The eye is a complex organ. It is made up of a number of different parts which together build a sense of image. Retina is a very significant part of the eye. It is this part of the eye that helps it project the image. The object image is ultimately created on this part of the eye. But it is also a very sensitive and delicate organ. There are many abnormalities that may affect the retina. Central Serous Retinopathy is one such abnormality.

This medical condition of the eye is precipitated when there is a buildup of fluid behind the retina. This leads to the detachment of the retina. The patient may experience gradual or even sudden loss of vision as the central retina gets detached.

The Retina and its Structure

The retina is a very important part of the eyes. It is a membranous structure where vision takes shape and is composed of several layers. It contains special photoreceptor cells that help in identifying color, vision, etc. There are different cells that help in central as well as peripheral vision. The central region of the retina is also known as macula. Retinal Detachment is a disorder of retina that can turn people blind or low in vision. Medical intervention is necessary to regain lost vision.

Symptoms of Central Serous Retinopathy

Patients need to be aware of the symptoms lest they should be caught completely unaware of it.

Objects may appear farther away than usual.

White portions of images may appear dull and lines may appear crooked.

Patients may experience blurry vision in the initial stages.

However, it does not always a precipitate symptom. If fluid buildup is not affecting the central vision area, the patient may not experience any deterioration in central vision. This is a perception that the central part is responsible for the central vision. He or she may experience a clear central vision, although there is a fluid buildup. Nevertheless, it may eventually push the central part and detach the retina resulting in Central Serous Retinopathy. Patients may experience a darkening or blurring of their central vision. This is usually limited to one eye. However, one may experience such problems in both eyes at different stages of life.

Risk factors

Though the contributory factors are not well known, it is thought that stressful lifestyles and some medicines can contribute to such ailments.

Treatment

Treatment may not always be required in all cases. Doctors may just ensure that built-up fluid is draining out. However, if fluid is not draining out, medical intervention is necessary doctors may go for treatments like photodynamic therapy, thermal laser treatment, or medications. Doctors may also recommend stopping steroids and bringing in lifestyle changes.

Conclusion:

People who notice any changes in their vision or experience pain or blurry vision should consult an Ophthalmologist as soon as possible. If a person is already suffering from any eye disease and experiences such symptoms, he/she should immediately seek medical attention without waiting for his/her next appointment.

In some cases, the fluid dissolves itself with no further medical treatment. However, if it does not, a variety of medicines and medical treatments are available.

Central Serous Retinopathy - What Should You Know?

Knee is a complex structure of your body made up of bones, ligaments, tendons, articular cartilage, muscles and meniscus. Knee is a very important joint as it plays a crucial role in human movement and is also very much prone to injuries. Your shoulder like your knee is also composed of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. It is the most flexible joint of your body and because of its frequent movement is also vulnerable to injuries. Knee and shoulder injuries can happen due to various reasons such as while playing sports, carelessly falling down or accidents. Your knee is made up of many important structures, any of which can be injured.

Pain and swelling are the most common signs of knee injury. In addition, your knee may catch or lock up. Many knee injuries cause instability, the feeling that your knee is giving way.

The most common knee injuries are as follows-

Fracture- In case of a fracture usually the patella gets affected. But sometimes the ends of femur or tibia can also get fractured.
Sprains and Strains- This is the most common injury that can happen while playing sports. Sprains and strains refer to the injury of the ACL or MCL.
Dislocation- Sometimes bones like femur or tibia gets displaced from their usual alignment.
Ligament Injuries- Your ligaments may get injured if the position of your knee is in a bent condition during the injury. Ligament injuries are common to sportspersons and can also happen if you encounter an accident.
Meniscal Tear and Tendon Tear- These are very common knee injuries which can happen while playing sports or falling down carelessly.
Treatment of Knee Injuries- 

When you are first injured, the RICE method   rest, ice, gentle compression and elevation   can help speed your recovery. The type of treatment your doctor recommends will depend on several factors, such as the severity of your injury, your age, general health, and activity level.

Nonsurgical Treatment-

Many knee injuries can be treated with simple measures, such as:

Immobilization: Your doctor may recommend a brace to prevent your knee from moving.
Physical Therapy: Specific exercises will restore function to your knee and strengthen the leg muscles that support it.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines: Drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen reduce pain and swelling.
Surgical Treatment-

Many fractures and injuries around the knee require surgery to fully restore function to your leg. In some cases   such as ACL, PCL, Meniscal tears, surgery can be done arthroscopically using small incisions and minimally Invasive techniques.

The most common shoulder injuries are stated below-

Dislocation- Sometimes joints may get dislocated from their usual alignment
Fractures- Fractures of the collar bone, humerus and scapular fracture
Frozen Shoulder- It occurs due to the stiffness of the shoulder joint
AC Joint Injury- The ligaments may get injured in this type of an injury. It is common in sportsperson or may also happen due to falling down
Shoulder Impingement- In this case the muscles gets injured
Rotator Cuff Disease (Tendinitis and Bursitis)- In tendinitis of the shoulder, tendons become inflamed (red, sore, and swollen) from being pinched by parts around the shoulder. However, Bursitis occurs when the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that helps protect the shoulder joint is inflamed.
Rotator Cuff Tear- Rotator cuff tendons can become inflamed from frequent use or aging. Sometimes they are injured from a fall on an outstretched hand.
Treatment of Shoulder Injuries-

Early detection is the key to preventing serious shoulder injuries.
Shoulder Exercises
Anti-inflammatory medication also may be prescribed to reduce pain and swelling.
Shoulder injuries can be treated by exercises and physiotherapy
Shoulder arthroscopy surgery is a small key hole, Day care surgery done for various problems like Periarthritis, Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation, Rotator Cuff Tear

Sports Injury - Its Surgical And Non-Surgical Treatment!

Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomata, are non-cancerous growths which develop in and around the uterus or the womb and form benign tumors in course of time. Though there are several types of uterine fibroids, they are all consistently similar in their genetic makeup. They are generally classified depending on their specific locations:

Myometrial or intramural fibroids
Submucosal fibroids
Subserosal fibroids
Pedunculated fibroids
Signs and symptoms

In most cases, uterine fibroids display little or no symptoms at all. Therefore many women are caught unawares and do not realize whether they have leiomyomata or not. When symptoms do show, however, they may include any one of the following:

1. Prolonged menstrual periods, usually for seven days or even longer
2. Bloating belly or pelvis
3. Intensive bleeding during periods
4. Pain during sexual intercourse
5. Constipation

Treatment

Since uterine fibroids do not cause any significant complications, they normally do not require much treatment. The condition, however, can be treated through either one of the following approaches:

1. Non-surgical approach

(1) Alert and careful inspection as well as watchful anticipation of the growth and development of uterine fibroids
(2) Birth control pills or oral contraceptives which help reduce heavy periods caused by uterine fibroids
(3) Pain relievers to help numb the pain
(4) Intrauterine device along with levonorgestrel to help reduce heavy periods
(5) Iron tablets are helpful in substituting the blood loss caused by heavy menstruation

2.Surgical approach

i) Myomectomy

ii) Hysterectomy

These two procedures can be performed using several techniques like:

Laparoscopy
Open abdominal surgery
Robot-assisted laparoscopy
Vaginal approach
Hysteroscope approach
iii) Uterine artery embolization (UAE)

Uterine Fibroids - Surgical & Non Surgical Treatment!

The tooth is made of 3 layers, each with unique characteristics and specific function, the enamel, dentin, and pulp. The enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth and gives the tooth it's hard and lustrous appearance. The enamel is thicker on the crown than the root and is the first one to be affected by tooth decay. The only symptom when the enamel is decayed is food lodgment and discoloration.

The dentin is the next layer, which is composed of minute fine tubules leading from the enamel to the living portion of the tooth, which is the pulp. Once decay progresses from the enamel, the dentin is affected, and this leads to sensitivity in the teeth. When the root portion is exposed to the oral environment, because the root is covered by a more delicate substance called cementum, more severe dental sensitivity ensues.

There is a sharp, shooting discomfort through the tooth to specific foods, such as sweet, acidic, or hot or cold foods.  The main reasons for tooth sensitivity include:
-  Tooth decay, both crown and root caries
-  Periodontal disease and gum recession
-  Tooth erosion 
-  Aggressive tooth brushing
-  Mouth breathing
-  Bruxism or night grinding 

However, there are some simple ways to manage sensitivity, which can be done regularly at home.
1. Toothpaste made for sensitive teeth: Potassium nitrate has been shown to block the tubules and has been included as an active ingredient in toothpastes. These are very effective, and if you are brushing twice, this can be used instead of the regular paste once.
2. Brushing: Both the type of toothbrush and the brushing technique can have an impact on sensitivity.  Change to softer brushes and learn the ideal way to brush your teeth. A lot of times, rough brushing can lead to erosion and subsequent sensitivity
3. Rinsing: Fluoride containing rinses have been proven to reduce sensitivity 
4. Food habits: Even before sensitivity sets in, being cautious to avoid acidic fruits and juices can help prolong the onset of sensitivity. If possible, consuming these food stuffs should be followed by brushing or at the least a thorough rinsing
5. Sealants: If a person is prone to caries (deep pits and fissures, for instance), then it is advisable to get sealants applied on the teeth. This can reduce the instance of wearing of the enamel which then leads to sensitivity
6. Mouth guard: If you are a night grinder, then a mouth guard can help curtail this habit and thereby reduce sensitivity.
There you go with how to reduce sensitivity. Try these simple, easy measures and go on to enjoy the sweets or hot or cold foods that you have always craved for.

Ways to Reduce Teeth Sensitivity

You look your best when you wear a smile on your face. Everyone prefers a smiling face over a frowned one. Since we are talking about smiles, one can never underestimate the role that teeth play in the beauty of a smile. Dental hygiene and care is mandatory if you wish to secure your beautiful smile for years to come.

However, the global statistics for dental care suggests that we do not care enough for our teeth. 60-90% of children who are in school and almost every adult suffer from dental cavities. Dental cavities are pretty common nowadays. And yellowing of teeth can now be seen in almost every other person. It spoils the smile and makes people conscious. By ensuring a few dental care habits in your daily routine lives, you can avoid yellow teeth. Let us discuss the tips and tricks to avoid yellowing of teeth.
 
1. Say no to specific foods: Yellowing of teeth is caused by food choices including coffee, red wine, sodas, juices, sports drinks, white wine, coloured candies and other artificially coloured foods. It will help if these foods are consumed in less quantity and frequency as they are the major contributors towards discoloration of teeth.

2. Water after every coloured drink: Here is a habit that you must inculcate in your routine, whenever you consume any of the above mentioned food items. Post every drink or food intake which can cause tooth-staining, top it up with a glass of water. When you swirl or gargle the water in your mouth, you remove the acids that get accumulated in your mouth. It is one of the simplest preventive measures one can implement to avoid tooth stains.
 
3. Dental Hygiene: Our parents and dentists kept reminding us all the time to brush twice a day and gargle with water post every food intake but did we listen to them as kids? No we did not. Proper brushing, flossing and going for dental checkups at regular intervals are sure shot ways to keep your teeth healthy for majority of your lifetime. One must develop these habits quite early in life to gain benefits from it.

4. Whiten those Yellow teeth:  You might be at that stage of your life where inculcating the above mentioned habits won't do much good. The damage might already have been done. Your teeth are probably yellowish already and you have a history of dental cavities. In this 21st century, there are ways to whiten your teeth artificially with the many alternatives available in the market. One can opt for a solution, which can be done at home itself or go for a laser whitening which is now possible at a dentist clinic.
 
So there is still hope for those who are unable to share that smile with the world due to the yellowing of teeth. Nothing is irreparable here and the health of your teeth lies in your hand.

How to Avoid Yellowing of Teeth


How To Prevent Jaundice

During monsoons, many people fall prey to Jaundice. Not to be taken lightly, jaundice can prove fatal if strict care is not taken. However there are ways to ensure that we don't fall sick with jaundice. The four main ways in which it spreads are.

1. Enlargement of liver
2. Loss of blood
3. Infection
4. A previous ailment which has left bacteria in the body

SYMPTOMS: Once can have jaundice any time of the year however one needs to be extremely careful during the months of monsoon. The symptoms of jaundice are.
1. Nails and eyes become yellow
2. Skin and urine change colour to yellow
3. Loss of appetite and irritability
4. Loss of taste
5. Nausea and vomiting
6. Tiredness and weakness
7. High temperature with shivering
8. Taste/tongue becomes bitter
9. Vision also becomes yellow
10. Stool changes colour to yellow or black
11. Heavy pulse and headache

DO’s & DON’Ts
Once diagnosed, patients have to be on strict bed rest with regulated medication on diets. They are advised to drink a lot of sugarcane juice, radish juice, glucose water, take ample rest and not do anything strenuous.

Fried and oily foods are strictly prohibited. Ghee, oil, butter or cream should not be consumed. Alongside, vegetables like okra arbi, brinjal and cauliflower should not be consumed. Alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee and hot & spicy foods are not allowed.

What jaundice patients should eat are light and healthy foods that are easy to digest. Sugarcane juice, tomato juice, lime water, carrot juice, orange juice, and sweet lime juice should be given to the patient. The patient is allowed to drink only boiled water as resistance to infection is very low at this point of time.
 
Moong and masur dals should be included in the diet, along with lots of buttermilk, without any spices in it. It is very important to follow the diet plan as given by the doctor.

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'Consult'.

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Monsoon Time Prevention For Jaundice: DO's & DONT's

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