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CT SCANS RECOMMENDED FOR KIDNEY DONORS

Living kidney donors should have routine computed tomography (CT) scan before the operation the determine the anatomy of the arteries that supply their kidneys with blood, according to a new report. The findings can help percent surgeons being surprised by unexpected anatomical differences in arterial supply to the kidney that can lead to complications or prolong surgery.

The study, presented at the 100^th annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society, found that anatomical differences in kidney arteries are much more common on CT studies than previously reported from anatomic dissections in cadavers. The study results suggest that all potential kidney donors should undergo CT screening so that surgeons can check their renal arteries before the procedure.

Dr. Marta Bogdanowicz from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and colleagues undertook their study of 1,004 kidneys in 502 potential kidney donors to better define the incidence of such anatomical differences, called anomalies.

ASTHMA

Asthma is chronic disease in which the lining of the airways in the lungs (bronchi and bronchioles) become inflamed and swollen and produce extra muscus. Episodes of asthma (known as attacks) occur when the airways narrow, making it difficult to breathe.” Incidentally, the inside diameter of the air tube (bronchiole is reduced by more than half during an attack.

For an asthma-free individal this could be akin to trying to breathe while strangulating yourself!

Asthma being hereditary, children with even one parent suffering from asthma stands a 25 percent chance of acquiring the ailment. Asthma is a condition wherein the lungs are allergic to something in the environment like pollen or dust particle. But even an allergic reaction of the nose to the environment, when not timely treated, can result in asthma, says Dr. Harish Kumar Penmde, Executive Member of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Delhi Branch.

ASTHMA CAN BE CURBED, NOT CURED

While the disease cannot be cured, it can be controlled to a point. The asthma medicine is primarily delivered directly into the lungs using inhaler delivery systems like a multi-dose inhaler or a nebuliser. For both devices, either a powdered drug can be used as in the case of Rotahaler into which a medicinal capsule is inserted or a liquid drug can be used Acculerhalers like the Glaxo ones come preloaded and provide the appropriate amount of medicine.

For severe asthmatics, the doctor would recommend steroid tablets. According to SACR, the functioning of the lungs can be measured by using a device called a peakflometer which can be used at home as well, to find out the amount of air a patient exhales and how well a person is breathing. The peakflowmeter which has a plastic tube with a calibrated scale can be used by a child above the age of five.

FACTORS CAUSING ASTHMA

Symptoms of this allergic disease can worsen with factors in the environment (known as ‘triggers') though they vary from person to person. An identification of these factors will help an individual towards learning how to control his/her attacks. Asthma both in children and adults can be precipitated by some of the following :-

Allergens such as house dustmites, cockroaches, pollen of plants and flowers, fungus, scales, fur and hair of animals.

Viral infections of the respiratory tract.

Irritants with strong odors,chemicals.

Tobacco smoke or wood smoke.

Exercise.

Some foods : Dr. Pemde reports of rare cases of some asthma patients being allergic to pulses like kalee masoor dal and even to protein !

Secretion in pets (you may just have to send your best friend away).

GETTING THE WIND TO THINGS

If the following problems recur, then you could be suffering from asthma :

Similar pattern of breathing problems and/or at a particular time of the year.

Waking up at night because of difficulty in breathing.

Cough and colds that take more than 10 days to cure with routine treatment.

An attack of shortness of breath that comes on following strenuous activity.

An attack of shortness of breath that comes on when resting and at any time.

IF YOU WITNESS AN ASTHMA ATTACK, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO

Be responsive to the sufferer. Most asthma patients carry on them an asthma managemen plan, which is something like what a diabetic would carry to inform those around him/her on how to respond at a time of an attack. Check for that plan.

Ensure that the patient has inhaled the medicine or taken the steroid tablets.

Rush the patient to the doctor immediately.

STIFLING FACTS

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India has 15 to 20 million asthmatics.

180,000 people across the world die from asthma every year.

About 1 million children in Delhi may suffer from it.

Over the last decade there has been a 40 percent rise in the number of children troubled by asthma. Asthma is often incorrectly diagnosed as pneumonia, cautions Dr. Pemde.

FOR TREATMENT, GO TO :

Among many government hospitals in Delhi the departments of the following would be able to offer medical assistance. All India Institute of Medical Science, Ram Manohar Lohia, Babu Jagjiva Ram (Jangpura), Lok Nayak Hospital (Delhi Gate), Dr. Ambedkar (Rohini).

SALT DOES BOOST BLOOD PRESSURE

A salty diet really does drive up blood pressure, both in people with and without elevated pressure, according to a study released here Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hypertension.

“For many years there has been a debate on how closely salt is linked to hypertension. I think this study may help settle the debate, that it is indeed a very important factor,” Dr. Frank Sacks, a Harvard researcher who was in charge of the study, said.

Sacks said the $ 12 million “DASH-Sodium” study suggests that an intake of sodium below the current recommended daily level of 2,400 milligrams could help Americans prevent blood pressure rises that occur especially with advancing age. Sodium is a main ingredient of table salt, whose chemical name is sodium chloride.

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