The beverage that fights stroke

The artery-friendly polyphenols in green tea reduce risk of heart disease

You can blow the whistle on "brain attacks" by turning on your teapot. That's right. If you've got green tea brewing in there, it's one celestial seasoning that can help you live longer. If you drink enough, you just might lower your risk of dying from a stroke by up to 42 per cent!
Holy Teacup, Batman
In a large study of women, those who sipped at least five cups of green tea a day had a 42 per cent lower risk of death due to stroke, compared with women who drank less than one cup a day. Other research shows that just two 227 gram cups of tea daily can dramatically reduce the risk of dying from heart disease — most likely because of the arteryfriendly polyphenols in tea.
Here's to Life
So raise your mug — and celebrate these additional benefits of drinking green tea: Great skin. Green tea rejuvenates skin cells. Healthy joints. You've heard of a green thumb. But how about green knees? A trim waistline. You'll burn more fat if you drink green tea. A smart brain. Drink this cup to stay sharp.

TOAST TO TEA: Sip atleast five cups of green tea a day

HEAL WITH HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathy helps treat osteoarthritis

 Among the worst afflictions of old age is osteoarthritis which affects 80 per cent of the elderly. It attacks mainly the knee, hip and thigh joints. The usual suspects are obesity, family history or a traumatic injury. Until the age of 55 it occurs equally in both sexes, but after 55 it occurs mainly in women. While the world average is 4 per cent, the incidence of osteoarthritis in India is as high as 12 per cent.
    A balanced lifestyle helps to avert or relieve osteoarthritis. Being overweight places extra strain on the joints of the load bearing lower limbs. Regular exercise and a sensible diet are a must. Osteoarthritis patients are allergic to all fish and meat products. Additionally they should avoid alcohol, coffee, dairy, sugar, excess salt and spinach.
    Given that patients are elderly and their bodies frail, homeopathy is the best choice of treatment. However, osteoarthritis being a degenerative disease with pathological changes almost irreversible, it cannot be completely cured. What homeopathy can and does do is slow it down and offer considerable pain relief.
    I recall the case of 55-yearold Mrs Joshi who came to us complaining of knee joint pains which prevented her from squatting, walking or even getting up easily. The stiffness was worst after a bout of inactivity. Diagnosing her with osteoarthritis, an orthopaedic advised her to lose weight, prescribed painkillers which caused hyperacidity, and condemned her to a lifelong sentence of suffering. Luckily upon a friend's advice, she came to us where post a detailed case examination, she was prescribed Rhus Tox. Soon enough her pain had eased so dramatically that she could easily resume a normal routine.
    Homeopathic Remedies:
    Rhus toxicodendron 30:
Pain and stiffness, worst in the morning and during cold, wet weather.
    Ruta graveolens 200:
Severe stiffness and lameness, worse from cold, damp and exertion.
    Bryonia 200: Tearing or throbbing pain aggravated by motion. Rest and pressure may bring relief (if the pressure adds stability), but movement is intolerable. Cold applications often reduce discomfort.
    Apis mellifica 30: Acute conditions with redness, tenderness, and swelling. Joints feel hot with stinging pain.

Dr Mukesh Batra

To be mentally stronger

BT gives you simple day-to-day pointers that could help you in your pursuit of peace and happiness

DR KANAN KHATAU CHIKHAL

With the rise of mental illness in the city, anxiety, depressions, panic attacks, suicides, schizophrenia, low self-esteem are our new found best friends. In the rat race of science and technology, where we have to prove our productiveness, we have proudly forgotten to be humans — something that we are all born with.
    We tend to blame our family, friends, peers, superiors to be the cause of stress in our health. But how many people will you blame? The list just goes on. Ever thought of looking within?
    All of us are in the pursuit of peace and happiness… but somewhere along the line, trying to strike a balance between the social, spiritual, economic and mental aspects of our lives is a learning and growing process forever.
    Lack of a stoic balance makes us feel like an emotional 'Tarzan' swinging from one end to another. We experience a sense of unpredictability and instability.
    Moreover, for some of us who are unable to call the 'shots', life may almost be like a puppet in the hands of the other. Creating a balance in the core of our lives is somehow the essence of having a strong foundation.
    Here are a few simple day to day pointers and tips that could help you 'live and see the brighter colours of your mind'.
Mind your mind: Get into the habit of introspection and look within. Have you acted out of proportion to a situation or not expressed yourself ? Practicing introspection on a regular basis will make you more aware of who you really are.
Are you able to live in the NOW? Life is a mystery — a box of chocolates you will never know which one you get! It is with this realisation that clarity comes in and your life improves.
Relax unwind: If too much work is weighing you down, learn to say to yourself, 'I have had enough for the day'. Listen to music, watch a film and meditate. Taking ten minutes out of your busy office schedule to do something you enjoy may destress you.
Meditate: Make meditation a ritual like you brush your teeth, it is essential to feel the space within. Our mind is clogged with thoughts, actions, words, emotions leaving no room for silence and the emptiness within. Meditation helps in getting touch with the silence within.
Accept yourself: We are all different human beings, individual in our own nature. The only thing that is common to all of us is that 'we aren't perfect'. So, don't judge yourself or anybody else.
Be a part: Be a part of a club, a course, or a non-profit organisation. Look around, you will find a lot to do. Not only will you feel better but you will benefit from supporting others too.
Keep in touch… 'untouchability' is a crime: If you are going through a difficult time like a messy divorce, a bad month at work, or just a painful experience, you don't need to pretend to be strong and put up with it alone. Friends are essential at this time so remember to keep in touch.
Feel oneness with Mother Nature: Go on a nature trail, making your own road will give you confidence and make you feel free. A simple act like watching a bird or a butterfly can bring an immense sense of relaxation.
Do something creative: Start a hobby. It will help you when
you are anxious or low by increasing your confidence. It could be writing a poem, learning a dance, cooking, gardening. Experiment and find your forte. Step it up! Regular exercises in the form of a sport you enjoy like swimming, walking, dancing, and cycling may be a lot of hard work but are surely worth the effort. Not only are they good for the physical body but mentally they release hormones that help you feel positive.
Feed your mind: Having a balanced diet not only fills your physical body with the right nutrients and energy but the food you eat affects the moods you feel. The simple key is to eat regularly every two to three hours and have a good proportion of fruits, nuts and vegetables everyday. Zzz…: Clocking in the zzzs…is an essential part of keeping your mind healthy.
Talkety talk: Our problems tend to overwhelm us and push us into our shell. It may always help to confide in a friend you trust and let the steam off. The friend may in fact give you a third person's perspective which may not have occurred to you earlier.
Lean on… support: The truth is if you are physically sick, you normally very readily run to a doctor for help but somehow the embarrassment creeps in when you may have to ask for help for your mental health. You tend to perceive it as a sign of weakness. On the contrary it is only a sign of personal strength. Everyone needs strength from time to time and honestly there is nothing wrong in asking for it.
Value yourself!: The feeling of being valuable — 'I am a valuable person is essential to mental health and is a cornerstone of self discipline': (Scott Peck).
    For only after you realise this will you allow love, joy and peace to flourish in your life! (The writer is a clinical psychologist and counsellor)

TOP OF THE WORLD: Regular exercise helps you to feel positive

UNWIND: Listen to music or do something you enjoy

Internet use 'good for the brain'

Areas activated by reading a book in the brain of an experienced web user

For middle aged and older people at least, using the internet helps boost brain power, research suggests.

A University of California Los Angeles team found searching the web stimulates centres in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning.

The researchers say this might even help to counter-act the age-related physiological changes that cause the brain to slow down.

The study features in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

A simple, everyday task like searching the web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults Professor Gary Small University of California Los Angeles

As the brain ages, a number of changes occur, including shrinkage and reductions in cell activity, which can impact on performance.

It has long been thought that activities which keep the brain active, such as crossword puzzles, may help minimise the impact - and the latest study suggests that surfing the web can be added to the list.

Web use stimulates much more activity in the same brain

Lead researcher Professor Gary Small said: "The study results are encouraging, that emerging computerized technologies may have physiological effects and potential benefits for middle-aged and older adults.

"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function."

The latest study was based on 24 volunteers aged between 55 and 76. Half were experienced internet users, the rest were not.

Compared with reading

Each volunteer underwent a brain scan while performing web searches and book-reading tasks.

Both types of task produced evidence of significant activity in regions of the brain controlling language, reading, memory and visual abilities.

However, the web search task produced significant additional activity in separate areas of the brain which control decision-making and complex reasoning - but only in those who were experienced web users.

Brain activity in web newcomers: similar for reading and internet use

The researchers said that compared with simple reading, the internet's wealth of choices requires that people make decisions about what to click on in order to get the relevant information.

However, they suggested that newcomers to the web had not quite grasped the strategies needed to successfully carry out a web search.

Professor Smith said: "A simple, everyday task like searching the web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults, demonstrating that our brains are sensitive and can continue to learn as we grow older."

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "These fascinating findings add to previous research suggesting that middle-aged and older people can reduce their risk of dementia by taking part in regular mentally stimulating activities.

"Older web users - 'silver surfers' - are doing precisely this.

"Frequent social interactions, regular exercise and maintaining a balanced diet can also reduce dementia risk."

Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Use it or lose it may well be a positive message to keep people active but there is very little real evidence that keeping the brain exercised with puzzles, games or other activities can promote cognitive health and reduce the risk of dementia."

Breakthrough: Protein that helps people hear found

London: A protein in the inner ear helps people differentiate between sounds and understand speech, French researchers reported in a finding that could help treat the hard of hearing.
   The study also helps explain why some people have difficulty hearing in crowded restaurants or other noisy places, said Paul Avan, a researcher at the University of Auvergne, France. "This won't help cure deafness but will help diagnose why some people have hearing problems, especially in noisy places," Avan, who worked on the study, said.
   The study, which used genetically engineered mice, looked at the part of the inner ear called the cochlea, which contains two types of sensory cells to detect sounds.
   Scientists often study mice because of the biological similarities between the animals and humans. Until now people had thought that structures called ion channels found in the cells — which work like a microphone to transform sound into electrical messages — were mainly responsible for distorting sound in the ear.
   Distortion is important because it allows people to pick out the correct sounds from a mixture of noises, such as it be competing conversations at a cocktail party.
   But the researchers showed how a protein called stereocilin was keeping sensory cells intact and allowing the inner ear to properly distort sounds. The findings could help doctors fit certain people with special hearing aids that eliminate noise from certain directions.
   "Until now it was thought that if the ion channels worked everything would be okay," Avan said. "We show that this is not the case. Sensitivity will be good but that does nothing if you don't understand anything if it is noisy around you." REUTERS

Medicinal Powers of Yoga

Medical research accumulating over the past 10 to 15 years is showing that yoga can provide a range of health benefits. It's not a cure-all, but there's relatively little that it can't help.

Improves Balance

Balance becomes particularly important as we age; falls are a leading cause of hip fractures, an injury that can be hard to recover from for older, frail adults. Practicing positions such as the tree pose, in which you place the sole of your foot against your other leg's thigh, can improve your balance. Research out of Temple University this year also shows that Iyengar yoga can help women over 65 increase their confidence in walking and balance.



Relieves Pain

Studies have found that yoga poses and meditation can reduce the amount of pain associated with arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel syndrome, among other conditions. Recent research out of Group Health Cooperative's Center for Health Studies also has shown that yoga appears to be more effective for relieving low back pain than conventional exercise.

Improves Bowel Function

Along with its ability to relieve stress and improve posture, many yoga poses can help move food and waste products through the bowels, improving their ability to function. Bringing more yogic awareness to the way you eat can help you slow down and swallow less air, which can worsen gas and bloating.



Better Lung Capacity

Regular yoga practice will improve your posture, preventing your lower ribs from pushing into your abdomen and limiting the amount of air you inhale. It will also help you learn to use your abdominal muscles to exhale more fully, allowing you to take in more air on the following breath. Beyond helping people with asthma, research from Khon Kaen University in Thailand has shown that even short-term yoga exercise can improve the breathing capacity of those who are young and healthy.



Promotes Weight Loss

Studies have shown that those who begin to regularly practice yoga, particularly the overweight, tend to lose weight. Research also shows that it may help people between the ages of 45 to 55 from gaining as much weight--a common problem due to the group's declining energy needs and failure to adjust its caloric intake.



Improves Psychological Health

Several studies have shown that yoga can improve measures of psychological health, such as mood and self-esteem. Research found that practicing yoga may elevate levels of the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Since low levels are associated with depression and anxiety, the findings indicate yoga may be a possible treatment option for mental illnesses.



Helps Cholesterol Levels

A number of studies are showing that yoga can lower the levels of blood fats, such as low-density lipoprotein, known as bad cholesterol. The mechanism may be connected to yoga's effect on stress, which can boost cholesterol levels and worsen the ratio of total to high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol.



Strengthens Bones

Many yoga poses involve weight-bearing actions, which strengthen bones and can help prevent osteoporosis. Some examples include standing poses that put weight on the legs or arm balances that place weight on the wrists. Unpublished research out of California State University, Los Angeles, found that standing poses increased the bone density in the vertebrae of women ages 18 to 65, compared with controls who performed their normal physical activity.



Improves Cancer Patients' Quality of Life

Researchers have shown that breast cancer patients who perform yoga during treatment can improve the quality of their lives, compared with patients who skip the practice. After just one week of yoga and radiation, patients in the study reported changes in their ability to function socially, lower levels of daytime sleep and lower levels of overall fatigue.



Lowers Need For Medication

Studies have shown that yoga can help some people with asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and other conditions to lower the amount of medications they're taking or eliminate their need for them.

Improves Menopausal Symptoms

A survey by the Yoga Biomedical Trust about the health benefits of yoga showed that of 317 people reporting menopausal disorders, 83% said yoga appeared to help. Many yogis, as well as a growing number of people in the medical community, believe that stress can influence the severity of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and mood swings. Yoga poses and meditation has been shown to be useful in minimizing the effects of stress.

 

 

Honey, used in tea or hot water

OTTAWA (AFP) - Honey, used in tea or hot water in Canada for
generations to soothe sore throats, could soon be substituted for
antibiotics in fighting stubborn ear, nose and throat infections,
according to a new study.
Ottawa University doctors found in tests that ordinary honey kills
bacteria that cause sinus infections, and does it better in most cases
than antibiotics.
"It's astonishing," researcher Joseph Marson said of bees' unexplained
ability to combine the nectar of flowers into a seemingly potent
medicine.
The preliminary tests were conducted in laboratory dishes, not in live
patients, but included the "superbug" methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, which is highly resistant to
antibiotics.
In upcoming human trials, a "honey rinse" would be used to "flush out
the goo from sinus cavities," said Marson in an interview with AFP.
The researchers have so far tested manuka honey from New Zealand, and
sidr honey from Yemen.
The two killed all floating bacteria in liquid, and 63-91 percent of
biofilms -- microorganisms that sometimes form a protective layer in
sinus cavities, urinary tracts, catheters, and heart valves,
protecting bacteria from normal drug treatments and often leading to
chronic infections.
The most effective antibiotic, rifampin, killed just 18 percent of the
biofilm samples in the tests.
"As of today, nobody is sure what in the honey kills the bacteria,"
Marson said, noting that "not all honeys have the same potency" and
calling for more research to determine the mechanism behind the
healing.
Canada's clover and buckwheat honey did not work at all.
Previous studies have shown honey's healing properties on infected wounds.
The results of the study were presented this week at the annual
meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck
Surgery, in Chica

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Clifford Stoll  - "The Internet is a telephone system that's gotten uppity."

5 AILMENTS THAT ARE KILLING MUMBAI

What Can You Do To Ward Off Cardiac Diseases, TB, HIV/AIDS, Renal Failure And Cancer? TOI Speaks To Doctors KILLER NO 1: HEART ATTACK TOLL between 2004 and 2006 in Mumbai's hospitals: 37,193      It is an established medical fact that Indians are genetically more prone to heart diseases. What is worrying doctors is that Indians — especially those in urban hubs like Mumbai — are getting it at a younger age. It is also presumed that a worringly high 9 per cent to 11 per cent of persons above the age of 45 in urban India have heart disease.  DOCTORSPEAK      Avast majority of patients who get admitted to the intensive care units of hospitals with acute heart attacks are totally asymptomatic. Most of them say they were healthy till the day before their heart attack. Some even mention that they have competed in a marathon or two or climbed 10 flights of stairs without gasping for breath. Yet, suddenly, they collapse.      It is now known that if a person has over 70 per cent obstruction of blood flow, then s/he will experience pain or symptoms.      But, in these patients, there is a sudden rupture of this plaque (the obstruction) that leads to a clot formation and the obstruction becomes 100 per cent, leading to a sudden heart attack. There is no way to detect such obstruction on a mass-screening basis as the tests are invasive and expensive. But what Mumbaikars can do is undergo a health check-up once every year after they are 35.      People who have at least two risk factors for heart diseases (among smoking, hypertension, diabetes) should be more vigilant.  Ashwin Mehta | HEAD OF CARDIOLOGY  DEPARTMENT OF JASLOK HOSPITAL  KILLER NO 2: TUBERCULOSIS TOLL between 2004 and 2006 in Mumbai's hospitals: 26,951      It is estimated that 2 million cases of tuberculosis are reported in India every year. India also accounts for around 30 per cent of the world's cases. What has been worrying Mumbai's doctors is the changing form of the disease: tuberculosis of various organs (like bone and spine) has increased phenonomenally in the last few years. There also is evidence that Mumbai is home to many patients with MDR (multi drug-resistant) and XDR (extremely drug-resistant) forms of tuberculosis.  DOCTORSPEAK      India has the maximum number of patients suffering from tuberculosis and so it does not exactly come as a surprise that it is a leading killer in the city as well.      Besides, with so much filth in the city and because of the fact that twothirds of Mumbaikars stay in slums and a huge number travels by crowded trains, it is even less surprising that tuberculosis is so rampant in Mumbai.      When a tuberculosis patient coughs, s/he releases over 300 million bacilli in one go. People around inhale the germs, becoming susceptible to the disease. Air pollution is going up. The concentration of dust is going up, construction work is on; all these are good mediums for the tuberculosis germs to spread. It is not surprising that the, too, rich are no longer immune to it. It is time people stopped depending on the administration and took it upon themselves to clean up their surroundings.  Rohini Chowghule | CHEST PHYSICIAN AT  BOMBAY HOSPITAL KILLER NO 3: CANCER  TOLL between 2004 and 2006 in Mumbai's hospitals: 18,107      Cancer cases in India are likely to go up by 50 per cent by 2020, say studies. Mumbai, with its stress-ridden lifestyle, dietary changes and substance abuse (tobacco), is not going to fare any differently.  DOCTORSPEAK      Cancer is the second leading cause of death across the world. If it is among the top five killers in Mumbai then it is a reflection of our rapidly urbanising society. Cancers are also related to lifestyle reasons.  It is now a well-known medical fact that factors like smoking, poor dietary habits and obesity increase the probability of the disease.  There are two important lessons for Mumbaikars; first, Mumbaikars should look at preventive steps like lifestyle changes (cutting down smoking) that can reduce the chances of getting cancer by 25 per cent; second, massscreening programmes are not the answer to beat cancer.  We need to focus on cancer awareness. If people can recognise the symptoms, then they have a better chance at treatment and life.  When a Hollywood actor spoke about undergoing a colonoscopy on TV, it resulted in massive awareness about colon cancer. As a result, over the years, the US has registered a drop in number of colon cancer cases.  P Jagannath | CANCER SURGEON FROM LILAVATI  HOSPITAL  KILLER NO 4: KIDNEY FAILURE TOLL between 2004 and 2006 in Mumbai's hospitals: 6,533      Kidneys have become synonymous with rackets but the disease is among the fastest-growing ones in the country. India is the diabetes capital of the world and the incidence of kidney diseases is also likely to rise. It is estimated that 150-200 in every 10 lakh suffer from end-stage renal disease.  DOCTORSPEAK      There is an increasing trend of lifestyle diseases like blood pressure and diabetes. Kidney failure is an effect of these diseases. As there are more cases of diabetes and hypertension, there is a higher incidence of kidney failure.      Moreover, there is not a single item that is not adulterated. Be it water, milk, fruits or masalas, everything has a percentage of adulteration. Some of these materials are metallic and poisonous.      As all of these elements pass through the kidney (which is an organ that removes toxicity in blood), there is bound to be an effect on the organ. What can people do to stay healthy? They should not become obese and should eat good food and drink enough water.  Vatsala Trivedi | HEAD OF THE ZONAL TRANSPLANT COORDINATION CENTRE FOR KIDNEY  TRANSPLANTS      KILLER NO 5:      HIV/AIDS TOLL between 2004 and 2006 in Mumbai's hospitals: 3,826 It is often said that Mumbai exports HIV/AIDS to the rest of the country. The migrant labourer is supposed to be the most vulnerable to this sexually transmitted disease, which cripples the immune system. In Mumbai, the incidence of the disease is low (less than 1 per cent) in the general population but it is a whopping 42 per cent among commercial sex workers.  DOCTORSPEAK      Since Mumbai has 74 HIV/AIDS-testing centres, people who have indulged in high-risk behaviour can walk in any time for a test. Even if a person tests positive for the virus, he or she can avail of free medicines and free treatment for opportunistic ailments for up to Rs 3 lakh.      There are two things that people can do to prevent the spead of this disease: first, adopt means to prevent the disease (use a condom, for instance); second, don't take medicines from quacks who promise a cure. It must be remembered that HIV/AIDS was the number one killer a decade back.      But, due to awareness, it became the number 10 killer (nationally) last year.  Harish Pathak | JOINT DIRECTOR, MUMBAI  DISTRICT AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY THE WORST 10  These 10 diseases have been responsible for the maximum number of deaths in BMC- and state-run hospitals in Mumbai between 2006 and 2008

Clifford Stoll  - "The Internet is a telephone system that's gotten uppity."

wellness WATCH

Achilles' HEEL

You may need to check whether high heels are right for you

A COLLEAGUE recently narrated an interesting tale about how her doctor had traced high heels as the reason behind her back pain. Now, most of us know that stilettos and style make most women go tip-toe and maintaining equilibrium with elan is more of an art than science for them. But before you shop for that show-stealer pair, do you spare a thought for the hazards of high heels? 

    Let's understand why your style statement may come at a high price? In fact, doctors feel that the current craze for superhigh heels with very narrow toes create problems for the feet. Round-toes shoes with five or even seven-inch heels, in vogue now, are hardly better. As for the popular thongs — they expose feet and cause frequent accidents. They suggest that the best shoes for healthy feet mimic the foot's natural shape, while offering support to the arch and a flexible sole underneath the toes. 
    Says Dr Sanjay Swarup, senior consultant, orthopaedics, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital & Max Healthcare: "There are some major health problems with high heels. First, owing to the position of the feet, the big toe starts deviating outside. This condition is called Hallux Valgux and leads to the formation of bunions — a swelling and redness at the base of the toe." According to Dr Swarup, the second problem pencil-heels can lead to relates pain in the heels. Since the body weight is transferred to a small surface area, the heels get stiff, causing constant pain in the heels. And third, if you stand or walk for a long time wearing high heels, there are definite chances of getting low back or neck pain or even disc prolapse in a severe case. This happens because a woman wearing high heels tends to bend backwards to maintain the centre of gravity. This long wrong posture maintained for long hours can lead to back pain. Also, high heels can lead to calf muscle and knee joint pains, making the wearer more prone to spraining an ankle, Dr Swarup adds. 
    There are other reasons as well. An elevated heel lifts the foot out of its natural position and shortens the Achilles' tendon. Such shoes also 
pitch the weight of the body forward disproportionately onto the ball of the foot, which in turn upsets the stabilising mechanism of the foot. Besides, fashionable shoes that try to convert the foot into an ideal form, with the toes narrowed or tapered to a point, often require cramming the foot into less space than it would normally occupy. These can impede the foot's mechanical function by limiting toe and ankle flexibility. 
    Regular tight shoes put pressure on nerves and even damage them, and also contribute in the long run to arthritis, say doctors. In the worst case, they add, tight shoes can also produce foot deformities. 
    That's said, experts say all this is relative. Women who are strong and exercise regularly often don't have any complications, although they acknowledge that pencil heels, due to their awkward shape, can cause stress to the leg, heels and back muscles. 
    So what's to be done? At a time when fashion is getting to dizzy heights, it's obvious that sheer health rhetoric won't work. But paying attention to what's best for an individual may go a long way in removing the odd problems. Dr Swarup advises that women should choose the right shoes for their feet type and their activity. For instance, women with 
high arches may need more cushioning, and people with relatively flat feet may need more arch support. 
    So, the next time you jump suddenly from stilettos to flats, or from daily flip-flops to high heels, don't forget that the best way to allow your tissues to adapt is to make no rapid changes. Changes in footwear and training should always be gradual — evolutionary, not revolutionary, say experts. 
PRECARIOUSLY BALANCED 
If you stand or walk for a long time wearing high heels, there are definite chances of getting low back or neck pain. This happens because a woman wearing high heels tends to bend backwards to maintain the centre of gravity. If stretched for long hours, this wrong posture can lead to back pain 
Owing to the position of the feet when wearing high heels, the big toe starts deviating outside. This leads to the formation of a bunion, which is swelling and redness at the base of the toe Since the body weight is transferred to a small surface area, the heel gets stiff, causing constant pain in the heels

A. P. Herbert  - "A high-brow is someone who looks at a sausage and thinks of Picasso."