve supplying bladder is damaged like in spinal cord injury or stroke patients. In addition to this, drinking huge amounts of water or production of excess urine in diabetic and renal disorder patients, there is a much more increase in urgency and frequency to void.

Classification of incontinence

The type of incontinence is directly related to the bladder incontinence treatment one must undergo. The incontinence is broadly classified into following:

•          Urge incontinence – occurs when there are hampered nerve signals leading to sudden bladder contraction making the patient feel a sudden urge to urinate.

•          Stress incontinence – Occurs during stressful physical activities like laughing, coughing or sneezing.

•          Overactive bladder – Bladder contractions are too much and there is an increased urge to void during night also.

•          Overflow incontinence – Occurs when stones in the bladder block the opening or there is a nerve disorder resulting in leaking of urine for long time.

•          Transient – It occurs temporarily when patient is on medications like diuretics or in cases of urinary tract infections.

•          Functional incontinence – Time taken to overcome too many hurdles, slowness in gait like in Parkinson’s, wheelchair bound patients mostly spill the urine while reaching the toilet seat.

•          Mixed – A combination of stress and urge incontinence.

How many types of diabetic neuropathy should you be aware of?

Diabetic neuropathy is a term coined for any and all kinds of nerve disorders that are seen to be an important complication of chronically uncontrolled diabetes of long standing. Diabetes as such affects the patient’s quality of life adversely and diabetes with neuropathy is only further debilitating.

The various types of diabetic neuropathy may be grouped on various bases as follows:

On the basis of the type of nerves affected:

Sensory - these nerves carry sensory information and perception from the peripheral parts of the body like the skin, to the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord. They include senses like that of temperature, touch, pain etc. It is a painful kind of diabetic neuropathy.

Sensory nerve damage symptoms thus include:

●     a “pins and needle sensation” i.e. a sharp tingling, prickling or burning sensation of the skin

●     numbness and reduced/ lost sensitivity to touch and temperature

●     sharp pain in affected areas

●     an enhanced sensitivity to touch

●     a loss of coordination and balance

Due to the lack of a continuously functioning sensory feedback mechanism, these patients are at a higher risk of developing calluses, injuries, ulcers, and infections from them.

Motor - these nerves carry the motor/ mechanical activity messages from the brain and the central nervous system to the body’s periphery, the musculature and the skeleton. Thus, motor nerve damage leads to

●     muscle weakness

●     loss of reflexes

●     deformities

●     contractures.

It is rarely found to be an isolated nerve damage as a result of diabetic neuropathy, and usually occurs as a sensorimotor polyneuropathy.

How electric muscle stimulators help those who cannot go to the gym

When a person is unable to exercise and achieve muscle strength and tone in the normal manner, electrical stimulator can be a great option.

In a normal routine exercise, contraction occurs when the impulse is received from the brain to the spinal cord to the nerve ending. The muscle contraction and relaxation helps in achieving mobility and motility. The muscle contraction is really a process that shortens or provides tension to the muscle. It is the muscle contraction that helps us move, maintain our posture and body heat.

The Electrical stimulator or NMES bypasses the brain–spinal cord pathway and directly acts on the muscle. The stimulator uses low volt current to activate the muscle, just as the electrical pathway created at the neuromuscular junction.

Failure in muscle contraction can happen due to failure in any one of the components that is the brain sending the impulse, the nerve ending conveying the message, or the muscle responding. This where an external stimulator helps.

Using electrical stimulators for exercise

Electrical muscle stimulation or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an option for restoring muscle strength and tone in people undergoing physical therapy and are unable to exercise in the usual manner.

Muscle tone is usually achieved through physically exercising the muscle. The contraction occurs when it receives the message sent from the brain, through the spinal cord to the nerve ending. During the contraction the muscle breaks and it gets rebuilt during the relaxation. The rebuilding strengthens the muscle to accept further electric energy. The NMES by passes the entire the brain- spinal cord-nerve ending pathway and directly activates the muscle.

The NMES conducts the electrical currents at a very safe rate through a self-adhesive electrode to the motor points of the muscle that needs stimulation using low volt current to activate the muscle.

The national Skeletal Muscle research centre claims that the design of the NMES allows it to be specific to the patients need. This is achieved by adjusting the dial on the machine gradually until the patient feels current passing. Higher the muscle setting on the dial, faster is the contraction and relaxation. The electrical current emitted through the rubber contact pads, positioned over the muscles, causes the muscles to tighten as they are aroused by the electrical energy. This functions like passive exercise.

Does shoulder replacement surgery offer any real benefits?

A brief about shoulder replacement surgery

The shoulder joint is a ball and socket type of joint, highly flexible and has a good range of motion. With advancing age shoulder is most prone to wear and tear and shows complex anatomical changes like roughened edges, decrease in joint space, loss of flexibility and pain. This becomes an important reason to seek relief by getting an artificial prosthesis fixed or resorting to other alternatives to shoulder replacement surgery.

How is shoulder resurfacing done?

Shoulder resurfacing aims at restoration of natural tissue of the joint since it involves resection of the damaged part only instead of the entire joint. This does not only give higher results in bringing back all the shoulder functions but also imparts pain relief and thus becomes one of the tried and tested procedure to be done by many physicians. 

What are the benefits of resurfacing?

As an alternative to shoulder replacement, the resurfacing is least invasive and non traumatic to the patient. By preserving the normal joint articulations, it enables patient to perform all functional movements. Not only this, the patients with osteoporosis or deformed bones can also undergo this procedure. The surgery can be revised as and when required and doesn’t carry the fatal risk of fat embolism.

State-of-the-art disc replacement device introduced by BYU Professors

Disc replacement surgery

A disc can be a source of variety of complication to spine and structures surrounding the spine. Whenever this happens there is an immediate need for removal of disc to prevent the other vertebrae and provide relief to patient from pain and disc symptoms. In such a case, the disc is removed partially or completely and an artificial disc is implanted in between two vertebrae. This is a highly complex method but improves spine functions. Spinal fusion is done where two spine bones are fused with each other to become one but this itself demand cascading and is not a proven treatment.

Why is disc replacement done?

Lumbar disc replacement surgery in Houston is chiefly done to serve the following purposes:

•          Improve spinal mobility.
•          Attenuate pain.
•          Release muscle spasm and stiffness.
•          Maintain appropriate spaces between to vertebras.
•          Prevent disc degenerative disease.
•          Retard spondylosis.
•          Prevent osteoporosis.

What consists of a new disc replacement device by BYU Professors?

While the BYU professors were working towards a new replacement device, their primary focus was to keep the normal and healthy function of the spine intact. They carried out experiments on cadaver spines to ensure working of new disc as natural body discs. It was found that not only this, the new device gave superior results over metal and plastic artificial discs. 

Are injections effective for knee arthritis?

A brief about Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of knee joint which advances with age and is characterized by weakening of bones, loss of movements, friction, pain and inflammation. 

What are the various kinds of injections?

·         Cortisone injections

·         Vissco supplementation

Working mechanism for injections

Hyaluronic injections 

Hyaluronic acid is normally present in the knee joint cavity to make the cartilage float and also acts as shock absorber of the joint cavity by preventing the bones from external stresses. These injections are given in a concentrated form and are injected directly into the joint cavity to improve lubrication and range of motion. Studies suggest that there was relief in pain to many patients but at the same time few patients also reported of adverse events like flare ups. This procedure is known as ‘vissco supplementation’.

Tips on becoming a good Caregiver

Caretakers are an important part of the life for those who are suffering from cancer. They provide physical, metal as well as emotional support to the patient. Caregivers maybe loved ones such as spouse, partner, family member or a friend. Usually they do not acquire care giving techniques, and do it out of love and compassion for the patient. Some of the chores according to Seattle wellness center of caregivers include,

•          Feeding, dressing and bathing the patient
•          Do everyday house chores
•          Keeping track of the medication of the patient
•          Making sure that the patient eats and sleeps properly on time
•          Drive the patient to and from the doctor, also keep track of the appointments
•          Discuss the patient’s condition and progress with the health care team
•          Help patient live a normal life

How to become a good care giver

Even though care givers are not usually trained, a few steps if followed can help a care giver excel in his/ her duties. A good care giver is basically a person who is aware of all the developments of the patient’s condition and helps to give maximum comfort.

•          Keep the patient involved in all the decision making process. In case the patient is making improper choices, inform him of his actions and their consequences.
•          Set limits regarding a few actions such as, set limits regarding the talk about his cancer. Too much talk about the disease can end up into depression
•          Take care of your own needs. While taking care of the patient, do not sideline your needs and wants
•          Don’t try to meet every need of the patient by yourself. Reach out to others, be in constant touch with the health care team who shall be able to provide you with some relief

How to prevent sports injuries

What is a sports injury?

There are various outdoor and indoor sports involving young and active athletes. These young sportsmen come across a variety of risks which may compromise the bone and muscle strength due to thrusts, fall, a hit by a co player or ball, a jolt or twisting of leg, ankle etc. Whenever there is an injury to the body in the ground premises while playing a sport, it is referred to as a sports injury. Such type of injuries include fractures of big and small bones, ACL ligament tear, tendon ruptures, meniscal tears and joint instabilities which are best treated well trusted sports medicine doctor at theNew York center.

General guidelines for an injury free athlete

An examination before participation

A wellness certificate the doctor stating the fitness of the individual for the sport he wants to play is always beneficial to identify any disease which the patient may not be aware and prevent a medical emergency during sport.

Follow rules of sport

Rules of the sport are designed to encourage safety of athletes. It is beneficial to follow rules of conduct like illegal blocks and tackles for safe participation.

How Affordable Care Act Saves Lives from Cancer

The advances in medical technology have opened up numerous treatment options for all and the health care we are receiving now can be deemed as the best. However the number of people who can afford the type of care they need the most is becoming lesser and lesser. Cancer patients and survivors are finding it increasingly hard to afford treatment costs at their preferred cancer treatment center because they are denied coverage on grounds of certain preexisting conditions. To completely receive the care they need, these individuals have to pay more than what they can afford. They pay for treatments, follow-up care, screenings and other lifesaving interventions that their health insurance does not cover. The Affordable Care Act is a measure that has been introduced to meaningfully improve the health care system for people touched by cancer and it is based on making healthcare more available, affordable, and adequate for all.

What is The Affordable Care Act?

The Affordable Care Act is a health care law that focuses on enhancing the current health care system by increasing access to health coverage and bringing in new protections for Americans who have life insurance. Many a time, patients do not receive the coverage they need the most from insurance companies, leading to health compromises and increased treatment costs. The major goal of the act is to put American consumers back in charge of their medical care and health insurance coverage.

Many individuals live in a constant fear of losing their health coverage if they happen to face a job loss. Sickness or limitations on the amount of care their health plan covers are factors that can have your coverage canceled. A few others who are satisfied with their coverage can also face similar issues if they are diagnosed with cancer. The Affordable Care Act improves the cost and quality of health care for people with a risk for cancer and those with cancer in the United States. The law benefits cancer patients, their families, and survivors of the disease.

Law Highlights

• The Affordable Care Act forbids insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions. This ensures your loved ones get the care they need. The guarantee is backed by the requirement that all Americans purchase insurance.

• The Act will not permit insurance plans to place lifetime coverage caps. This law will soon ban annual limits and hence offer patients assurance that coverage will not abruptly end because of caps.

• Insurance companies cannot refuse health care coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.

• The Act ensures that consumers can compare plans by price and quality and that all plans sold in the health benefit exchanges cover needed benefits.

• The law guarantees coverage of preventive care, such as colonoscopies and mammograms, and greatly minimizes the costs to patients for many services in all new health plans. There are no deductibles or co-pays for preventive services under Medicare.

While the argument on reforming health care is still ongoing, the benefits of the Affordable Care Act will have a positive impact on the lives of those fighting against cancer.