ROUTINE CHECK-UPS

By Dr. Vangelis Athousakis, Pathologist

Part One

Routine check-ups in healthy adults include checking asymptomatic diseases and the possible discovery of potential danger factors that contribute to illnesses. The check for malignancy is an important part of preventive medicine. We suggest routine checks for breast, rectal and cervical cancer. The regular physical check up should include measuring of height, weight and arterial pressure every two years. Patients with body mass index > 30 should receive directives in combating obesity. Education with regard to a healthy way of existence and diet should be offered to all patients, with emphasis on the restriction of saturated fats and the increased intake of fruits, vegetables and whole wheat products in combination with an increase of daily physical activity.

The measurement of cholesterol levels should begin at 35 years of age for men and 45 for women, unless there is a pre-existing family history of hypercholesterolemia . . . in which case check-ups must begin earlier. 

With regard to adolescents and young adults, the preventive physicals should include a complete sexual background, check-up and briefing on methods of contraception and sexually-transmitted diseases. Sexually active women under 25 years should be checked for Chlamydia infections, as this has been a primary cause of chronic inflammations and consequently contributes to infertility.

The Pap test should be repeated every three years, from the beginning of sexual activity until 65, unless a hysterectomy precedes it. 

Moreover, adolescents and young adults should receive advice with regard to exposure to the sun, smoking, alcohol, the use of a helmet on bikes, seat belts in cars, family violence and daily exercise.

Unfortunately, road accidents and suicides contribute considerably to the juvenile mortality. There is therefore an imperative need for advice on correct road behaviour, checking for depression with an open discussion and lots of questions to determine whether the adolescent feels pressured or threatened in his interpersonal relations, or for a possible drug abuse leading to dependence on narcotics.

This open discussion can also be held in the youth’s family environment and, if needed, medical help can be sought.

WHY ARE TOOTHACHES SO PAINFUL?

By Nikos Papadakis, Dental Surgeon

Toothache is undoubtedly a pain that is difficult to deal with, even with powerful painkillers. It forces, even those who fear dentists, to urgently run to the dental clinic.

CAUSE: Dental pain means inflammation either inside the tooth or inside the bone.  Such an inflammation has roughly the same extent as an inflammation that causes a “pimple” in the skin! However, such an inflammation inside the tooth or the bone is enough to drive you mad with pain.” This happens because the inflammation is encased inside a hard-walled area in the tooth or bone, as opposed to the skin which is elastic. These dental areas contain thousands of nerve endings which pulsate due to the inflammation and create this intolerable feeling of pain in the brain.

TREATMENT: Pain medication, especially when the inflammation has advanced inside the bone, is incompetent to ease the pain in patients who, in their despair, attempt to puncture the abscess themselves by various means, or self-treat it with various alcoholic tinctures (which may cause chemical burns or mouth infections).

The most effective way to alleviate the pain is the opening and draining of the inflammation by the dentist, if this is possible, because many times the patient cannot open the mouth or anaesthesia is ineffective due to the intensity of the inflammation.

PREVENTION: Such a situation of acute pain, most of the times, doesn’t come about abruptly, but gradually. That is to say it starts with a progressively deteriorating sensitivity to hot or cold stimuli as well as a bearable pain while chewing.

In the case in question we talk about chronic bearable pain that should inspire the patient to visit the dentist because, sooner or later, the patient will probably need a nerve treatment or a root canal, or worse.

In the long run, daily oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups are the best prevention and it should begin from childhood.

 ONE MILLION GREEKS
HAVE OSTEOARTHRITIS

About 20,000 arthroplasty surgeries, at a cost of 20,000 euros each, are performed yearly in Greece. It is estimated that more than one million Greeks suffer from osteoarthritis, as it was recently announced at the third seminar for 115 developments on treating osteoarthritis.

According to orthopedics, sedentary life, being overweight and bad nutrition are the main causes of osteoarthritis.

New types of medication were discussed at the seminar, and new surgical techniques were presented, such as total replacement of the knee.