When Surang Janyasing was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five years ago she was devastated. The 55-year-old mid-ranking police officer knew that the disease cannot be cured, and that she would be on medication for the rest of her life, with the probability of deteriorating health.

The main symptoms of Parkinson’s include stiffness of the muscles, shaking and slowness of movement. It mainly affects the way the brain coordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body.

Patients with Parkinson’s have a tendency to isolate themselves and are easily exhausted. The effects of the disease plunged Ms Surang into depression.

“I think of my Parkinson’s as a disease of snobbishness. my body was very stiff, I couldn’t turn to see anyone who called me from behind, and my face was grim from depression. I didn’t have the heart to chat with anyone,” Ms Surang says. “People who weren’t close to me thought that I was a snob.”

Since then Ms Surang has taken three types of medication four times a day. However, she noticed that she wasn’t getting any better. Finally Ms Surang left her job so she could care for her 90-year-old mother. Parkinson’s has made caring for her mother more difficult, and she started to worry what would happen if her symptoms worsened.

But her life changed rapidly after she joined a Thai dancing class organised by a physical therapist who was researching ways to help Parkinson’s sufferers improve their quality of life.

Dr Roongroj Bhidayasiri.

In a dance class on the day of our interview, Ms Surang was lively, dancing with a radiant glow of happiness on her face. Her movements were smooth and close to those of a normal person. Along with Ms Surang, her seven classmates were also moving with the music. some were moving awkwardly and slowly, others had helpers to prevent them from falling. Only one or two were moving as smoothly as Ms Surang.

This group comprises patients from Chulalongkorn Hospital. they were carefully selected to join a programme, which formed part of the doctoral thesis of Surasa Khongprasert, a PhD student at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Sports Science.

Twenty-eight patients participated in the research, all from the Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s and Related Disorders, run by director Roongroj Bhidayasiri.

Fourteen were selected to learn Thai dance while taking medication, while the rest received only the medication. There were three dancing classes held over a period of four years. each lasted three months, and were four or five months apart from each other. The last class was almost a year and a half ago, but the patients still meet from time to time to dance and chat.

The programme started in 2008, when Ms Surasa was looking for a topic for her thesis, and traditional Thai dance caught her attention. She found that the symptoms of Parkinson’s _ such as stiffness and difficulties in movement _ might be helped by the postures and movements of Thai dance.

“I thought it would be a good form of exercise. However, it was not enough to be the topic for a doctorate degree thesis, so I searched for other factors that could enhance the importance of my study,” Ms Surasa says.

There are 108 postures considered as the basic movements of Thai dance, called Tha Mae Bot or Ram Mae Bot in Thai. Ms Surasa chose eight movements that could have beneficial effects for patients, covering muscles from head to toe.

The new PhD holder recently completed her thesis, and her research was rated as “excellent” by the professors overseeing her work. The results are quite amazing. All of the pariticipants’ symptoms improved and they saw improvements in balance, speed of movement, range of motion and ability to shift between different movements.

“Moreover, their quality of life has markedly improved, such as an increase in communication skills and while their depression has lessened,” says Ms Surasa.

TAKING a CHANCE ON DANCE: Parkinson’s sufferer Surang Janyasing has benefited from dance therapy.

The findings from her thesis might help Parkinson’s sufferers in Thailand _ who have been increasing in number in recent years _ to live better lives, according to Dr Roongroj.

There are 60,000 known Parkinson’s sufferers in Thailand. However, Dr Roongroj believes the number is under-reported because of poor record keeping and administrative procedures in some facilities, and there is also an unknown number of sufferers who are not properly diagnosed because of inadequate facilities and staffing in some areas.

The causes of Parkinson’s are still unclear, but interactions between genetic weaknesses and exposure to environmental factors are widely believed to be the main causes. Pesticide exposure is believed to be an especially important environmental risk factor.

The recent report, “A National Registry to Determine the Distribution and Prevalence of Parkinson’s Disease in Thailand: Implications of Urbanisation and Pesticides as Risk Factors for Parkinson’s Disease”, suggested that urbanisation and exposure to pesticides may both be risk factors for the disease in Thailand. The two central provinces of Chai Nat and Sing Buri have the highest prevalence of Parkinson’s and are also reported to use the most pesticides.

What concerns Dr Roonroj the most is Thailand’s greying population _ the rise in the elderly population and decline in the proportion of children and teenagers. since Parkinson’s is more common among those over the age of 50 that might result in a spike in the number of sufferers.

Parkinson’s is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that occurs when the neurons within the brain responsible for producing the chemical dopamine become impaired or die. Dopamine is essential for the smooth control and coordination of the movement of voluntary muscle groups. once approximately 80% of the brain’s dopamine-producing cells no longer function, the symptoms of Parkinson’s begin to appear.

“There are four subtle early signs of the disease that should not be overlooked _ permanent loss of smell, chronic constipation, depression and REM

[rapid eye movement] sleep behaviour disorder, or para-somnia. There are reports worldwide indicating that these signs can predict the disease 20 years before the symptoms are clearly seen,” Dr Roongroj said.

But even with the onset of these symptoms, misdiagnoses occur and that can result in the loss of precious time in tackling the disease at an early stage. Ms Surang was also diagnosed with spinal stenosis and was subjected to neck surgery.

“But it didn’t have any affect on my symptoms, so I was transferred to the neurology department to be tested for Parkinson’s,” Ms Surang said.

Once the symptoms of the disease are present, a sufferer’s quality of life declines. The most obvious symptoms are movement-related; these include shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking. Later, cognitive and behavioural problems may arise, with dementia commonly occurring in the advanced stages of the disease. Other symptoms include sensory, sleep and emotional problems.

THEORY INTO PRACTICE: Left, Surasa Khongprasert’s research for her doctoral dissertation led to an innovative breakthrough in Parkinson’s treatment.

That’s why exercise is essential for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Medication alone cannot increase body strength to better control the body’s movements, but there are many forms of exercise that can help, such as walking, cycling on a static bike and stretching.

In other countries, ballroom dancing and Tai Chi are being used to help sufferers, and many reports clearly state the benefits when patients participate in certain exercise regimens.

Many researches also point out that music with a lively rhythm helps patients in guiding their movements.

“And, in Thai dance with the music, there are a lot of rhythms of variable or frequency as well. so, we think that Thai dance is a good idea in combination with stretching and balancing exercises, and rhythm guidance. so we developed these classes for the patients,” said Dr Roongroj.

Ms Surasa also pointed out other advantages of traditional Thai dance. besides it being a low impact exercise it can help stretch and move small joints such as finger and toe joints, wrists and also palm muscles with its different postures. and it is also able to help improve balance and prevent joints stiffening.

“Patients have to learn to shift their weight to the rhythm, and traditional Thai dancing can improve a body’s balance and prevent joint stiffening. Sufferers can do just one Thai traditional dance movement, but get the same physical benefit as doing two or three physical therapy-based exercises.”

For example, traditional movements such as Prom-See-Na and Nok-Yoong-Fon-Hang can increase movement around shoulder joints and wrist areas as well as helping to stretch flexor muscles. Sod-Soi-Ma-La exercises the fingers, especially the thumb and index finger.

And Thai dance requires a lot of toe tilting and the movement of legs to the front, side and back which increases leg flexibility.

Ms Surasa’s research has now been completed. The class has been over for months. However, Ms Surang and her friends still meet up once a month to review their progress. Ms Surasa has also given them songs so that they can dance at home.

However, many say they feel better in a class. “I feel a bit lonely when I do it alone at home,” Ms Surang says.

“However, I have my one-year-old nephew to cheer me up while I’m dancing at home. he loves the songs and tries to move along.”

Currently, Ms Surasa and her two advisers, Dr Roongroj and Vijit Kanungsukkasem, the dean of the School of Sports Science at Chulalongkorn University, are trying to publicise the dance programme so it can be used by Parkinson’s sufferers across the country.

Posters with Thai dance postures are being distributed to physical therapy units, and a story about the programme was also published in a local health magazine.

With the hope that her findings can improve the lives of Parkinson’s sufferers, Ms Surasa says she will try to publicise the benefits of Thai dancing as widely as possible.

Visit chula-parkinsons.org for more information.

ALL THE RIGHT MOVES :Ms Surasa with some of the patients whose lives have been improved by her novel ideas on dance as physical therapy for Parkinson’s sufferers. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF FACULTY OF SPORTS SCIENCE, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY

About the author Writer: Busaba Sivasomboon Latest stories in this category:

Mount Pocono man calls surgery a ‘miracle’ against disease

These days, Robert Passalacqua of Mount Pocono can’t stop walking, talking and smiling.

After undergoing neurosurgery at age 77 to eliminate the major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, his quality of life has improved tenfold, he said.

Parkinson’s disease affects 1.5 million Americans. It can take away a person’s ability to move by causing tremors, stiffness, shuffled walk and muffled speech. In 2001, the Federal Drug Administration approved Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, or DBS, when medications failed.

A study followed 156 patients with severe Parkinson’s disease, all under age 75. half of the patients took medications to manage their disease, while the others received DBS. during the procedure, a battery-operated neurostimulator is surgically implanted into the brain. That stimulator can improve motor symptoms in some Parkinson’s patients by blocking the abnormal nerve signals that cause tremors and other symptoms.

According to the study, patients treated with this surgery had better mobility, quality of life and emotional well-being than the patients who received standard medications.

“I tell you, it is like a miracle. I couldn’t do anything before my operation,” he said.

The things that Passalacqua could not do were things most of us do in the normal course of the day. “I couldn’t feed myself or walk very well, and the police made me turn in my driver’s license,” he said.

Before the Parkinson’s became so advanced, he was an active guy, and the disease made him a prisoner in his house, he said. “I used to walk all over the place and I went on hunting trips all over the country,” he said.

As a testament to his hunting trips, Passalacqua’s apartment is filled with framed photos of the successes of his hunting ability.

“When I found out there was an operation that could help me, I wasn’t sure that I would qualify for the surgery,” Passalacqua said.

In order to have the brain surgery, a patient has to reach a certain stage of Parkinson’s disease, he said.

“Typically the criteria for the surgery is severe motor complications that interfere with daily living,” said Kate McGill, a nurse practitioner in the Department of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

Traveling to Philadelphia, Passalacqua reported to the disorders center.

“The doctors really checked me over. I had all kinds of test done so they could decide if I could have the surgery,” he said.

At last, Passalacqua was deemed a good candidate. In March, Dr. Gordon H. Baltuch, director of the Center for Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery, performed a six-hour procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation.

Pointing to his temples, Passalacqua said, “Basically what they did is put in two electrodes in my brain that are connected by a wire that runs down my neck to a box under my skin.”

The box, implanted below his collarbone, is a neurostimulator (battery) and is similar to a heart pacemaker — about the size of a stopwatch.

Passalacqua’s neurostimulator sends electrical impulses up the wire in his neck and into the brain. These impulses block electrical signals that cause Parkinson’s symptoms.

It was two weeks before the neurostimulator was turned on (the brain needs to rest after the surgery), but it didn’t take long for Passalacqua to feel it.

In the first six months, Passalacqua went to the hospital in Philadelphia to have his settings on the neurostimulator adjusted.

“It took a couple of adjustments on what number the box needed to be set at, but once they got it right — what a difference,” he said.

Passalacqua has a remote that allows him to make minor adjustments on the impulses. for any major adjustments, he goes to the hospital.

Passalacqua is back to walking, feeding himself and plans to apply for his driver’s license again.

“I just want everyone that has Parkinson’s disease to know what a difference this can make in your life, and if they can, they should have the operation,” he said.

Ads by Google

I just want to know if there is any way to know if I should go and get my hormones checked out because I am suffering from achne that never goes away and my period comes pretty much once a month but I can't count and know when it is going to come that month.

Ok, a normal period comes every 28 days so if your period comes on the first of April, your next period is April 28. It's easy to check. if your period cannot be checked like this it's irregular. It seems u have a hormonal imbalance. here are the symptoms of hormonal imbalances.

Fatigue
Craving sweets or carbs
Feeling depresed or overwhelmed
PMS
Fuzzy thinking
Digestive issues
Anxiety
Heart palpitation
Breast pain
Urinary dysfunction
Mood swings or irritibility
Weight gain
Fibroids
Irregular periods
Vaginal dryness
Hair loss/Dry skin
Insomnia
Stiffness or joint pain
Fuzzy thinking.

I suffered from hormonal imbalance as a result i have terrible acne all over my arms, neck, back shoulder and face. I have terrible menstrual pain, severe anxiety, fuzzy thinking, acid reflux, excessive sweating and no energy.
This is what i did
peruvian-maca.com
I started taking maca and and ALL of my symptoms improved drastically. I no longer have stomach problems, excruciatinp period pains, acne is almost all gone, i have great energy, my thinking is clear and not fuzzy and because maca increases sexual stimulation as well i now tire out my bf. I told him he should start taking maca root to keep up with me lol. Here are soem positives of maca root.

Benefits (uses) of Maca root for Men

1. Maca increases Aphrodisiac activity.

2. Enhances libido.

3. Increases energy, stamina and endurance.

4. Improvement of male potency.

5. Helps overcome depression.

6. found to produce a "general sense of well-being".

7. DHEA level increases significantly in a majority of the males treated with it.

8. Helps in stress treatment.

9. Increases sperm count (oligospermia), count of mobile spermatozoids and mobility, formation of spermatozoids (spermatogenesis)

10. Athletic Performance.

11. Hormone Balancing.

12. Increased Testosterone Levels.

13. Maca helps with Erectile Dysfunction.

14. Fertility Enhancement

15. Helps fight acne resulted from hormonal unbalances.

Benefits (uses) of Maca root for Women

1. Maca increases Aphrodisiac Activity.

2. Enhances Libido.

3. Increases Energy.

4. Maca increases Sexual Stimulation

5. Helps to overcomes depression.

6. found to produce a "general sense of well-being".

7. Helps in Stress Treatment.

8. Helps fight menopause symptoms.

9. Maca reduces Hot Flashes.

10. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HTR).

11. Hormone balancing.

12. Athletic Performance.

13. PMS Associated Problems.

14. Maca helps alleviate Menstrual Pain

15. Corrects Menstrual Irregularity

16. Helps with acne resulted from hormonal unbalances.

17. Helps hormonal related skin problems

18. Maca Decreases Stress

19. Maca Decreases Anxiety

Another alternative is to visit
womentowomen.com/symptoms.asp
P.S. I have never tried their program cause Maca Root works great for me but i hear its good
Also may i suggest you cleanse your body of toxins, do a colon cleanse, parasite cleanse, kidney cleanse, liver cleanse, heavy metal cleanse, candida cleanse. Do a search on these cleanses and you will see how important it is to get them done. a Doctor will never tell you to cleanse your body or else you won't need them anymore. Good luck!

hey i suffer from the same thing, so if u find something out please share it w/me

Acne is a bacterial infection. It needs to be treated with topical antibiotics. As a last resort, oral antibiotics. Acne is not a symptom of any hormone imbalance.

An irregular period is quite normal too. It's not a sign of any serious hormone imbalance. The younger you are, the more irregular you are going to be. Although you state that you have period once a month. that sounds pretty darn regular to me.

As a great technique of treatment, Parkinson’s Disease patch is becoming developed for treating Parkinson’s Disease. This is becoming developed as a great technique of treating it orally. The require to develop a skin patch for Parkinson’s existed, because of the digestive tract of individuals affected by the illness.

Skin patches are obtainable for smoking cessation, heart issues, and discomfort control. a main study is going on for exploring new methods of treatment except oral medicines, of Parkinson’s. The silicon patch that’s becoming utilized within the clinical trials have Dopamine agonist , a drug generally utilized to decrease the symptoms and assist individuals lead a much more regular life. ‘Neupro’ will be the initial trans-dermal patch that has been approved to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

The primary symptoms of Parkinson’s consist of memory loss, reduce of cognitive abilities, dementia. As it’s a disorder of the central nervous program, motor abilities are lost over time. these Parkinson’s Disease patch medicines assist in prolonging regular activity and suppressing the symptoms of the illness.

The primary symptoms of this illness consist of stiffness and tremors within the limbs which is because of the reduction of Dopamine, chemical within the brain which controls movement within the body. Dopamine agonists clone dopamine and also stimulate the cells of the brain, just the way the regular chemical reacts.

An additional Parkinsons Disease patch that has been marketed is an active ingredient Rotigotine, which is really a Dopamine receptor delivered via a skin patch. It’s applied as soon as to the skin and releases Ritigotine all through 24 hours. Each day the patch requirements to be changed. It’s delivered to maintain stable rotigotine plasma in concentration level. The oral Dopamine agonists come in several doses but a patch is much more efficient and simple.

Legionnaires disease is caused of the bacteria that have been found in water delivery systems. It is a serious and sometimes fatal form of pneumonia, up to 10% of cases can be fatal. 5 to 15 of every 100 people suffering from the disease die every year.

Leginnoires disease is the more severe form of the infecton. starts as a typical viral upper-respiratory infection, Legionnaries disease symptoms start 3 to 10 days afte exposure and include fever, generalized aches and discomfort, loss appetite, headache, fatigue and COUGH.

During the first 4-6 days, legionnaires disease symptoms tend to get worse. They typically improve in another 4-5 days. Here are some symptoms may include:

- Coughing up blood

- General discomfort, ill feeling, uneasiness

- Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain

- Lack of coordination (ataxia)

- Muscle aches and stiffness

- Nonproductive cough

- Shorthness of breath

Most people with legionnaires disease need to be treated in hospital and for some with antibiotic and the earlier that treatment is start, the better the outcome.

For the prevention of legionnaires disease, there is no vaccine currently available, however, there are measures that will reduce the risk of transmission. By quitting smoking, smokers are more likely to get legionnaires disease and can reduce the risk.

Early legionnaires disease treatment are critical. when people delay seeking medical care or doctors are unaware of the possibility of the diagnosis, the likelihood of death resulting from the infection increases dramatically.

Incoming search terms:

Legionnaires Disease,legionnaires disease symptoms

The truth of the matter is that anyone can get Lyme disease. a person contracts Lyme disease by being bit by a tick, which is a tiny create that can live in any wooded or grassy area. Ticks can bite someone without their knowledge, and often a person will contract Lyme disease and assume they have another disorder because of the symptoms. could you recognize the symptoms of Lyme disease in its different stages? We hope this article will help you determine some of the more common symptoms so you know when to go see your doctor.

Have you encountered difficulty in movement of and stiffness of your joints and muscles? Chief indicators of Lyme disease are inflexibility of the joints and muscles.

This includes more than just feeling tight after some exercise. It’s also more evident than the stiffness or pain you may feel if you are starting to get the flu or another minor ailment. get a hold of your doctor if you begin to notice stiffness in your joints and muscles and that if it is becoming a concern. It’s a possibility that you are being afflicted with Lyme disease or something that is just as serious.

A symptom that is quite common among many sicknesses out there is swollen lymph nodes (glands). So, how can you tell if it is a Lyme disease symptom when it afflicts you? the briefest answer is: you won’t.

You won’t be able to know for certain if your swollen glands are an indicator of Lyme disease until you become tested for the condition. If these swollen glands are associated with some of the other primary indicators (remarkably a tick bite or a bull’s eye rash), although, browsing for Lyme disease when you see your doctor will be a wonderful idea.

Lyme disease symptoms include meningitis and peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is often first noticed in a numbness in the hands and feet. a feeling that is similar to wearing thin gloves or even a tingling or burning is what it feels like. this symptom can be brought on by a major injury to the nerves or to the brain. until it completely manifest itself, meningitis is hard to catch. It is important to immediately get tested by your doctor if you develop any signs of meningitis since it is contagious. Diagnosing Lyme disease can be tricky. many of the symptoms are the same as other disease and are therefore misdiagnosed. In cases where the person doesn’t show symptoms till later stages of the disease this is even more true. In the end, you know your body best, so if you feel a little off, it is better to talk to your doctor. maybe you will get lucky and the doctor will find a tick bite and you can get the treatment you need. this information was brought to you by cheapcellphonesnocontract.net, your source for all things related on cheap cell phones no contract.

Back pain is the cause of worry as it has become a global problem in growing adults.  The back pain can be classified in to lower back and upper back pain.  The lower back pain is more common as the lower part of back endures the maximum pressure during any physical activities and is more vulnerable to any damage.

The severity of back pain depends on the conditions that is causing.  lower back pain may be sudden or gradual and can be acute or chronic.  you have to know the back pain symptoms before you undergo any treatment.

Some of the most common known back pain symptoms are as follows:• Pain experienced during normal routine activities like bending, walking, sports etc.• Pain experienced during long sitting or standing postures.• Pain experienced while getting up from bed.• Stiffness experienced around the waist portion.• Pain radiating to the legs or upper arms.• Numbness or weakness felt in the lower limbs.• Pain experienced while coughing or sneezing.

If these lower back pain symptoms last for a brief period from few days to several weeks, the pain can be termed as acute. most of the back pains are temporary caused by wrong posture while sitting or standing, and excessive pressure on the adjoining muscles and ligaments that support the spinal cord. The back muscles are under extreme pressure while sitting on the chairs and if there is no adequate support to the spine and the result is acute back pain.  if you lift heavy objects, then a ligament or muscle tear can occur and the result is back pain. Sciatica exercises to relieve pain can be used to relieve this kind of back pain problems.

If the back pain symptoms lasts for longer than three months and radiate to the lower limbs then the pain is termed chronic.  if the pain is caused by serious injury to the spine, kidney, or due to cancer or severe damage, then a thorough investigation and medical assistance is needed. Back pain sciatica treatment is a treatment that can still relieve chronic type of back pain.

In cases, when pain radiates to the hips and legs and if associated with a tingling sensation or numbness, then immediate medical care must be provided.  In cases of compression of nerves in the lower spine occurs then emergency surgery is required to decompress the nerves.

If you neglect or ignore the mild acute back pain symptoms then these will become chronic.  if these symptoms are treated at an earlier stage, you can prevent yourself from further damage to your spinal cord.

1. Best Hair Loss Treatment are Home Remedies for Hair Loss
2. EMT Training: Preparing you for On-the-Job Risks and Excitement

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a severe disease infection caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. this bacterium can be found throughout the world in the soil and in animal and human intestines. the disease may result in stiffness of one’s jaw muscles and other muscles.

The infection causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to “locking” of the jaw, which makes it impossible to open your mouth or swallow. If this happens, you could die of suffocation.

If you get tetanus, there is usually a long course of treatment. the tetanus vaccine can prevent tetanus but its protection does not last forever. Adults should get a tetanus shot, or booster, every 10 years. If you get a bad cut or burn, see your doctor–you may need a booster.

What are the signs and symptoms?

• Symptoms may include:

– Headache– Stiffness of the jaw (lockjaw)– Severe muscle spasms– Sweating– Fever– Stiffness of abdominal muscles– Difficulty swallowing

• Lockjaw is one of the most dangerous symptoms because it can lead to death by suffocation

• Symptoms usually begin about 8 days after infection, but may range in onset from 3 days to 3 weeks

What cause tetanus?

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani, which is found in soil and animal manure. Spores of the bacteria are picked up when a wound is contaminated by, for example, garden soil. the wound may go unnoticed and the infection may not seem severe, but the bacteria release a poison called a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system and causes problems such as muscle spasm.

Anyone who has a contaminated wound may develop tetanus. Farmers and those working with soil are at increased risk. in developing countries, the custom of dressing a newborn baby’s umbilical cord stump with animal dung often leads to neonatal tetanus.

If you suspect tetanus, get urgent medical help.

The diagnosis is usually clear from the symptoms and history. the bacteria may be detected in the wound, but as tetanus is a medical emergency treatment is usually started based on symptoms alone.

What are the complications?

In four out of 10 people tetanus causes death. Spasms or convulsions may be violent and you can stop breathing or have a heart attack. Other complications of tetanus include:

• pneumonia (lung infection) and other infections

• fractures – due to spasms or convulsions

• breathing problems

• muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis)

• coma

Treatment

In most cases of tetanus, the illness is severe, and there’s a risk of death despite treatment. Death may result from constriction of airways, pneumonia or instability in the autonomic nervous system. the autonomic nervous system is the part of your nervous system that controls your heart muscles, other involuntary muscles and glands.

Treatment may consist of certain medications, as well as supportive care.

Medications

• Antitoxin. your doctor may give you a tetanus antitoxin, such as tetanus immune globulin (TIG). However, the antitoxin can neutralize only toxin that hasn’t yet combined with nerve tissue.

• Antibiotics. your doctor may also give you antibiotics, either orally or by injection, to fight tetanus bacteria.

• Vaccine. You’ll also need to receive a tetanus vaccine in order to prevent future tetanus infection.

Supportive therapies

Tetanus infection often requires a long period of treatment in an intensive care setting. you may need drugs to sedate you and to paralyze your muscles, and that may result in shallow breathing that needs to be supported temporarily by a ventilator.

People who’ve had tetanus often recover completely. However, some people have lasting effects, such as brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen when muscle spasms in the throat cut off the airway.

Prevention

Vaccination

There is a vaccine to prevent tetanus. this is given in the arm or the thigh. you will need three doses of the vaccine with a months break between each when you are first vaccinated. in the UK, this is usually given to babies when they are two, three and four months old.

Children will then receive a booster when they are about three, usually at pre-school entry, and again 10 years later before they leave school. you should then have protection from tetanus for life. you may need a booster of tetanus if you are travelling abroad and haven’t had a booster in the last 10 years. ask your GP for advice.

If you were not immunised as a child you can get the first three doses of the vaccine at any age. you will then need a booster 10 years later. Generally, only five doses of the vaccine are needed to protect you for life.

Women can be given the tetanus jab during pregnancy to prevent tetanus.

If you have had tetanus you can get it again and need to be immunised.

If you have a cut and haven’t been immunised

If you have a cut or weeping wound, such as a burn, and you haven’t ever had a vaccination or haven’t had a tetanus jab for more than 10 years, you need to have a booster dose of tetanus as a precaution. you may also be given a dose of tetanus immunoglobulin which are proteins (antibodies) to help your body fight any tetanus infection you might develop.

Consult your doctor with these questions

Are my immunizations up-to-date?

Is there a test after an injury that can determine if the tetanus disease is present?

Are there any reactions or side effects to tetanus vaccine?

If tetanus is present, what is the success rate of eliminating the disease and its toxins?

Are there any after effects or any residual conditions left by the disease?

1. Yellow Fever: a potentially fatal viral infection
2. Anthrax – an infectious disease
3. Endemic Infectious Disease: African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
4. Bites and stings from dangerous animals

US researchers have stated that gene therapy is successful in treating Parkinson's disease, as shown in clinical trials for the first time.

As part of the brain dies, slow movement, stiffness and shaking is caused by the illness.

In about 50 per cent of the patients, there were decreased symptoms due to a virus that was added genes to brain cells.

The study was welcomed by Parkinson's UK and also stated the need of more research was there.

As of now, in the UK, about 120,000 people are affected and all these are more than 50 years of age.

No cure is available for this but benefits are seen with deep brain stimulation and some drugs too.

A chemical called GABA is in reduced quantities in patients who suffer from Parkinson's disease in their brain.

GABA production was made to increase with a virus made by researchers that infects cells with a gene.

About 22 patients were given the virus that was put in their brains and sham surgery was given to about 23 people. Over six months, their motor function was scored

About 23.1 per cent improvement was seen among patients who had gene therapy and people who got the sham surgery did not see more than 12.7 per cent improvement.

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — Phil Mickelson played a practice round at Pebble Beach on the Saturday before the U.S. Open and was walking back to his car when he felt pain in his ankle, hip and even his finger. it was uncomfortable, but no great cause for alarm.

“I thought it might just be wear and tear of the joints over the years,” he said.

The scare came a week after the U.S. Open during a family holiday in Hawaii when the pain returned.

“I went and laid down on the couch, and it hurt so bad to move,” Mickelson said. “Thereafter, I went to try to play golf and the pain had gone to my shoulder. I couldn’t take the club back halfway. And I was concerned about the impact on my golf career.”

Mickelson was lucky to detect it early.

He immediately saw a rheumatologist in San Diego, then went to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion. Both agreed that he had psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes pain, stiffness and swelling around the joints.

Mickelson was able to get on a treatment plan, and he felt good enough to resume his full workouts by November.

But it left a lasting impression, and now Mickelson wants to do his part to help educate others about the disease.

Mickelson has created a partnership with Amgen and Pfizer, inc. and will launch a public awareness campaign Wednesday called “On Course with Phil.” The idea is for people with psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or plaque psoriasis to have it diagnosed early and get on a treatment program that’s best for them.

The three-time Masters champion has not signed any endorsement deal, and he said it will not be visible on his bag or other attire. There were will be advertising, along with a website (oncoursewithphil.com) in which people can read his story and get information on the disease, from its symptoms to finding the right treatment.

Mickelson said he lost about 20 percent of his strength, along with some swing speed. he said most of the speed has returned, and he hoped to have the rest of it back during the road to the Masters.

It cost him part of his summer, no doubt. he was never in contention at the British Open, and made his move too late to seriously contend at the PGA Championship, where he first revealed he had psoriatic arthritis. he had a chance the second half of the season to go to no. 1 in the world, but he had only one top 10 finish.

Even so, he feels fortunate it wasn’t worse.

“He was smart, the fact he recognized something was going on and sought medical attention early,” said Christopher Ritchlin of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, who has been studying the diseases for more than 20 years.

Ritchlin said rheumatoid arthritis can be irreversible if left untreated. As for psoriatic arthritis, he said that often gets overlooked because people do not make the connection between stiffness and swelling in the joints and flaky skin from lesions.

“It’s a common problem, and Phil can tell his story,” Ritchlin said.

He was equally happy that Mickelson helped bring together for the first time the Arthritis Foundation and the National Psoriasis Foundation to form a coalition that can educate people on the disease.

As for Mickelson?

“I’m in a good place now,” he said. “I’m able to practice and work out hard. As I’ve said, my goal is to make this year the kind of year I wanted last year to be. I also want to help other people who have situations similar to mine, because it’s very manageable.”