World of Health

Kidney stones are becoming a large scale health problem globally and their appearance in the urinary tract seems to be on the rise.  If not properly treated, kidney stones can lead to health problems and potential complications.  However, many people who have had kidney stones often times take time to look for less invasive treatment as a way to remove the bothersome blockage from their urinary system.

Symptoms of kidney stones include excruciating pain and other serous symptoms.  While there are many treatments for the health situation, most of these treatments involve the use of CT scans, incisions, or stents as well as visits to the hospital, doctor, or ER visits.

When it comes to kidney stones, there are two options that sit in front of you, natural or conventional treatments.  The most common conventional treatments for kidney stones include Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy, Extracorporal ShockWave Lithotripsy (ESWL), or Ureteroscopic Stone Removal.

The most common approach involves using the ESWL to shatter the kidney stones into thousands of pieces so that they will pass, but oftentimes pieces are still left in the UT system which requires additional treatment options.  Complications from ESWL includes minor discomfort and bruising in the abdomen and back as well as discomfort while the stone pieces travel through the urinary tract and out of the body.

Larger stones are generally treated with the use of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in which an incision is made in the back so that the kidney becomes more accessible.  At this point a nephroscope is then used to find the kidney stone and remove it.  Larger stones sometimes may require this treatment and the use of ESWL.

A growing amount of girls are now starting puberty before they reach the age of ten, which has increased the fear that the new generation of children will engage in sexual activity at a younger age.

Scientists believe that early puberty may be caused by a combination of chemical exposure in foods as well as the increase in obesity, which also is increasing the risk of breast cancer among women.

The study performed in Denmark of 2006, found that breast development in a sample group of 1,000 girls started at around age nine and ten months, which is a year earlier than when the same study was performed in 1991.

Although the research was focused on Denmark, experts who have looked at the study believe the trend is the same across Europe and in Britain.  There is also additional data from America that points to early puberty in many females.

Scientists have warned that girls of this age are not equipped to cope with sexual development which is easy to see as the girls are still in primary school.

Head of the Department of Growth and Reproduction at the University hospital, Anders Juul, stated that they are surprised to see that there has been such a large change in only 15 years.

Juul went on to say that when girls mature early they start to experience teenage problems at a very young age causing not only emotional problems, but also an increase in the chance of developing diseases later on in life.

According to a new study of sexual health from Lloydspharmacy – 72% of men have never had an STI screen, compared to 62% of women. Lloydspharmacy also found men were almost twice as likely to test positive for certain STIs such as chlamydia.

13% of men buying chlamydia tests from Lloydspharmacy’s Online Doctor tested positive compared to just six per cent of women.

The research from the community pharmacy chain also found that men are placing themselves at greater risk of picking up an STI with 13% of men having had unprotected sex with more than one person over the last five years, almost double that of women (7%).

With the research revealing that men are more reluctant to be tested but significantly more likely to test positive than women, the findings fuel concerns that men may be delaying testing until they are showing symptoms and that real rates of infection are significantly higher than reported.

Although men are less likely to have had a face-to-face consultation for an STI screen, according to Lloydspharmacy sales of tests online are split almost equally between men and women. This suggests that men prefer the anonymity of the online channel.

Through its Online Doctor service the community pharmacy chain has launched a postal Platinum Test for men which screens for five genital infections; genital Chlamydia, genital gonorrhoea, mycoplasma, ureaplasma and trichomonas. This confidential postal service allows men to be tested and if found to be positive, treated without the need to visit their GP.

“The lower rate of face-to-face testing and higher incidence of positive results amongst men suggests that many men may be waiting until they suspect they have an infection before getting themselves tested”, said Clare Kerr, Lloydspharmacy’s head of sexual health. “This is particularly worrying as many STIs don’t have any obvious symptoms, so men could be putting both themselves and their partners at risk by delaying tests.”

“Embarrassment is a huge barrier to testing and so we hope that removing the need to see a GP or GUM clinic face-to-face will encourage men to test themselves regularly. We can provide accurate tests for a wide range of genital infections anonymously and discreetly through the Online Doctor.”

Website:  http://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/

Some kidney diseases are the result of hereditary factors. For example, polycystic kidney is a genetic disorder in which many cysts form in the kidneys.

The cysts formed in this disease can slowly replace much of the tissue mass of the kidneys, reducing kidney function and lead to kidney failure.

Some kidney problems may arise when the child is still in the womb of the mother. They are examples of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, a rare form of polycystic kidney problem and other problems that hinder development of normal formation of the nephron. The signs of kidney disease in children vary.

A child may have an abnormally slow growth, often vomit or have back pain or pains in the side. Some kidney diseases may be “silent” for months or even years.

It is possible that some hereditary diseases of the kidneys are not detected until adulthood. The most common form of polycystic kidney was once called “adult polycystic kidney disease” because the symptoms of high blood pressure and kidney failure can not occur until patients are 20 or 30 years old.

But with advances in imaging technology, doctors have found cysts in children and adolescents before they present symptoms

Lloydspharmacy has launched The ‘Chances Are… Calculator, a new web tool which allows people to work out how many of their work colleagues is carrying a sexually transmitted disease, drinks too much alcohol or is depressed, and designed to stimulate debate and make health risks more relevant by applying nationally representative data to the workplace.

The calculator asks visitors to provide information about the type of workplace they are employed in, along with the gender split and age profile of their workmates. It then raids its database to calculate how many colleagues have Chlamydia, how many men are likely to develop erectile dysfunction, how many are likely to suffer a stroke, how many have raised cholesterol, how many are hazardous drinkers and much more.

In many cases information is provided about the condition or the issue and guidance is provided about what can be done to reduce risk factors.

The calculator is available here – http://calculators.lloydspharmacy.com/chances/

With Tinnitus Awareness Week approaching on 8 February 2010, the British Tinnitus Association has agreed that the The Sound Asleep Pillow (www.soundasleeppillow.co.uk) can be a  key distraction method for sufferers of tinnitus and that the product can be highly effective in reducing the symptoms of tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a sensation of hearing noise in the absence of an external sound. Sufferers cite ringing, whistling, and buzzing sounds as the most common noises which can cause sleep deprivation, mood swings and affect overall quality of life.  For many, peace and quiet is the perfect antidote to daily stresses – this is not the case for tinnitus sufferers.  Tinnitus is now one of the most common health problems facing the UK with almost five million suffering from the condition at some point in their life. Working in loud environments, such as night-clubs and family history can cause the onset of tinnitus. As there’s currently no cure for the condition and very few treatments on offer which actually work, doctors often advise patients to simply listen to music or the radio whilst falling asleep.

The Sound Asleep Pillow, ensures people who suffer from the condition are distracted from the noise and can peacefully fall asleep. This revolutionary ‘pillow with a speaker’ allows users to comfortably listen to the recordings of their choice without disturbing their partners or having to use headphones.  Made from high quality materials, the Sound Asleep Pillow adapts to the natural body shape by providing superior comfort and support for the perfect night’s sleep. Its soft filling means the speaker is undetectable and unnoticeable to the touch.

As well as a remedy for tinnitus, numerous research studies have shown the effectiveness of background noise for also calming restless sleepers and insomniacs. The Sound Asleep Pillow allows users to listen to whatever they want in the least intrusive, most convenient way possible.

David Baguley, Consultant Audiological Scientist, Head of Audiology at Cambridge University Hospitals and professional advisor to the British Tinnitus Association, commented: “When we go to bed we are surrounded by quiet. But due to the lack of external noise people with tinnitus can find that their ‘tinnitus noise’ becomes much starker. This can lead to sufferers feeling more vigilant and alert which stops them from sleeping.  If a tinnitus sufferer is receiving treatment for their condition then the British Tinnitus Association advises that a device such as a pillow speaker could help to relieve symptoms of tinnitus in the quiet of the night.”

Baguley added however: “It is extremely important that anyone with tinnitus seeks professional advice so that they can access the correct care for their condition. If a sufferer is receiving treatment then they could try using a pillow speaker to help alleviate the noise of tinnitus at night.”

And for those unlucky enough to sleep next to teeth-grinders, serious snorers or sleep talkers, the ‘Sound Asleep’ Pillow can provide welcome respite and distraction. The brand new, Memory Foam Pillow is the newest addition to the Sound Asleep range.

The ‘Sound Asleep’ Memory Foam Pillow costs £30; and the ‘Sound Asleep’ traditional pillow costs £15, but may be cheaper in some stores, e.g. Amazon (see below).

Danish scientists have made a major breakthrough in the battle against Rheumatoid Arthritis. Experts believe that a key ingredient contained in a sub-species of rosehip could help reduce tenderness in joints for thousands of people in the UK who suffer from the debilitating disease .

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease more serious than osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear of the joints. Over nine million people in the UK have arthritis and there are around 12,000 new RA cases a year . This latest study which shows amazing results, is a continuation of extensive research into anti-inflammatory efficacy of GOPO® – the active compound contained in the product known as LitoZin.