DhaKa Tribune

Prescription

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Good oral hygiene a must for diabetics

If you have diabetes, elevated blood sugar levels can damage many parts of your body, and your mouth is no exception. Diabetes increases your risk of cavities, gum disease and tooth loss, dry mouth, and a variety of infections
Professor Arup Ratan Choudhury n
Poor oral health can make your diabetes more difficult to control. Infections may cause your blood sugar to rise and require LIFELINE more insulin to keep it under control. Improve your chances of keeping sound teeth and a healthy mouth - be aware of potential oral complications, keep your teeth and gums clean, and maintain good control of your diabetes. have it for years and years before you feel discomfort. Do not wait until you feel the pain. Everyone is susceptible to gingivitis, and the most common contributing factor is a long-standing lack of attention to proper oral hygiene. But other factors also can increase your risk. People with uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes are more susceptible to gum disease. Diabetes may result in your blood vessels thickening, making them less able to carry nutrients to your gum tissue and to remove waste products. This can leave your gums less healthy and more prone to infection.

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Winter itch

Tooth and gum damage

Diabetes may cause tooth loss. Day by day, high blood sugar caused by diabetes can contribute to accumulating damage to your gums and teeth, which may cause tooth loss. Plaque: How diabetes feeds this cavity An invisible film of bacteria, saliva and food particles (dental plaque) normally cover teeth. The bacteria feed on the sugars and starches in the foods and beverages you consume and produce acids that damage the hard enamel (hardest substance of the body) coating of your teeth. High blood sugar levels in diabetes give the bacteria a greater supply of food, allowing them to produce even more acid. The damage from this acid increases the possibility of tooth decay (cavities).

Treatment
Gingivitis usually clears up after a professional cleaning by a dentist followed by proper daily oral hygiene. The cleaning involves the removal of all tartar and plaque from your teeth. If gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis, you will need more extensive treatment. The best way to prevent gingivitis is to exercise good dental hygiene. This includes regular brushing and flossing (cleaning interdental space) of your teeth and periodic professional cleaning to prevent buildup of plaque and tartar. l The author is Hon Senior Consultant, Department of Dentistry, BIRDEM, and Professor of Dentistry, Ibrahim Medical College, Dhaka. Email: prof. arupratanchoudhury@yahoo.com.

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Tartar irritates the gums, causing a condition called gingivitis. This makes the gums tender, swollen and red, and they may bleed when you brush your teeth. Fortunately, your dentist can prevent or treat gingivitis by removing

tartar during a routine dental cleaning.

Diabetes and swollen or bleeding gums

Gingivitis and periodontitis are the most common oral complications of diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes,

you are three times more likely to develop gum disease than someone who does not have diabetes. Diabetes lowers your bodys resistance to infections and slows your ability to heal. Gum disease generally does not hurt. You may

For many people, wintertime brings itchy skin, often referred to as Winter Itch. It may or may not come with a rash small, low-grade bumps but the most obvious symptom is the itchiness. The biggest cause of winter itch is dry skin. Less humidity in the air and cold temperatures certainly contribute to dry skin but many of us add to the problem with long, hot showers or baths. Hot water strips your skin of essential oils, drying out the outer layer of the skin and, with it, decreasing the moisture in the lower layers of the skin. Soap and other chemicals can also add to the dryness. To help soothe dry, winter skin, cut showers down to a maximum of 10 minutes and dont take more than one shower every 24 hours. Lower the temperature of your shower or bath. While hot water is more relaxing, it also dries out your skin. Use moisturising shower products and use fragrance and dye-free mild soaps. When done with your shower, pat dry and liberally apply moisturiser. l

health flash

Fish oil prevents mental disorders

Why a low glycemic diet is good for health

Dr Sajol Ashfaq n
People who have diabetes, are obese, and those who like to maintain their weight should follow a low glycemic diet. Low DID YOU glycemic index foods KNOW? try to maintain a lower glucose level in blood. These foods are very good for patients with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and for those who are obese. That is why, nowadays, glycemic index is a frequent topic of discussion among health-conscious people. Superstores now offer different types of low GI foods on their racks. The GI is a ranking of foods based on how quickly they raise blood glucose levels. Following this diet is a great way to keep blood sugar levels balanced, and reduce the risk of diabetes. Some low GI food choices, however, are not necessarily healthy; for example, chocolate and potato chips have medium GIs due to their protein and fat content, so you should only use GI as a guide and not rely on it exclusively. The glycemic load diet is mainly a low-carbohydrate diet. It may contain high levels of protein, but it differs from other low-carbohydrate diets in that it does not exclude all carbohydrates. It restricts them to smaller portion sizes to be eaten at certain times. The foods that have a high glycemic load are white rice, pasta, baked and boiled potatoes, and white bread. The value Glycemic Index is obtained by monitoring a persons blood sugar

Voice change

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Recent research by University of Vienna revealed omega-3 fish oil has a significant effect on the prevention of psychotic disorders. Researchers gave it to teens and young adults , with a high risk of psychotic behaviour, daily for three months. At the end of the trial period, those taking fish oil supplements were 22.6% less likely to develop a psychotic disorder, compared to those taking placebos.

The authors also suggested that fish oil offers other advantages over anti-psychotic drugs. It is cheaper, does not cause weight gain, and has other prominent side effects. Previous studies show fish oil helps to prevent mild to moderate depression and boosts memory with cognition. It also has favourable effects on blood lipid levels and on rheumatoid arthritis. l

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Short sleepers are prone to diabetes

Low glycemic index foods are good for patients with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and for those who are obese
after eating the food. The value can vary slightly from person to person and from one type or brand of food to another. According to the American Diabetes Association, the glycemic index range is as follows: Low GI = 55 or less Medium GI = 56-69 High GI = 70 or more

Pasta, converted rice, barley potato, corn, lima/butter beans, peas, legumes and lentils l Most fruits, non-starchy vegetables and carrots
l Sweet

Medium GI foods:
l l

Whole wheat and its bread Quick oats l Brown, wild or basmati rice

High GI foods:
l

Low GI foods :
l l

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100% stone-ground whole wheat Oatmeal (rolled or steel-cut)

White bread or bagel flakes, puffed rice, bran flakes, instant oatmeal l Short grain white rice, rice pasta, macaroni and cheese from mix l Russet potato, pumpkin l Pretzels (like jilepi), rice cakes, popcorn, saltine crackers l Melons and pineapple l
l Corn

Singers, teachers, and mothers of young kids are likely to face the problem of a cracked voice. Most of us do not know how we can get rid of this problem. Initially, the best way to get your voice back is to remain quiet dont even whisper because that can have just as much of a strain on your vocal cords as a shout can. You can speed up recovery by drinking at least eight glasses of lukewarm water a day; the fluid will keep your larynx moist, which is essential for curing laryngitis. Inhaling steam is also helpful. Fill a bowl or sink with boiling water and you can add 2-3 grains of menthol or 4-6 drops of lavender oil. Tent your head with a towel and lean over the steam, inhaling deeply. You could also try a liquor tea made from herbs or add mint or ginger, traditionally used to soothe coughs. Remind yourself to always breathe through your nose, not your mouth, which exposes your larynx to dry air. Dont smoke and avoid smoky environments, as even side-stream or second-hand smoke from another persons cigarette can cause enough dehydration and pollution to affect your vocal cords. Before taking any medication, it is worth checking with an ENT specialist. l

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| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

A study conducted by National Institute of Health, USA, established an association between lack of sleep and Type 2 diabetes. They found that those who sleep less than six hours a night have a 400% increased risk of diabetes compared to those who sleep from six to eight hours a night. The reason for this increased effect is not

known, but it is assumed that the effect is due to bad lifestyle poor diet, inactivity, smoking etc. Hormonal changes may also contribute. But do not get encouraged to sleep more than eight hours; as previous studies showed, oversleeping also mildly increases the risk of getting diabetes. l

FDA doubts the benefits of antibacterial soap and thinks it may be harmful
Prescription Desk n
When youre buying soaps and body washes, do you reach for the bar or bottle labeled antibacterial? Are you thinking that these products, in addition to keeping you clean, will reduce your risk of getting sick HEALTH or passing on germs to others? Not ALERT necessarily, according to experts at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Every day, consumers use antibacterial soaps and body washes at home, work, school and in other public settings. Especially because so many consumers use them, the FDA believes that there should be clearly demonstrated benefits to balance any potential risks. In fact, there currently is no evidence that overthe-counter (OTC) antibacterial soap products are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water, says Colleen Rogers, PhD, a lead microbiologist at FDA. Moreover, antibacterial soap products contain chemical ingredients, such as triclosan and triclocarban, which may carry unnecessary risks, given that their benefits are unproven. New data suggests that long-term,

Stay cheerful; prevent heart attacks

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Professor Lisa Yanek and her colleagues from John Hopkins University, USA, have done a study to see the effect of cheerfulness on high-risk heart disease patients. They found that a happy disposition makes people healthier because it has a positive impact

on disease. A person who is cheerful by nature and has a positive attitude to life is less likely to experience a cardiac event. Professor Yanek said: Being cheerful is something people are born with, rather than a characteristic we can acquire. l

daily use of antibacterial soaps may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and may have unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern to FDA. The US Food and Drug Administration issued a proposed rule on December 16 to require manufacturers of antibacterial hand soaps and body washes to demonstrate that their products are safe for long-term daily use and more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and

the spread of certain infections. Under the proposal, if companies do not demonstrate such safety and effectiveness, these products would need to be reformulated or relabeled to remain on the market. The proposed rule covers only those consumer antibacterial soaps and body washes that are used with water. It does not apply to hand sanitisers, hand wipes, or antibacterial soaps that are used in healthcare settings such as hospitals. l

| Dr Mohammad Sayem