Ortopedic News Bites
Could a Total Hip Replacement help me live longer?
Research has shown that patients who receive Total Hip Replacements (THR) have an improved quality of life and reduced overall pain. Some patients treat the hip pain without surgery, but studies show the replacement surgery:
- Prolonged their lifespan
- Reduced risk of heart failure
- Reduced rate of depression
- Lowered the risk of diabetes
Not only did these researchers prove there are added benefits to having a total hip replacement, patients actually save money by having the surgery. It is fairly expensive to manage disability related to hip arthritis.
Symptoms You Should NOT Ignore
Have you had something change in your health that made you scratch your head? Did it come out of the blue? Are you wondering if it’s worth a trip to the doctor’s office? Here are some of those issues you shouldn’t keep to yourself because they are indicators of a problem.
- Constant canker sores: Can be a sign of celiac disease.
- Blood in your stool: This can indicate many issues, such as colitis, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, or even cancer.
- Shortness of breath: Causes can range from asthma, to low blood pressure, to a heart attack.
- Sudden weight loss/gain: Unexplained weight loss/gain of 5% of your body weight. Possible reasons: lack of sleep, stress, medication, or a new medical condition.
- Sudden hearing loss: Sudden hearing loss is not related to a general wax build-up within the ear. Immediate treatment is very important to preserve hearing.
- Confusion or personality changes: Changes in behavior or thinking can be from dehydration or low glucose levels, or from something more serious, such as reaction to a medication.
- Flashes of light in your vision: These can result from migraines, or signal a retinal detachment. Immediate attention is needed for retinal detachments to prevent permanent vision loss.
Daily Aspirin Not Helpful For Everyone
An analysis of the data from major studies shows that only those who have had a previous heart attack or stroke will benefit from a daily low-dose tablet of aspirin. There is no evidence that taking aspirin as preventative medicine without a history of a heart attack, stroke, or heart problems is effective. In this case, a daily aspirin can actually put you at risk for its side effects, such as bleeding in the stomach or brain. Anyone considering taking low-dose aspirin needs to discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor to determine if it is helpful. If your doctor does recommend a daily aspirin, be sure to check the dose on the bottle and if there are added ingredients, as some aspirins combine other pain relievers that should not be taken for long-term therapy.
The following articles were referenced for this newsletter:
http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/201312?pg=56#pg56
http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/unexplained-weight-loss/basics/definition/sym-20050700
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/5-surprising-reasons-you-are-gaining-weight
