First Circle Medical

Without any instruments, it is difficult to detect high blood pressure, which has been called ‘the silent killer’.You are very unlikely to know that you have high blood pressure as it does not have any obvious symptoms. Many patients become aware that they are suffering from this ailment only during a routine medical checkup or when they suffer from a stroke or related condition.

A sphygmomanometer is used for measuring blood pressure and electronic versions of this instrument are also available to measure blood pressure with  greater accuracy.  The low blood pressure symptoms are more obvious, the patients feel dizzy when he or she gets up quickly.

An approximate way of measuring high blood pressure is to count the number of beats your heart has in a minute. The normal rate is from 80 to 90 per minute. Some senior and experienced doctors can accurately guess a person’s blood pressure by feeling their pulses, based on rate, depth and other factors. However, the blood pressure varies depending on the physical and mental condition of the patient, a person who is under stress or excited is more likely to have high blood pressure readings.  The blood pressure of the same person is likely to be much lower, when he or she is relaxing.

Gastric Ulcer is usually caused by a bacterial infection known as Helicobacter pylori. The bacterial infection can be transmitted through the saliva, some times even by sharing the same utensils.  In some cases,  the ulcer may be aggravated by an undiagnosed food allergy, so the patient should be tested to find out the allergens and  modify their diet accordingly.  If left untreated,  this infections can lead to cancer and Gastric Acid can damage your intestines and the juices will leak out into your peritoneal cavity causing peritonitis.

Some of the symptoms of gastric ulcer are:
Abdominal pain
The pain will get aggravated if you do not eat
Nausea
Abdominal indigestion
Vomiting
Unintentional weight loss
Fatigue

When undergoing treatment for gastric ulcer, the patient has to avoid eating food that could aggravate the condition like caffeine, spicy food like pepper, garlic, fruits with a high vitamin C content which irritates the lining of the stomach.  High fiber foods, fiber supplements and cabbage juice may bring some relief to the patient. Bananas help heal the intestinal lining and improve their condition.  Some vitamin supplements and fish oil capsules are recommended by doctors.

Painkillers like aspirin should be avoided.  If a patient sticks to the above diet and supplements, their condition should improve in about a fortnight.

Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) is caused by doing repetitive actions like typing or in certain professions like hairdressing. Earlier, RSI was common among industrial workers who had to perform the same actions repeatedly. With greater automation, in most factories these tasks are performed by robots.

Today  RSI is more common among computer users especially gamers, software programmers and data entry workers. Taking a regular break from computer work, even if it is as little as 5 minutes every hour, can help prevent the problem.  Also, ensure that the mouse and internet connection are working properly.  A malfunctioning mouse or a slow  internet connection may necessitate repeat clicks by the user,  which could increase the stress on the joints and aggravate the problem.

Wearing a wrist splint at night may help a person who is showing initial signs of  RSI.  Though many people ignore the initial symptoms of RSI, ideally treatment should start at the first sign of RSI. If ignored, it can cause permanent damage to the wrist and arm, which could cripple a person for life.  Taking a break from the activity which is causing the strain may help. If permanent damage is caused to the joints , physical therapy is recommended and in some extreme cases, surgery may be needed.

Child dies after root canal treatment

A single root canal is painful enough, I wonder how the dentist could carry out five, and that too on a such small child.  Many sittings are required to complete a root canal, the dentist should have been patient.

A few days later,  I had gone to a dentist for a routine dental check, there was no immediate dental problem. Some of my fillings were very old and got discolored over a period of time.  I asked her whether it was possible to change them. She  said that a root canal would most likely be required,  she would need to take an xray to confirm this.  After she took a xray, she confirmed that the root canal was needed. When I asked her the death of the girl, she said that it was because anesthesia had not been administered properly.

Some times the dentists are very careless, and there is no regulatory body to prevent such problems. They are least bothered about the patient’s welfare, only treating the maximum number of patients in the shortest time and earning the most money. Most dentists know that it will be difficult for the patients to prove the negligence in court and win damages.

Some consider homeopathic medicine as a placebo, with no real scientific basis,  but others have found it effective.  It has been used for over 200 years  and is popular in Germany (where it originated), India and other European countries. In recent years, this treatment has become popular in North America also along with other alternate medicine systems.

Unlike conventional medicines, there are few side effects of homeopathic medicines. The homeopathic doctor considers both the patient’s individual traits as well as the medical conditions before prescribing a particular medicine. More than 2000 remedies for various ailments are available today.
Most homeopathic medicines are cheaper than allopathic medicines. However, the doctor will specify some restrictions on diet and lifestyle, which the patient should adhere to , if the medicines are to be effective. Alcohol, white sugar, coffee, menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, and black pepper should avoided as they can have adverse effects.

Homeopathic medicines are made from minerals, botanical extracts, and several other sources.  They are then dissolved in water, alcohol or milk water solution and diluted till the desired concentration is reached.  However, some skeptics say that by diluting the medicine, its effectiveness will be reduced. For medical emergencies however, conventional medicines act quickly and are effective.

Allopathic medicines are developed after a lot of testing, but may have side effects.  It usually causes weakness and some people feel it causes cancer

Rolfing is a method of structural integration for reorganizing the soft tissues of the body and improving the health of the person. This method was developed by Dr. Ida Pauline Rolf in the 1950’s and the technique is taught at the Rolf Institute of  Structural Integration, which offers a  two year course. 

The soft tissue of  the body consists of  muscles, tendons, ligaments and the fascia. The  fascia is the membrane that holds the body together, which gives support to other tissues and allows freedom of  muscular movement. The fascia may get damaged over a period of  time due to stress from poor posture, accidents, surgery, strain or injury. The fascia and muscles are pulled out of  position, preventing smooth movements and causing discomfort.

Rolfing involves touching the skin to find out the misaligned fascia and putting it back into position, so that the muscles can move freely. By using lifting/spreading movements and applying pressure to the fascia web , the fascial web is separated out. These are gentle movements, similar to massage.

The patient has to undergo a minimum of  ten rolfing sessions, before the cumulative effect becomes apparent. Each session is usually one hour long and a specific part of  the body is treated. An additional five sessions may be required for certain patients.

Earlier, many patients reported that rolfing was a painful experience. However, it  has evolved over a period of  time and with practice , the discomfort has reduced. Many people who have been rolfed experience improved physical health.