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Business News/ Mint-lounge / Features/  Tai Chi can be the new pain-reliever
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Tai Chi can be the new pain-reliever

Signs of high blood pressure in adults can be detected during childhood, pollution can aggravate arthritis studies and research tips for a healthier you

Chinese martial art Tai Chi can help old people with chronic illnesses such as cancer and arthritis. Photo: iStockphotoPremium
Chinese martial art Tai Chi can help old people with chronic illnesses such as cancer and arthritis. Photo: iStockphoto

Air pollution can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis

Presence of air pollutants can worsen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, claims an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Report. The researchers studied 500 patients living in Delhi and found that symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis aggravated during November and December when the amount of suspended particulate matter (SPM) 2.5 was higher in the atmosphere. “Patients showed worsening of symptoms like joint pain and swelling when the air pollutants increased," said a senior doctor at AIIMS. The study was jointly conducted by the Rheumatology Department at AIIMS and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) between 2008 and 2013. The researchers said rheumatoid is the most disabling disease. Delay in treatment can lead to deformity and organ damage. Swollen, tender joints and long periods of stiffness in morning are some of the symptoms of the disease. Read more here.

Martial art can help relieve pain

A new research claims Chinese martial art Tai Chi can help old people with chronic illnesses such as cancer and arthritis. Researchers used results from 33 previous studies on the effect of Tai Chi on people with four chronic conditions — cancer, heart failure, osteoarthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and found that Tai Chi exercises can make body strong, alleviate pain, reduce stress, improve walking and body posture. The slow and gentle movements of Tai Chi can be particularly good for middle aged and older people with multiple health conditions. Tai Chi emphasises on breathing control, whole body exercises with bent knees and slow, flowing movements. The findings were published in British Journal of Sports Medicine. Read more here.

Signs of high blood pressure evident during childhood

A study has identified some of the factors from childhood that can predict risk of high blood pressure and other related health issues at the age of 38. Researchers at University of Otago, New Zealand tracked more than 1,000 people born in Dunedin in 1972-1973 from birth to the present. They found that more than a third of them were at risk of developing clinically high blood pressure levels by early mid-life. The researchers identified a number of factors in early life that increased the odds of being in a high risk blood pressure group such as being male, having a family history of high blood pressure, being first born, high body mass index and being born with lower birth weight. Professor Richie Poulton, said “encouraging lifestyle changes beginning early in life that include the maintenance of a healthy body weight, weight reduction and stopping smoking may help to lower blood pressure levels over time." The research is published in the international journal Hypertension. Read more here.

Aspirin can help in treatment of heart diseases and arthritis

Aspirin can help in treatment of heart dieseases, rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers, claims researchers from Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Rutgers University in US and San Raffaele University and Research Institute in Italy. When aspirin enters human body it breaks down into salicylic acid, which inhibits cyclooxygenase, a compound that leads to inflation and pain. The researchers from the three institutes believe salicylic acid can also subdue HMGB1, an inflammatory protein that is often associated with many serious diseases in humans. The researchers measured the effects of salicylic acid on the activation of immune cells and showed that salicylic acid can block the activation at concentrations similar to those found in people on low-dose aspirin. The study was published in the journal Molecular Medicine. Read more here.

Compiled by Abhijit Ahaskar

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Published: 12 Oct 2015, 04:20 PM IST
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