‘Eggs are safe for your heart’

Washington: If you are really fond of eggs, then you need not worry about relishing one too many. An egg a day's contribution to the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in healthy adults is just 1%, according to a new study funded by an industry body.
    Poor diet, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity contribute a whopping 30-40% to heart disease risk, depending on gender.
    The study, funded by the Egg Nutrition Centre and published online in Risk Analysis, substantiates decades of research challenging the myth that the cholesterol in eggs is linked to increased heart disease risk.
    Moreover, the study authors noted that their analysis did not adjust for the health promoting benefits of eggs which may, in fact, decrease heart disease risk.
    For example, research has found that overweight men who eat eggs while on a carbohydrate-restricted diet have
a significant increase in their HDL levels ("good" cholesterol) compared to men who do not eat eggs.
    In a recent study, experts found that eating two eggs for breakfast, as part of a reducedcalorie diet, helped overweight or obese adults lose 65% more weight and reduce their body mass index (BMIs) by 61% more than those eating a bagel breakfast of equal calories. IANS

Snorers 'burn more calories at rest'

LONDON: Believe it or not, snorers burn more calories than non-snorers, even at rest.

A new study has revealed that heavy snoring help burn calories and, in fact, the more severe one's snoring the more calories one regularly burns even while one's awake, reported the 'Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery' journal.

According to researchers, the increased activity in a sufferer's nervous system caused by their snoring could be the reason behind the findings.

The researchers have based their findings on analysis of 212 patients, all of whom snored or had related conditions including sleep apnoea, a disorder in which sufferers actually make snoring noises and stop breathing momentarily during the sleep as their airways close over.

Those who suffered from the most serious snoring problems expended around 2,000 calories while resting every day, while those who tended to snore lightly and less often burned an average of 1,626 calories a day resting, they found.

And, according to the researchers, resting energy expenditure may be affected by increased reactions in nervous system caused by snoring and snoring-related disorders.

However, they have strictly warned that snoring could cause other problems, which could make sufferers gain weight, despite the fact that they are expending more calories while at rest.

Lead researcher Eric J Kezirian of the University of California was quoted by 'The Daily Telegraph' as saying: "First, sleep-disordered breathing often results in fatigue

and other (changes) in daytime functioning that can limit physical activity.

"Second this (study) does not specifically incorporate the emerging evidence that suggests sleep-disordered breathing may alter energy intake, whether through hormonal or other mechanisms."

BAD HYGIENE AT ROOT OF TEETHING TROUBLES

A fast-paced lifestyle and poor awareness has resulted in a marked deterioration in the city's dental health, finds a study

Sharad Vyas & Madhavi Rajadhyaksha | TNN

Mumbai: Mumbaikars have a poor level of oral hygiene, that could be blamed perhaps on their busy schedules and little dental awareness, finds a recent survey.
    A study by the BMC-run Nair Dental College released last week revealed that out of a lakh patients who visited the hospital in the last one year, a growing number suffered from cavities, gum diseases and oral cancers, with dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontitis (inflammation of gums) emerging as the most common problems.
    Dentists said most people not only lack awareness about oral hygiene, but don't even have the time in their fastpaced lives to brush their teeth before going to bed. "Some don't have time even to brush their teeth once in a day, and they are not aware of its consequences. This is the reason why the life expectancy of our teeth is going down,'' said Dr Suhasini J Nagda, dean of Nair, the oldest dental hospital in the city.
    Dean of the Government Dental College, Dr Mansingh Pawar, echoed her concerns: "We find that there is low awareness about dental health among most people, particularly because dental diseases don't affect daily routine till the problem is really severe,'' he said. He felt the changing food habits — increased consumption of sweets, chocolates, ice-creams and biscuits, is resulting in the higher incidence of oral caries.
    Dr Pawar observed another trend, pointing out there were more cases of caries among city-dwellers whereas rural folk turned up with more of gum diseases. "This is because wrong eating habits are more prevalent among city-dwellers, while the rural population have issues of hygiene,'' he said.
    The survey also revealed that an increased number of patients are opting for minor cosmetic surgery to improve their smile and looks. About 4,000 patients admitted at Nair alone underwent various treatments like bleaching, giving veneers, reducing gaps between teeth — all to change the character of their smiles. Most of them wanted a confident smile and model-like teeth, said doctors.
    In fact earlier this year, Nair Hospital had celebrated Oral Hygiene Day on August 1 to spread awareness. As part of an extensive drive, several students conducted street plays and skits propagating the importance of oral hygiene and discouraging dangerous habits such as smoking and tobacco chewing. "We work with a simple motto — Teeth for a lifetime,'' Nagda added.
    Moreover, the hospital's community dentistry programmes were regularly held at institutions, schools, prisons and public areas. A mobile dental van reached out to more than 3000 patients through as many as 133 visits.
    The hospital's community awareness drive also focused on the underprivileged sections of society, with some 4,544 street children and prostitutes treated at various camps. Among them, gingivitis and tooth decay were found to be the two most common diseases.
COMMON DISEASES
CARIES What is it? It is tooth decay due to multiple growth of microbes. Causes: Wrong eating habits particularly overdose of foods containing refined carbohydrates such as sweets, biscuits, chocolates, icecreams and sticky packaged foods Symptoms: Initial chalky white appearance on teeth which subsequently turns black if left unattended. It may further deteriorate to dental cavities and increased sensitivity
GROSSLY AFFECTED TEETH
What is it? Severe form of teeth decay in which enamel and dental tissues are destroyed, generally seen in the grinders (teeth at the back of the mouth) Causes: Wrong food habits Symptoms: Change in appearance of teeth.
GINGIVITIS What is it? External gum disease
Causes: Bad oral hygiene. People at risk include those who don't gargle after eating or don't brush their teeth properly.
Symptoms: Gums turn red and may show signs of swelling or bleeding. If it progresses it could result in the loss of teeth
PERIODONTITIS What is it? Internal gum disease, a severe form of Gingivitis.
Causes: Bad oral hygiene. Symptoms: Decay in the soft tissues around the teeth.
DENTAL INFECTIONS
The most common form is oral cancer which accounts for nearly 45 per cent of all cancers. Causes: Consumption of tobacco and tobacco products particularly chewing tobacco (gutka) Symptoms: Shows up as lesions in the mouth.
FOR PEARLY WHITES
Brush your teeth atleast twice a day.
Gargle after every meal or snack
Avoid eating excessive sweets, particularly chocolates, icecreams and food stuffs containing refined carbohydrates
Visit dentists for preventive checks, just as you would your family doctor.

Body BASICS

Watch out for winter

 Who doesn't like to bask in the winter sun? But the dip in mercury also signals the arrival of the common cold and flu, which often escalate to pneumonia. Try these tips to stay healthy as the mercury dips…
Do's
Keep yourself warm I This indirectly helps keep away bacterial and viral infections. Cold conditions decrease your immune response, increasing chances of colds, flu and pneumonia.
Drink plenty of water I You don't feel as thirsty as in summer, so the water intake tends to decrease. In winter, one tends to consume hot drinks like coffee and tea more often. But, caffeine draws out the water from the system, causing dehydration. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day. Exercise regularly I With shorter daylight time, we tend to wake up later in winter and generally slow down. Our fitness routine is usually put on the back burner. Make a conscious effort to follow a daily exercise schedule. An extra 20 minutes of physical activity helps to improve circulation and keep those extra pounds at bay.
Massage your hands and feet I To prevent chilblain (small, itchy, blue swellings) in extreme cold temperatures, as are prevalent in North India, massage your palms, fingers, toes and heels with warm vegetable oil.
Get at least eight hours of sleep I Managing the recommended eight hours of sleep is crucial as a lack of it lowers one's immunity and energy levels during winter. Avoid alcohol and nicotine for a good sleep. Take care of hands and feet I This is a must for everyone. Foot care is important for diabetics to avoid infection that can lead to gangrene.
Keep a regular check on your blood sugar I As exercise tends to decrease in winter and infections are on the rise, this is a potential time for elderly diabetics to fall easy prey to obstinate infections that get exaggerated if one's blood sugar is uncontrolled. A regular check of blood sugar is recommended for diabetics.
Get checked for anaemia I Low haemoglobin can predispose you to infections and other winter ailments. Improving haemoglobin adequately keeps you better poised to avoid and confront infections.
Have plenty of vegetables and fruits I
Winter is the season especially in humid cities for good seasonal vegetables and fruits. Feel free to binge on them as they improve immunity and keep the body in supply of its requirements of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Don'ts
Don't forget vitamin D
Those in very cold places are at risk of not getting enough vitamin D during winter, when the UV radiation from the sun's rays is weak. A vitamin D supplement of 200 IU is recommended.
Don't forget to moisturise
That winter wind is damaging to our skin, so the best beauty secret is to moisturise as frequently as possible. Everything from your hair to your skin starts to feel scaly so stock up on thick luxurious moisturisers and use the chapstick! Moisturised wipes will be useful if you have a cold.
Don't get into the "eating only high cal food" loop
When the environs are cold , many of us fall back on carb and fat heavy comfort food like pasta, thick creamy soups, mithai, ghee-soaked parathas. However, this will not only hinder your weight loss goals but also make you lethargic and sleepy.
Don't overlook sunscreen
Summer is not the only time to worry about using sunscreen. Surprisingly, skin damage is a great concern even in a snowsuit. Wearing at least an SPF 15 when outdoors in the winter is recommended. The glare from snow can be so harmful, so it's a good idea to wear goggles.
    (Inputs from Mumbai-based pathologist
    Dr Indumati Gopinathan)