Dupuytren’s disease is a deformity in which the fibrous tissue beneath the palm and fingers, known as fascia thickens and tightens especially at old age. Here the patient develops knots under the skin which forms a thick cord and brings the finger inward. The patient is unable to straighten it, and the resulting condition is known as “Dupuytren’s contracture.” It interferes with the functioning of the hand and the person suffering from it faces difficulty in performing daily activities. In most of the cases, the patient’s ring finger gets affected by Dupuytren’s disease.
Symptoms of Dupuytren’s disease
The primary sign of Dupuytren’s disease is shortening of palmar fascia or palmar aponeurosis tissue. The symptoms develop gradually and in the beginning, the patients feel a tender lump under the skin. Eventually tough bands of tissue form below the epidermis which makes it difficult to stretch the fingers. The patient shows the presence of unusual dimples or lumps which looks like a small callus. In 50 percent of the cases, both hands get affected, and there are also reports of “Dupuytren’s contracture” in the toes of certain individuals.
Cause of Dupuytren’s disease
The exact cause of Dupuytren’s disease is still not known in the medical world. However, studies point to a connection between open wound (including surgery) in hand with the development of this disease.
Risk factors
There are certain conditions which increase the chance of developing Dupuytren’s contracture. These include the following.
Diagnosis
The doctor diagnoses Dupuytren’s contracture after physically examining the hand. If he notices the presence of dimples, thickened skin, bent finger, or pitted marks, then he may advise you to perform the “tabletop test.” Here the patient places his hand flatly over the table top. If the finger bent on the table, then the doctor suspects the Dupuytren’s disease.
Treatment
At present, there is no permanent cure for Dupuytren’s disease. However, there are surgical and non-surgical treatments available to improve the motility of fingers. In most of the cases, therapy helps to remove the cords from the fingers. Doctors may recommend needle aponeurotomy, enzymatic injections, or surgical removal of knots to improve the condition.
Dupuytren’s disease poses a problem for aged people in performing their life activities. If the disease progresses slowly, and do not cause any pain, the doctor may advise you home remedies like swearing gloves and stretching exercises to manage it.
Dogs are a man’s best friend and their most faithful companions. Finding the right kind or the best premium food to feed your dog is a very challenging task as their food primarily caters to nutritional needs. A well-balanced and healthy diet is the best thing you could give your canine. Your pet’s health would largely depend on the kind of food he is fed. The best premium dog food will keep the dog’s fur healthy and shiny, strengthen his/her bones and immune system, and keep his/her digestive tract in good health. Today, dog owners have before them a multitude of options while choosing the best premium dog food. Each brand claims to have the best-available premium dog food on the market and the choices are almost endless.
Dogs rely on us humans to provide them with the best nutrition they need. While choosing the best premium dog food, one needs to check the ingredients list as some ingredients provide more nutrition than others. Protein is derived from eggs, cheese, meat, and fish and is needed for the healthy development of bones. Certain byproducts of animal parts in dog food also provide high nutritional value to the dog’s diet. Fillers such as rice, corn bran, soy, and even cereal by-products are included in the ingredient list. However, make sure these fillers are at the bottom of the list.
Checking the type of ingredients added to dog food is of utmost importance. It is always wise to choose quality over quantity. Premium dog food should mostly contain all natural ingredients rather than just flavoring agents. The pack should mention the exact source of meat. For example, buffalo and chicken go in for a complete and balanced meal, providing a holistic and healthy diet. A grain-free product is considered superior to products containing fillers.
A healthy and balanced diet for your dog is just as important as it is to you. Artificial preservatives and flavoring agents such as propyl gallate, butylated hydroxyanisole, and ethoxy present in the product do not in any way help in promoting a healthy diet. Attempt to avoid such brands with artificial additives. If your dog is fed with extra calories in the form of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, these extra calories will be stored in his/her body and would result in obesity. A healthy diet along with an active lifestyle can prevent obesity in dogs and reduce the risk of diabetes. A healthy dog is a happy dog. A happy pet is a big reward for you.
Premium dog food should always be in the best interest of your canine. The best dog food tends to use ingredients of much higher quality. A lower-priced product may not mean that you are getting a better deal. A dog is an omnivorous animal but should be fed a vegetarian diet only under unavoidable circumstances. Choose a brand whose first ingredient is meat. Meat comprises mostly of muscle tissues, but could also include the diaphragm or heart of the animal.
A dog’s nutritional needs would depend upon various factors such as the age and activity level. A small pup would definitely need more calories for his growth than an older dog. A pregnant or lactating dog’s nutritional needs would also be higher than that of others.
While selecting a premium dog food brand for your loved pet, keep in mind the four points discussed above. Quality ingredients present in the product could make a whole lot of difference to the health and lifestyle of your pet. So, the next time you go to a store to pick up a packet of food for your dog, make sure you take home only the best.
Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast mutate and grow out of control. They grow to form a mass of cancerous cells called a tumor. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers. Estimates suggest at least 13% women in the country face an increased risk of breast cancer. This is why it is important to be aware of its management. Such tips are listed below along with treatment options and food choices:
Treatment options
Before discussing management tips, it is important to know some treatment options for breast cancer. AFINITOR® (everolimus) is one such option. It is an mTOR inhibitor. mTOR is a type of protein that provides energy to cells to grow. AFINITOR® stops cancer cells from getting energy since it is an mTOR inhibitor. It is used to treat postmenopausal women that have HER2-negative and advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Another treatment option is CAR-T cell therapy. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a process that helps T-cells specifically recognize and attack malignant or cancerous cells. It is a less toxic treatment method than conventional options like chemotherapy.
Eating healthy
Consuming healthy foods is an effective cancer management technique. The nutrients and minerals in our food improve the efficacy of medications. The food we eat also protects us from the toxicity caused by cancer treatments. Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and arugula contain antioxidants like beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are known to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Citrus fruits like grapefruits, lemon, limes, and tangerine have anti-inflammatory properties that can be beneficial in providing relief from the side effects of cancer treatments.
It is best to avoid processed foods like packed meats, chips, and junk food, as they can aggravate the symptoms of breast cancer.
Exercise regularly
Clinical treatments and having nutritious meals may not be enough for managing breast cancer. Light exercises in the form of yoga and brisk walking can help improve one’s overall health. Exercises improve blood circulation, which helps in managing metabolism, thus alleviating breast cancer symptoms and side effects of the treatment. Complementing exercise with nutritious meals ensures nutrients are efficiently utilized by the body to build a stronger immune system.
Be up to date with health screenings
Breast cancer has a better prognosis when compared with other types of cancers. However, its recurrence can make it difficult to manage. It is critical to undergo periodic screenings, such as imaging and blood tests, to spot any anomalies before they result in recurrence.
If you wish to keep your body healthy, you can simply ensure that your gut is balanced with good health. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, daily intake of probiotic yogurts help a lot by providing enough nutrition. However, only some of the yogurt contains highly rich probiotics, while other yogurts in the supermarket consist of a very less nearly 10% probiotics to make a health claim.
You can consume yogurt in various ways to improve your health. Try two best recipes that you can prepare out of yogurt, through the common items available in your kitchen. Have you ever tried some of the best delicious probiotic yogurt cheese? Are you aware that it is the very simplest recipe?
How to prepare yogurt cheese?
To prepare probiotic yogurts, take a half pint of yogurt or as per your requirement, pour into a cheese cloth, tie to a wooden spoon and hang it in a tumbler to drip. Let it drip properly for about 8 hours or more to make a dryer cheese. Once it gets separated from the spoon, you can flavor the cheese in several ways. Add sea salt to a tasty cream cheese, or you can even add herbs as well as spices for a delicious spreadable cheese. You can even consume it on crackers or fill a celery stalk with it.
How to prepare mayo?
While mayo may seem complicated to prepare from scratch, it is easy to make by simply adding the oil, and stream it too slowly. Ingredients needed to prepare the mayo include 1 whole egg, an egg yolk, 1 Tsp of organic mustard. You can add 1 and ½ tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of liquid whey, yoghurt cheese, also 1 cup sunflower oil, light olive oil, and other types of light tasting oil, a large pinch of sea salt, etc to get the perfect creaminess.
Pour all ingredients into a blender except oil, and turn on to combine all ingredients, and finally blend until thick. Later leave this on the counter to culture for about 6 to 8 hours approximately.