1 July, 2017

This man looks a decade younger than his real age! Know why

New Delhi: A 23-year-old man named Tomislav Jurcec from Crotia looks at least a decade younger than his real age because he suffers from a rare health condition. According to a report in Daily Mail, Jurcec has a fault in his pituitary gland at the base of his brain, which controls growth and ageing.

The gland is about the size of a pea and located behind the bridge of the nose and below the base of the brain. It releases hormones growth and puberty hormones, among others, directly into the blood stream. As per the reports, pituitary tumours are very uncommon as one in 1000 adults have this rare conditon. Sometimes a defected or faulty gene may also be a contributing factor.

The 23-year-old man did not let the condition affect his life. Infact, his diminutive size has helped him gain work as a part-time actor and even landed a role in the highly successful TV show Game of Thrones.

Jurcec is not the only one known to live with the condition. A girl named Zeng Yushan from China who was born in 1994 stopped growing at the age of seven because she was diagnosed with a tumour on her pituitary gland, which caused a deficiency in growth hormones.

Ashley Grossman, professor of endocrinology at Oxford University, told Daily Mail, 'Now we have artificial growth hormones, that can be injected once a day, to treat this condition'.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

01.07.2017

Better never begin than never make an end

George Herbert

30 June, 2017

VF babies have same cognitive skills as naturally-born babies: Study

Babies conceived from artificial methods such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) have the same cognitive skills as the babies conceived naturally, revealed a study on Tuesday , contradicting earlier theories that babies born from artificial methods have intellectual impairment. The new study conducted by city-based Indira IVF also states that in many cases babies born through IVF are more brainy and smart.

The study states that according to the earlier theories, due to the variations in Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and IVF, the procedures were linked to increased risk of prematurity and higher twin rates. "However, due to the advancement in technology such defects have reduced to a great extent," said the study.

"Over time, the technology has improved significantly and even multiple pregnancies have reduced drastically. Multiple pregnancies can at times carry associated risks like premature delivery and thus low birth weight leading to further developmental problems. But, with advanced techniques, now chances of singletons are more thus, a child gets better nutrition and is born with healthier birth weight," said Sagarika Aggarwal, an IVF expert with Indira IVF Hospital, and part of the study conducting team.

The study also stated that due to the advancement of IVF a wider range of infertility problems have been resolved. "In the study it has been clearly found that in early years the IVF-conceived children actually scored higher on the tests." According to the study, IVF is also more advisable for young women who have fertility issues as the quality of eggs is better which ensures a healthy child than a procedure done on an older woman.

Ever since the birth of the first IVF child Louise Brown in England approximately 40 years ago, an estimated 5 million children have been born worldwide through IVF and other related ART procedures.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

30.06.2017

Courage is knowing what not to fear

Plato

29 June, 2017

Asthma during childhood may up your risk of heart failure in adulthood

Individuals with a history of asthma from childhood may be at a greater risk of experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting and eventually heart failure in adulthood, researchers have warned. The study showed that childhood asthma may lead to thickening in the left ventricle — one of the four chambers of the heart responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to tissues all over the body — in a condition known as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), causing the heart muscle to lose elasticity and eventually fail to pump. LVH is recognised as target-organ damage resulting from a chronic increase in pressure and volume overload, with an estimated prevalence of 14.9 percent for men and 9.1 percent for women in the general population. “Our results indicated that young adults with a history of asthma were at a significantly greater risk of increased left ventricular mass index, independent of other major heart disease risk factors,” said Lu Qi, Director of the Tulane University in Louisiana, US. The findings also showed that the association was more prominent in patients with pre-hypertension and hypertension.

The prevalence of asthma has been growing during the past decade with an estimated current prevalence of 8.6 per cent in children and 7.4 per cent in adults. Emerging evidence from epidemiological studies has shown that asthma in adulthood is associated with an increased risk of premature death, coronary heart disease and stroke. “Our findings suggest aggressive lifestyle modifications or even pharmacological treatment may be applied to people with a history of asthma, especially those also affected by high blood pressure, in order to lower cardiovascular risk,” said Qi. For the study, published in the journal JACC: Heart Failure, the team examined 1,118 patients, who answered a questionnaire on their asthma history. 

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

29.06.2017

Good words are worth much and cost little

George Herbert

28 June, 2017

Your sweat may soon power your smartphone

Scientists have created a skin patch that can power a radio for two days using human sweat, and may eventually be used to charge mobile devices while people are out for a run. The bio fuel patch may also provide a way to monitor glucose levels in people with diabetes, without needles and blood samples, researchers said.

The skin patch developed by researchers from University of California, San Diego in the US is a flexible square just a couple of centimetres across and sticks to the skin. It contains enzymes that replace the precious metals normally used in batteries and uses sweat to provide power.

Getting enough power out of a bio fuel cell to make it useful has proved tricky, but the latest version can extract 10 times more than before, researchers said.

"We are now getting really impressive power levels. If you were out for a run, you would be able to power a mobile device," said Joseph Wang from the University of California, San Diego.

Researchers used the lactate found in sweat to power their particular bio fuel cell, 'News Scientist' reported. The amount of lactate or lactic acid in sweat is also related to how efficiently a person's muscles are working, so could help give readings on an athlete's performance during exercise, researchers said.

Similarly, levels of glucose in sweat are related to its concentration in the blood, they said. The findings were published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science.

Source: www.deccanherald.com

28.06.2017

You cannot create experience. You must undergo it

Albert Camus

27 June, 2017

Can your blood group predict heart attack risk?

India is presently witnessing nearly two million heart attacks annually. A heart attack (clinically known as myocardial infarction) is the permanent damage or death of the heart muscles due to lack of oxygen-rich blood. According to reports, heart attack kills one person in every 33 seconds in our country. In the recent past, several reasons have been attributed to the paradigm shift in the age groups suffering from heart attacks to younger age brackets. A heart attack could be induced by poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, and various other risk factors, including genetic ones. While lifestyle burden contributes to a majority of cardiovascular events in our societies, in a shocking revelation through an international study conducted earlier this year by Kole and Associates, it has been found that people with A, B, and AB blood types may be at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart attacks, when compared to individuals with O blood types. The study presented at European Society of Cardiology, which involved 1.3 million respondents, also said that all people living with ‘non-O blood groups’ are at nine percent higher risk of cardiovascular events (and heart attacks in particular), and also have a shorter life expectancy, says Dr Bharat Kukreti, Senior Consultant Cardiology, Paras Hospitals, Gurgaon.

The research identified 7,71,113 individuals with a non-O blood group and 519,743 individuals with an O blood group in the meta-analysis of coronary disorders. Among all people with non-O blood groups, 1.5 percent experienced a coronary event, as compared with 1.4 percent with the O blood group. Similarly, for combined cardiovascular events, the risk associated with non-O groups was significantly higher. The findings from the study clearly indicate that blood group should be seen as an important risk assessment factor for prevention of heart health issues, besides age, sex, weight, systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels. However, the reasons of association between heart attacks and blood group remain unclear till date, but highly speculated. Individuals with non o-type blood group have 25% more von-will brand factor (an important blood constituent that leads to clotting). It has also been found by some researchers in the past that people with A, B and AB blood have higher levels of a blood-clotting protein, and resultantly, higher concentration of cholesterol.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

27.06.2017

Living well is the best revenge

George Herbert

24 June, 2017

Wasting blood, a huge crime

The huge quantity of blood that is being wasted nationwide is a matter of grave concern. And Karnataka is among the worst offenders in the country in this regard. Of the roughly 7,87,330 units of blood that were collected in Karnataka in 2016-17, some 64,913 units or around 8.6% was wasted, Health Minister B N Vijay Kumar told the Assembly recently. Nationwide figures are no less disheartening. Over 28 lakh litres of blood were discarded by blood banks across the country over the past five years. Karnataka is also among the top three states when it comes to wastage of red blood cells and stands second to wastage of fresh frozen plasma.

Blood is a precious commodity; it is central to keep living systems going. It cannot be artificially manufactured. Hence, blood donation is the only source. It is all the more precious in a country like India where most people are reluctant to donate blood. India needs around 1.3 crore units of blood per year and it is able to collect around 90 lakh units only. Due to the shortfall, thousands of people waiting for blood transfusions whether due to surgery or thalassemia have to wait for blood. It is therefore unconscionable that such vast quantities of blood are literally going down the drain. A breakdown of the wastage in Karnataka provides some useful insights.

Over half of the wasted blood in 2016-17 couldn’t be used as it was outdated, another sixth was discarded as it was infected with HIV, Hepatitis B etc, and the rest was found to be haemolysed, clotted, etc. Blood donation activists say that some wastage of blood is inevitable and so the problem must not be blown out of proportion. This is true. A high decibel campaign on blood wastage would deter people from coming forward to donate blood.

However, there is a problem that needs fixing too and health authorities in the government and private sector as well as blood banks need to address it. Health experts say that one of the main issues underlying Karnataka’s huge wastage is the absence of a centralised blood transfusion system in the state. A well-coordinated sharing network between blood banks and hospitals, and between banks in urban and rural India and storage facilities for blood, is urgently needed.

It is important too that the authorities regularly monitor blood banks to ensure that they do not allow blood to become outdated. Blood that is approaching its expiry date should be moved to places where it can be used quickly. Blood wastage cannot be eliminated fully but it can be reduced and that must be done immediately.

Source: www.deccanherald.com

24.06.2017

Improvement begins with I

 Arnold H. Glasow

23 June, 2017

Obese patients have higher risk of infection after heart bypass surgery

A new study has found that patients with obesity have much higher risk of developing an infection soon after heart bypass surgery. The study was conducted by University of Alberta researchers at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Researchers analyzed data from 56,722 patients in the provincial registry to examine associations between body mass index (BMI) and various outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty.

Researcher Tasuku Terada, who recently presented the series of studies at the Canadian Obesity Summit said,"Compared to patients with normal BMI, we found that patients with BMI greater than 30 were 1.9 times more likely to report infections after bypass surgery." He added,"A better understanding is needed in order to improve clinical outcomes for patients with obesity and heart disease."

In addition, another study in the series published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that 88 percent of patients, who received PCI, were classified as obese, compared to 55 per cent of the patients who received CABG. PCI is a non-surgical procedure that opens up narrowed arteries in the heart due to plaque build-up. The physician places a small stent to keep the artery open and help to prevent re-narrowing.

Terada noted that the risk of infection following CABG may explain why patients with obesity are more likely to receive PCI. Postsurgical infection means an increase in the length of stay at the hospital for patients, resulting in increased medical costs and use of resources.

Knowing the risks and potential outcomes can help health-care providers and patients make more informed choices on treatment and better use of resources. Obesity expert Mary Forhan believes that further investigation will help researchers develop tools to help decrease the risk of infection, and to ensure that patients are receiving proper care.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

23.06.2017

Discontent is the first necessity of progress

Thomas A. Edison

22 June, 2017

Coconut oil as unhealthy as butter, animal fats: experts

Washington, Jun 19 (PTI) Coconut oil, which is commonly touted as a health food, may be as unhealthy as animal fat and butter, US experts warn. Animal fats are generally seen as bad, while plant oils, such as olive and sunflower are considered healthier options.

Some experts claim that the fat in coconut oil may be better for health than other saturated fats.

However, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) there are no credible studies to support this claim.

Eating a diet high in saturated fat can raise the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol in the blood, which may clog the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

According to the AHA, 82 per cent of the fat in coconut oil is saturated, which is more than in butter (63 per cent), beef fat (50 per cent) and pork lard (39 per cent).

"We want to set the record straight on why well-conducted scientific research overwhelmingly supports limiting saturated fat in the diet to prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels," Frank Sacks from AHA was quoted as saying by the BBC News.

In an advisory, the AHA said that people should limit the amount of saturated fat they consume, replacing some of it with unsaturated vegetable oils, such as olive oil and sunflower oil.

Studies show such swaps can lower cholesterol by the same level as cholesterol-lowering drugs, researchers said.

Source:www.deccanherald.com

22.06.2017

Rudeness is a weak imitation of strength

Eric Hoffer

21 June, 2017

Amputation a concern among diabetes even in 2017 due to lack of treatment facilities

Around the globe, about 415 million people are diabetic. However, India has the world’s second largest diabetic population at 69 million. Almost 15% of diabetics develop an ulcer in their lifetime. Due to a lack of appropriate wound treatment, almost 85% diabetics lead to amputations. To gain expansive knowledge on wound healing and incorporate the advances in daily practice, the academic section of Zen Hospital, Chembur had organized a National level conference on June 17th , 2017. This was attended by more than 50 plastic surgeons, Interventional radiologists and experienced doctors from across the country.

Surgeons or family physicians often encounter wounds of different etiologies on a daily basis. Treating wounds is a challenge as the physicians or surgeons needs to assess wounds accurately, recognize wound related problems and provide interventions such that morbidity reduces. With advanced technology, newer wound care products are helping surgeons to provide optimal benefits to patients. The Wound update conference included Wound Classification and evaluation, wound healing and scar formation. Chronic wounds, infections and wound closure or therapy along with case studies were a part of the panel discussion and conference.

‘To provide optimal benefits for our patients, well known surgeons from across the country shared their experiences and knowledge on this platform. Wound management is usually a teamwork of doctors, surgeons and plastic surgeons; they all need to work in tandem and hence such discussions help. Wound debridement was one of the focuses as it helps in the removal of necrotic tissue from a wound. This helps reduce pressure and stimulate wound healing,’ said Dr Roy Patankar, Director, Zen Hospital.

This national level conference included well-known speakers and more than 50 surgeons who were part of the conference. Pioneers in wound management, Dr Madhuri Gore and Dr Sitaram Prasad discussed on Wound Healing, skin substitutes, comprehensive care and share interesting case studies. As a part of the National faculty, Dr Somprakash Basu and Dr Sunil Kari discussed on chronic wounds and Wound therapy along with few case study discussions. Seven other speakers were a part of the discussion.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

21.06.2017

The value of an idea lies in the using of it

Thomas A. Edison

20 June, 2017

Chemicals found in detergents, shampoos can cause birth defects: Study

A new study has revealed that parents’ who are exposed to chemicals found in detergents, shampoos and conditioners may be associated with birth defects in children. The study was conducted on both mice and rats and found that the chemicals, known as quaternary ammonium compounds or “quats”, can lead to birth defects of the brain, spine or spinal cord.

Terry Hrubec, Associate Professor at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Virginia, US said, “These chemicals are regularly used in the home, hospitals, public spaces and swimming pools.” Hrubec added,“Birth defects were seen when both males and females were exposed, as well as when only one parent was exposed.”

For the study, the team investigated the effect of two commonly used quats - alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. These are often listed on ingredient lists as ADBAC and DDAC respectively, and are valued for their antimicrobial and antistatic properties, as well as their ability to lower surface tension.

These are used as common ingredients in cleaners and disinfectants, hand wipes, food preservatives, swimming pool treatments, laundry products, shampoos, conditioners, eye drops and other personal care products.

Exposure to these chemicals also resulted in birth defects same as the defects as found in humans—spina bifida and anencephaly.

In addition, mice and rats did not even need to be dosed with the chemicals to see the effect, but simply using quat-based cleaners in the same room as the mice was enough to cause birth defects. Hrubec noted,“We also observed increased birth defects in rodents for two generations after stopping exposure.” Researchers said, the study was conducted on mice and rats, but these chemicals may be toxic to humans as well.

The study is detailed in the journal Birth Defects Research.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

20.06.2017

Never build your emotional life on the weaknesses of others

George Santayana

19 June, 2017

Cleaning your hands can help you focus on new ideas: study

Cleaning your hands can help your brain shake off old ideas and focus on new tasks or goals, according to scientists who have found that an antiseptic handwipe can help 'reset' your mind.

Researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada found that the physicality of cleaning one's hands acts to shift goal pursuit, making prior goals less important and subsequent goals more important. "Handwipes are not just for germs anymore. Their uses may extend to more flexible thinking and reorienting one's priorities," researchers said.

The four experiments each began by bringing participants' attention to particular goals through word games or a short survey, a process called "priming." The participants were then asked to either merely evaluate or actually use a handwipe.

Those who were asked to use the wipe became less likely to think of the previously primed goal, less likely to make behavioural choices consistent with it, and less likely to find it important.

Furthermore, their focus was more easily reoriented towards a subsequently primed goal.

"For people who were primed with a health goal, for example, using the handwipe reduced their subsequent tendency to behave in a healthy manner - they were more likely to choose a chocolate bar over a granola bar," said Ping Dong, a PhD student at University of Toronto.

Previous work has already shown that physical cleansing reduces the impact of previous psychological experiences, such as guilt arising from immoral behaviour. The current research unpacks the underlying mental process: cleansing embodies a psychological procedure of separation. Wiping away dirt serves as a physical proxy for mentally separating ideas that linger from previous experience, hence preparing a 'clean slate' for focusing on new ones.

The research examined cleansing's short-term rather than long-term impact on goal pursuit, said Dong.

While it may be premature to suggest that people intent on achieving goals should significantly alter their personal hygiene routines, the findings do suggest that when it comes to finding practical tricks for redirecting one's thinking away from old fruitless pursuits towards new and better ones, an antiseptic wipe may come in handy.

The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

Source: www.deccanherald.com

19.06.2017

There is no substitute for hard work

Thomas A. Edison

17 June, 2017

TB spread in state alarming

The sharp increase in the number of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in Karnataka is a matter of serious concern. According to the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), 60,751 patients were diagnosed with TB in the state in 2016, up from 49,396 in 2015. This is a 23% increase in new cases of tuberculosis over a year. Worryingly, at least 900 of these cases were found to be of the multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) variety, a form of this disease that is resist­ant to treatment. The number of cases of MDR-TB is rising rapidly as well. In 2011, Karnataka was reported to have had only 33 cases of MDR-TB. Clearly, the state has a giant public health concern on its hands. The magnitude of this challenge must not be downplayed as the RNTCP figures represent just a tip of the iceberg. Just a fraction of those who contract TB are registered with the RNTCP. Given the social stigma attached to the disease, most people suffering from TB prefer to remain silent about it. Additionally, surveys show that most TB patients who opt for treatment prefer going to the private sector. Thus, the RNTCP figures do not reveal the full magnitude of the problem. 

Health authorities attribute the rise in number of drug resistant TB cases to the inability of the patients to complete the prolonged treatment that requires close to two years for the resist­ant cases. Even the standard TB treatment needs almost six months of following a strict drug regimen. Often patients discontinue medicines as they start feeling better. Once the symptoms come back, many of them change the doctor, without completing the course of the medicine in the first place. This not only results in the recurrence of the disease, but also makes the bacteria res­istant to the medicines. Being a highly infectious disease, a single TB patient can infect at least around 10 others in a year. A life threatening disease, TB poses a threat to not only the life of the individual patient but also others who live and work with him. The disease also drains on the resources as TB patients are often too weak to work. The stigma attached to TB is a major cause of stress and depression among patients, as shown by the World Health Organisation in a study that found 40-70% of TB patients suffer from depression and anxiety.

Source: www.deccanherald.com

17.06.2017

Sometimes it is worse to win a fight than to lose

Billie Holiday

16 June, 2017

India needs 38,000 blood donations everyday

Medical science might have progressed in leaps and bounds, but sadly bloodhasn't been manufactured yet. And might never be. On World Blood Donor Day, June 14, Dr Meghna Shah, Dean, The Other Song, shares facts and clears myths that surround blood donation...

Blood is every body's lifeline, a red liquid that keeps us alive. Statistics peg that our country requires 4 crore units of blood, while only 40 lakh units are actually available. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day in order to balance the deficit. The shelf-life of donated blood is 35 to 42 days, And there is a constant need for healthy donors are between the age of 18 to 65, but healthy donors are not contributing as they should.

In India, yearly we see an average of 234 million major operations, 63 million trauma-induced surgeries, 31 million cancer-related procedures and 10 million pregnancy related complications which require blood transfusions, apart from sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia and haemophilia that require repeated blood transfusions.

FREQUENCY OF BLOOD TYPES

·         O+ 1 person in 3

·         O- 1 person in 15

·         A+ 1 person in 3

·         A- 1 person in 16

·         B+ 1 person in 12

·         B- 1 person in 67

·         AB+ 1 person in 29

·         AB- 1 person in 167

Source: www.timesofindia.com

16.06.2017

The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing

Publilius syrus

15 June, 2017

nmc

India harbours second highest number of obese children in the world; China tops list

Obesity is one of the biggest problems at present, that is rapidly becoming a part of everyone's life. The rising number of obese people around the world just goes to show how we are allowing a particular lifestyle to dictate us into an unhealthy state of being.

A recent study just declared that more than one in 10 people worldwide are now obese and 2.2 billion are believed to be overweight, fueling a global health crisis that claims millions of lives every year. Now, making it case-specific, a report in the Times of India (TOI) has recognised India with the second highest childhood obesity rate, second only to China.

The alarming study also found that 14.4 million kids in the country have excess weight. Researchers observed that more than two billion children and adults around the world suffer from obesity-related health problems. Not only that, but an increasing number also lose their lives due to these conditions. However, of the four million deaths attributed to excess body weight in 2015, nearly 40% occurred among people whose body mass index (BMI) fell below the threshold considered "obese".

As per the TOI report, the findings represent "a disturbing global public health crisis," according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Among the 20 most populous countries, the highest level of obesity among kids and young adults was in the US at nearly 13%; Egypt topped the list for adult obesity at about 35%. Lowest rates were in Bangladesh and Vietnam, respectively, at 1%.

Statistics reveal that China is leading in childhood obesity rates with 15.3 million, while India is a close second with 14.4 million. In 2015, US recorded 79.4 million and China with 57.3 million cases respectively of the highest numbers of obese adults.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com       15.06.2017

From the errors of others, a wise man corrects his own

Publilius syrus

14 June, 2017

Know why women are better at reading mind

Ever wondered how your wife or partner is able to read your thoughts and emotions just by looking at your eyes? Her ability to interpret may be the result of a gene influence, say researchers, one of Indian-origin. The findings showed that the genetic variants on chromosome 3 in women are associated with their ability to read the mind in the eyes — known as cognitive empathy. The closest genes in this tiny stretch of chromosome 3 include LRRN1 (Leucine Rich Neuronal 1) which is highly active in a part of the human brain called the striatum — which has been shown using brain scanning to play a role in cognitive empathy, the researchers said.  

“This is an important step forward for the field of social neuroscience and adds one more piece to the puzzle of what may cause variation in cognitive empathy,” said Varun Warrier, doctoral student at the University of Cambridge. 

Scientists have built upon a study first performed 20 years ago, called the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test. For the new study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, the team analysed cognitive empathy in 89,000 people on this test. The results confirmed that women on average do score better on this test because of gene’s influence. 

In addition, the researchers found that genetic variants that contribute to higher scores in the test also increase the risk of anorexia, but not autism, the researchers noted. “We are excited by this new discovery, and are now testing if the results replicate, and exploring precisely what these genetic variants do in the brain, to give rise to individual differences in cognitive empathy,” explained Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor at the University of Cambridge. 

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

14.06.2017

It is better to learn late than never

Publilius syrus

13 June, 2017

'Home blood pressure monitors wrong 70 per cent of time'

Seventy percent of readings from home blood pressure monitors are unacceptably inaccurate, which could have serious implications for people relying on them to make informed health decisions, a new study warns. The findings are extremely relevant given millions of patients are asked to monitor their blood pressure through a device at home and report the results back to their doctor, researchers said.

"High blood pressure is the number one cause of death and disability in the world," said Jennifer Ringrose from The University of Alberta in Canada. "Monitoring for and treating hypertension can decrease the consequences of this disease. We need to make sure that home blood pressure readings are accurate," said Ringrose, who led the study.

Ringrose and her team tested dozens of home monitors and found they were not accurate within five millimetres of mercury (mmHg) about 70 per cent of the time. The devices were off the mark by 10 mmHg about 30 per cent of the time.

"Compare the blood pressure machine measurement with a blood pressure measurement in clinic before exclusively relying upon home blood pressure readings," said Ringrose.

"What is really important is to do several blood pressure measurements and base treatment decisions on multiple readings. Taking home readings empowers patients and is helpful for clinicians to have a bigger picture rather than just one snapshot in time," said Ringrose.

Raj Padwal, a professor at University of Alberta, said that no one should have drugs started or changed based on one or two measurements taken at a single point in time unless the measurements are clearly elevated.

The study examined the results of 85 patients. The researchers compared the results of the volunteers' home monitors with the gold standard - two observers taking several blood pressure measurements simultaneously, blinded to one another, with a third person ensuring agreement between both observers' readings.

While the average difference between the home monitors and the gold standard measurements was acceptable, the majority of individual devices demonstrated clinically- relevant inaccuracy.

The study was published in the American Journal of Hypertension.

Source: www.deccanherald.com

13.06.2017

Each day is the scholar of yesterday

Publilius Syrus