Stool Reducing Substance Tips

How Can Surgery Help You To Reduce Scars?

MBBS, MS - General Surgery, MCh - Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon, Delhi
How Can Surgery Help You To Reduce Scars?

While some scars are negligible, others can mar your beauty. With cosmetic surgery, today, it is easy to remove scars and make them less prominent. Scar revision surgery can range from invasive procedures such as scar excision to non invasive procedures such as cryotherapy, laser therapy and topical silicone therapy. However, none of these have perfect results. The main aim of scar revision surgery is to make the scars blend in as much as possible with the surrounding skin in terms of colour, texture and elevation.

Picking a scar revision procedure is a matter of weighing the pros and cons of each type of procedure and - the cause for dissatisfaction

  • functional limitations of the scar and likelihood of functional impairment after surgery
  • patient's expectations
  • location of the scar
  • quality of skin type and surrounding tissue

Scars are formed due to a number of reasons such as acne, cuts, burns, surgery and infection in a wound. Scars created by an over production of collagen are the most difficult to treat. In most cases, a patient requires multiple surgeries for scar revision.

Some of these surgeries are:

Surgical Excision: This procedure is usually performed on large scars that do not respond to medication. Here the surgeon shaves and cuts down scar tissue to minimize the size of the scar.

Laser Surgery: This is used to smoothen the scars with raised or uneven surfaces. It involves the removal of the top layer of skin and tightening of the layer below it.

Z plasty and W plasty: These surgical treatments aim to reduce the visibility of the scar by repositioning them along the natural lines and creases of the skin. All topics that sent after editing should be considered as approved.

2520 people found this helpful

How Can Menstrual Cramps Be Reduced?

Dr. Masooma H Merchant 88% (327 ratings)
DGO, Diploma In Family planning (UK), MBBS Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Gynaecologist, Mumbai
How Can Menstrual Cramps Be Reduced?

Menstrual cramps that occur during menstruation cycle can impair your regular activities. The menstrual cramps, also called dysmenorrhea, are caused by the uterine contractions. The intensity of the pain that a woman feels can be related to the woman’s prostaglandin glands. Those who are with elevated levels of prostaglandin suffer from intense than those with lesser levels.

Though the menstrual cramps are harmless, they do get unmanageable at times. Like dealing with any other pain, a relief becomes necessary. Several remedies and treatments are available to reduce menstrual cramps, and some of them are listed below.

  1. An Improved DietThe easiest way that you can adopt to tackle menstrual cramps is to improve your diet. You must reduce consuming fats and turn to vegetables as your primary food. Low-fat diet always helps to decrease the overall inflammation in your body. Its effects on menstrual cramps have also been noticed. Thus, it is beneficial to stop consuming saturated unhealthy fats and start consuming unsaturated healthy fats.
  2. A Painkiller is Effective: The most popular remedy for pain has always been a painkiller. Though treating your menstrual cramps with pills is rare, but a safe painkiller with no steroids can seal the deal. However, as it with any medicine, consult your doctor before consuming any.
  3. Tea: Just plain tea or herbal teas can be helpful to reduce the menstrual cramps. Though the research on this particular relief method is extremely scarce, it is a traditional remedy and has been giving some refuge to women under cramps. Tea with cramp barks and tea with peppermint oil are a few of the most popular home remedies to manage the pain.
  4. Fish Oil and Vitamin B1: Fish oil supplements and vitamin B1 has been proved to be useful in treating menstruation cramps. A study published in September 2014 in Global Journal of Health Science showed that women who were consuming fish oil supplements or Vitamin B1 or both showed reduced effects on cramps than the women who didn’t take any. Moreover, consumption of fish oil supplements or vitamin B1 or both disappeared the cramps faster than usual.
  5. Essential Oil Massage: A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research in May 2012, showed that a massage with aromatic essential oil over the abdominal region, both upper and lower, helped to reduce the pain and the cramps. Take a few drops of the oil and massage frequently over the course of your period, and it will provide you with some relief.
  6. Hot Pad: Perhaps the most followed remedy to menstrual cramps is the hot pad. Curl up with a hot pad over your lower abdomen, and it is sure to give you relief. This is great for minor cramps.

Traditional and home remedies provide relief in most cases. However, if the pain is unbearable and occurs along with vomiting or other problems, visiting your gynecologist is advised. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

3808 people found this helpful

How To Reduce Stress By Foot Massage?

Dr. Ashwin Nirmal 89% (526 ratings)
Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
Sexologist, Jamnagar
How To Reduce Stress By Foot Massage?

Did you know that almost all of your nerves converge in your feet and that your foot is the most sensitive part of the human body? Did you also know that if there are any complications to your body, then the feet can show the symptoms indirectly? Science has time and again proved this and it is high time that you give the adequate care for your feet.

This is nowhere explained better than in ancient Ayurveda, where it emphasises the importance of foot massage and the need to strengthen the nerves. Ayurveda has a long traditional foot massage therapy called as “Padabhyanga” which can be traced back to more than 5000 years. The foot massage with essential oils would improve blood and lymphatic circulation, nourishes the skin, and calms the restless mind.

Foot massaging can relax the muscles of the feet and legs, it can also help in relieving stress and anxiety. Just like how the tree gets their nourishment from their roots, channelling a proper foot massage can rejuvenate the entire mind and body.  Let us look at in detail.

What is Padabhyanga?

The word Padabhyanga comes from the two Sanskrit words “Pada+abhyanga” “Pada” means foot and “Abhyanga” means massage. It is one of the most calming and soothing massage therapy and can keep your mind and soul revitalised if done in a proper way. Participating in this massage therapy daily can allow you to release the clogged energies.

3 Types of Padabhyanga Massage:

The massage can be segregated into three different types as detailed below.

 

  1. Padabhyanga with hand: This type of massage is the fundamental form of massage and is basically done by your hand in the rubbing and stroking of foot. The heat is generated by it and the cardiovascular circulation gets activated. The massage uses sesame seed oil generally and in some cases even herbal infused oil is also used for a better cure.
  2. Padabhyanga with kasa bowl: In this type of massage, a Kasa bowls with oil coating are wormed. Then the bowl’s round surfaces are used to massage the foot and sole in a circular motion. The kasa bowls are generally made of copper and tin. Massaging in such a manner can eliminate toxins and it can also release negative energies from your body.
  3. Padabhyanga marma therapy: This type of therapy is very similar to acupuncture, where the pressure points of your feet are activated. These are called as marma points and special care is taken to make sure that these marma points are activated by pressing them over a small period of time. The therapy releases negative energy and relaxes your mind with rejuvenation.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

3633 people found this helpful

Ultrasonic Lipolysis: Reduce Weight By The Help Of It

Dr. S Radhakrishnan Nair 90% (74 ratings)
MBBS, MD - Dermatology , Venereology & Leprosy
Cosmetic Physician, Trivandrum
Ultrasonic Lipolysis: Reduce Weight By The Help Of It

Is there anybody who is happy with their body? Definitely not! Almost everyone wants to lose weight. While some want to reduce their overall weight, others are concerned about their thighs, arms, buttocks, and/or belly and get rid of the fat accumulated in these areas. The last couple of decades have seen a drastic change in the lifestyle of people.

With more processed and refined items finding their way into each of our meals and physical activity drastically declining, the new epidemic is obesity. No germs causing it, but our foods. Extensive research is being done to identify newer methods to manage obesity. The complicating issue is also that once lost, the chance of fat re-accumulation always exists. One such new technique is the ultrasonic lipolysis. This technique involves the use of ultrasound waves to kill the fat cells (lipo - fat, lysis - kill). This is a noninvasive method wherein localized fat deposits are reduced, especially in areas like the abdomen, hips, thighs, upper arm, and buttocks. This is an advanced technique available to patients who want to achieve weight loss 
and body contouring.

How it works: The fat that is consumed through foods is digested but then accumulates under the skin. The accumulated fat is seen as fat globules or bubbles. These bubbles are difficult to break but attract more fat bubble formation and therefore fat accumulation continues over a period of time. After a detailed case history and examination, a customized programme is 

drawn that could be of 3 to 5 sessions spread over a period of one to two weeks. 

During each session, heat waves of different wavelengths are applied to the area of fat deposition through fiber-optic lasers. The sound energy gets converted into mechanical energy which helps in bursting of the fat molecules. By a process known as emulsification, the larger fat cells are broken into smaller ones, almost to a liquid form, thereby reducing fat deposits.

Benefits of this include:
1. Non-invasive
2. Painless
3. Improves body contour
4. Reduces body circumference
5. Muscle toning and firming
6. Localized body shaping

Earlier, liposuction was used which would remove the fat leaving sagging skin behind. New research has shown that a combination of lipolysis and liposuction can produce the best results. There is no sagging of the skin in these patients, 
and as an added advantage, there is also skin firming indirectly when lipolysis is done.

Studies have shown that obesity is linked to increased morbidity with higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and paralysis. It is therefore, extremely essential that both women and men do all that is possible to reduce weight and fight obesity. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor.

3776 people found this helpful

How To Reduce The Risk Of Brain Stroke?

Dr. Kodeeswaran Marappan 90% (72 ratings)
MCh, MBBS, MRCS (UK)
Neurosurgeon, Chennai
How To Reduce The Risk Of Brain Stroke?

As the famous quote says, 'prevention is better than cure', let us take you through some preventive measures to keep you and your loved ones away from the dreadful brain stroke. Brain stroke occurs due to an interruption in the regular blood flow to the brain or bursting of a blood vessel or due to the bursting of blocked artery, which reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients, leading the brain cells to die.

Top 8 things that will reduce the likelihood of having a brain stroke:

  1. Eat well: Having good eating habits are not just good for a healthy outlook of the body, but also benefits the body in many other ways. Eating a plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, fibre rich diet, reducing salt and fat content can prevent stroke.
  2. Stay Active: Regular exercising not just makes you feel and look good, but also reduces the odds of developing a brain stroke. Exercising regularly or keeping the physical activities regularly will keep you away from suffering a stroke. Pick any physical activity, but do work out to stay away from the brain stroke.
  3. Say no to Smoking and drugs: Yes! The more you smoke, the more are the chances of you of suffering the deadly brain stroke.
  4. Control your blood pressure: The ideal blood pressure for a healthy person is 120/88 mm HG. Regular check-up of blood pressure is advisable to control the chances of suffering a stroke as high blood pressure can result into damage of arteries, which causes brain stroke.
  5. Drink in limits: Limit the amount of alcohol you consume, as alcohol increases the blood pressure, which is one of the main reasons behind the stroke. The high amount of alcohol can increase the blood pressure to a higher level very quickly. Consulting a doctor is the best option in case you are not able to control your alcohol intake.
  6. Cholesterol: People suffering from high cholesterol are at higher risk of strokes as the cholesterol can travel to the arteries in the body making the arteries narrow and the body more prone to suffer a stroke. Choosing healthy lifestyle helps in reducing the cholesterol level.
  7. Diabetes: High level of diabetes is one of the most prominent reasons behind stroke. One should get his diabetes level checked and keep it under control since the arteries might get blocked because of fatty deposits because of higher sugar levels.
  8. Depression/Stress: Any kind of depression or stress, generally leads to avoidance of all or some of the points discussed above and hence becomes a reason for an unhealthy body, which is more prone to strokes. Consultation with a doctor and/or psychiatrist is advisable in case a person if suffering from depression.

Improving your health and taking charge of your life should be the top most priority and should never be ignored. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Neurosurgeon.

3222 people found this helpful

How To Reduce The Risk of Sports-Related Injuries?

Dr. Saurabh Rawall 93% (127 ratings)
MBBS, MS - Orthopaedics , FNB - Spine Surgery, Fellow in Spine Surgery, Fellowship In Paediatric Spine Surgery
Orthopedic Doctor, Noida
How To Reduce The Risk of Sports-Related Injuries?

Do you remember the last time you had a searing knee pain in the middle of your morning run? It was probably because you did not warm up properly. The incidence of injuries in various sports has gone up in the recent times, and it is mostly due to the lack of proper warm up exercises. However, other factors come into play as well, such as the pressure of increased workload on the current batch of athletes, missing a trick or two with the proper technique to be followed, etc.

In order to reduce the risk of an injury, it is advised to follow these simple tips:

  1. Set realistic goals for yourself: Don’t go overboard with anything that includes repetitively stressing and straining your body over a certain degree. If you are planning to go for a run or hit to the gym, make sure you set goals that you can sustain and find feasible. One example of this would be to not increase the amount of weight drastically while lifting weights as it can lead to serious injuries.

  2. Follow the right technique: Proper technique is very important in sports, a lack of which can lead to injuries. Ask your trainer to observe your form when you perform any activity. Focus on your breathing and posture when you are exercising.

  3. Warm up before you begin exercising: Warming up before you exercise or play a sport is important as it helps loosen your muscles and boost blood circulation. It drastically reduces the risks of sustaining injuries, and also prepares your body for the subsequent exercise.

  4. Cool down: Similar to an essential warm up is the need to cool down; it is another aspect that should not be ignored. Cooling down usually consists of stretches and postures that promote flexibility. The muscles become sore after working out. Stretching can help reduce post workout pain and make the joints flexible. Cooling down also helps in eliminating lactic acid from the muscles, which means less pain after exercise.

  5. Listen to your body: During an activity, if you feel that you can no longer carry on, terminate the activity. The chances of injury rise if you continue to push your body over your threshold limit. If you think that you can no longer carry on doing something without risking an injury, avoid doing it altogether. Listen to your body, and it shall never fail you. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Orthopedist.

2505 people found this helpful

Belly Fat - How To Reduce It?

Dt. Tejashree Joshi 92% (92 ratings)
Ph. D. Nutrition, Master in Food Science and Nutrition, Bachelor's of Nutrition and Dietetics
Dietitian/Nutritionist, Chennai
Belly Fat - How To Reduce It?

Belly fat may not be a severe medical problem in most individuals. However, it looks aesthetically displeasing and can affect long term health if not controlled at the right time. However one must keep in mind that dieting and exercising go hand in hand. One cannot rely only on one of them to reduce belly fat. Mentioned below are a few ways to remove belly fat.

1. Avoid sugar: Sugar and other sweetened products must be avoided. Excessive intake of sugar floods the liver with fructose which is then turned to fat. This leads to insulin resistance and metabolic problems. Eliminate sugary drinks and try unsweetened beverages like tea or coffee. However, caffeine, too, must be taken in moderate amounts.

2. Eat protein: Protein is considered to be the most important macronutrient when it comes to losing weight. Most of the calories in protein are digested. It is the single most effective change in terms of calorie intake since it reduces your craving by 60% and boosts your metabolism.

3. Limit your intake of carbohydrates: Cutting carbohydrates from your diet reduces your appetite and therefore belly fat. Consuming only 50 grams of carbohydrates per day assists in losing weight fast.

4. Other dietary changes: Eat foods that are rich in fibre and do not skip meals. If you starve yourself for long periods of time, the body conserves fat by breaking down muscle tissue. This is called a catabolic state. Eating in small amounts every two hours is also helpful for those looking to trim their belly fat. This helps to avoid overeating and keeps your metabolism up the entire day by processing food throughout the day.

5. Track your calorie intake: It is very important to keep track of the amount of calories you consume so as to make the necessary changes in your dietary plans. You can keep track of it in a food journal or on diet-related websites.

6. Exercise: Regular exercising is of utmost importance while trying to lose belly fat. Aerobic exercises, crunches (side, reverse or twist crunches), cycling, lunge twist, rolling plank exercises, captain's chair, the stomach vacuum etc. help in reducing belly fat. Other exercises such as running, jogging, cycling, walking and swimming also help in reducing weight.

 

2209 people found this helpful

Weight - Know Tips To Reduce It!

Dr. Sudha Ghatge 90% (11 ratings)
Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics
Dietitian/Nutritionist, Vadodara
Weight  - Know Tips To Reduce It!

Very few people are lucky enough to reap the benefits of a good metabolic system. Being overweight could be a serious problem as it complicates existing health problems and can even result in unusual diseases and disorders. Cribbing about increased body weight, low energy levels and a protruding paunch is too common a phenomenon to be ignored.

People try out bizarre ways to deal with an excess of adipose tissues. They run, jog, cycle and do dieting. The numerous efforts made in losing weight go down the drain in most cases. The reason behind this is simple; you are not doing things the right way.

Exercising in combination with a balanced diet is necessary to keep yourself fit and healthy. However, weight loss is not a silly affair without a rule book. One must keep to a set of norms to reduce weight effectively.

Valuable tips to lose those extra kilos:-

You may lose weight in whichever way you want but doubt remains regarding the consistency of such reduction. Weight loss could be drastic but things might revert to square one as soon as you slacken from a rigorous regimen. Try out tips that suit your subjective case and find yourself in good shape.

1. Breakfast is the most important meal of a day- Being on an empty stomach for long stretches can result in bloating. In such a situation a person feels lethargic and tends to give up after least physical exertion. If you intend to retain your appetite for dinner by skipping breakfast, you are slowly moving towards obesity. Have a heavy breakfast every single day.

2. Stop being a couch potato- Sitting in front of the television set or computer screen for long hours can make you gain weight. Remind yourself to indulge in these activities in restriction.

3. Have a high- fiber diet- A high- fiber diet is good for digestive processes. It rids your body of excess gases and acids making you feel light. Such kind of food can be easily broken down to produce energy.

4. Exercise regularly or at least thrice a week- Exercising is extremely important to keep the extra kilos in check. It also adds strength to your muscles. Exercising can improve a person's mental agility as well.

5. Have four meals a day- Having small but frequent meals throughout the day is the best possible way to maintain optimal body weight. Through this practice, the body is assured of regular food supply and hence won't store fat.

These tips will help you lose weight easily. All you need is to get rid of laziness, follow a proper diet plan and do regular exercise to lose weight. Thus, you will get good results in a short span of time.

4366 people found this helpful

How to Reduce the Acne Scars?

Dr. Sangeeta Varma 89% (110 ratings)
M Derm, DNB (Dermatology & Venereology) , MBBS
Dermatologist, Gurgaon
How to Reduce the Acne Scars?

Blessed are the people who never had to deal with acne problems. If acne in itself was not enough, the acne scars make things go from worse to the worst. No prizes for guessing, but the acne scars are truly depressing and embarrassing. People try everything under the sun to get rid of these scars at the earliest. In this article, we will discuss the various treatments and remedies to reduce the acne scars.

Treatments and Natural Remedies for Acne Scars

  1. The chemical Peels: The chemical peels can play a pivotal role in treating the acne scars effectively. The treatment involves the use of a chemical (glycolic acid, phenol, salicylic acid, or trichloroacetic acid) that penetrates into the skin layers to help get rid of the damaged and affected skin. Many people with acne scars have had fruitful results using a chemical peel.
  2. The Laser Treatment: The laser treatment can work wonders to reduce the acne scars to a great extent. In some cases (based on the severity), the acne scars are completely removed using the laser therapy. In this procedure, beams of a highly focused light are used that penetrates into the skin to produce the desired results. While a lot of laser options are available (Ablative Resurfacing Laser, Non-Ablative Resurfacing Laser, or Fractionated Laser Resurfacing), the Fractional Laser Resurfacing (Fractional CO2) Laser or Fraxel laser is more effective.
    • The Fractional CO2 laser is an ablative procedure whereby CO2 laser is used to create tiny holes throughout the surface of the affected area of the skin (the outer or the epidermal layer of the skin is disrupted in this procedure). This triggers the production collagen and new skin cells in the scarred area.
    • The Fraxel laser is non-ablative where the laser is made to pass through the skin surface into the target area without affecting the epidermal layer.
  3. Derma rollers: Derma roller is very effective for improving the thickness of the epidermis. Apart from acne scars, it also works on spots, wrinkles and other age related skin issues. This in turn improves the skin texture to provide anti-aging benefits.
  4. MNRF (Micro Needle Radiofrequency): Radiofrequency is used through gold plated sterile needles. This works on the principle of micro needling with heat energy which breaks fibrous bands by coagulation of proteins leading to collagen remodeling. Need 4-8 sitting at a gap of 4-6 weeks for optimal results.

One can also explore the various natural treatments and remedies to deal with the acne scars.

  1. Coconut oil can be highly effective to reduce the acne scars. All you need is to take a small quantity of the oil, preferably organic virgin coconut oil (about a quarter of a teaspoon). With your fingertips, gently massage the oil on the affected skin area. Unless the oil feels heavy, you don't need to wash it off.
  2. Aloe vera: The aloe vera comes laden with health benefits. Apply the aloe vera gel (readymade gels or the fresh extracts) and massage it softly on the scarred skin. Wash off after thirty minutes. Regular use of this gel can go a long way to reduce the acne scars.
  3. Lemon: This is another powerful remedy to deal with acne scars. Just take freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon) in a bowl. With a cotton ball, dab the juice into the scars. Wait till the lemon juice dries completely and then rinse it off with water.

The use of honey, cucumber, baking soda, can also produce fruitful results to reduce the acne scars.

However, it is imporatnt to know that that natural remedies alone cannot give you desired results.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

3892 people found this helpful

Osteoarthritis - How You Can Reduce The Risk?

Dr. Murali Krishna 91% (111 ratings)
DNB (Orthopedics), MS - Orthopaedics
Orthopedic Doctor, Visakhapatnam
Osteoarthritis - How You Can Reduce The Risk?

The condition of osteoarthritis is very common as you age. The condition is said to affect women more than men and is mainly due to the low estrogen levels that women tend to experience once they cross the age of 50.

What causes this most common form of arthritis?

The problem of osteoarthritis (oa) takes place when the soft but firm connective tissue is known as cartilage found in between bones of your joints (such as knees, ankles or elbows) deteriorates. This soft connective tissue is vital for ensuring frictionless motion of joints. During osteoarthritis, the surface of this tissue takes on a rough texture, and consequently, it wears down completely.

What can you do to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis?

There are several simple ways that you can employ to prevent this condition from occurring and these are:

  1. Maintain a healthy body weight: Being overweight is one of the leading risk factors for osteoarthritis. The extra body weight causes additional pressure to be exerted on weight-bearing joints like knees and hips. As time passes, this additional strain damages the cartilage that acts as pads between bones of the joints. Additionally, the extra body weight also causes your body to produce a destructive protein known cytokines, leading to inflammation of the joint areas.
  2. Maintain an optimal blood sugar level: High levels of glucose in your body bring about the development of certain chemicals that make cartilage rigid and more susceptible to mechanical stress. Controlling abnormal blood sugar levels is vital for reducing this risk of inflammation that can lead to the loss of cartilage and joint damage.
  3. Indulge in physical activity: Indulging in any kind of physical can help in keeping your joints healthy. You need to spend about 30 minutes of each day on performing the moderately intense exercise. This will ensure not only the ability of your joints but also make stronger the muscles that hold up and steady your hips and knees.
  4. Have a well-balanced dietIncluding certain foods in your diet can help in reducing your chances of developing osteoarthritis. A well-balanced diet that prevents oa should consist of ample amount of omega - 3 fatty acids, vitamin d and vitamin c. While fatty fish like tuna and salmon, eggs, sunlight etc are considered to be good sources of vitamin d, strawberries, tomatoes and potatoes are just a few of the food sources that you can consider for meeting your vitamin c requirements. For meeting your omega - 3 fatty acids requirement, you can consume fish oil as well as plant or nut oils.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

2741 people found this helpful