One of the most common dental emergencies suffered by patients is a broken tooth. A tooth can break as a result of pressure from hard foods or from trauma during accidents such as sporting injuries. A tooth can also be weakened by dental caries and this can make it more prone to tooth fracture.

If you do suffer a broken tooth, it is advised to see an emergency dentist immediately as a fractured tooth if left untreated could result in further tooth deterioration. The dentist will need to assess the tooth to see if the tooth is restorable or not.

If the tooth fracture is superficial and not extensive, the dentist can use composite dental bonding to restore the tooth to its former shape and contour. If the tooth has suffered cuspal fracture, then the tooth is likely to need a dental crown to protect the remaining cusps from further fracture.

If the broken tooth has fracture to below the gum level known as the subgingival level, it will then need to be assessed with an X-ray to see if the tooth can be saved. 1-2mm below the gum level tooth fractures can usually be treated by gum re-contouring to allow the restoration margin to become at the gum level and the tooth saved.

3-4mm below gum level tooth fractures will need crown lengthening surgery to reposition the bone level further apically and allow the crown margin to be positioned further down on the root surface and thereby save the broken tooth.

Greater than 5mm subgingival tooth fractures, will usually need the tooth to be either extracted or treated by orthodontic extrusion to bring the remaining sound root further up towards the gum level and allow the tooth to be saved with a dental crown.

If the trauma suffered by the tooth has caused pulpal involvement, the tooth will usually need root canal therapy to prevent infection and pain occurring. Root canal treatment has a success rate of around 70% and will need to be followed by a crown to prevent further tooth fracture. It is worth knowing that a root filled broken tooth will eventually discolour and if the tooth is an anterior tooth this could become a concern for you. If a broken tooth does discolour after root canal, we can usually either do internal teeth whitening or place a crown over it to hide the tooth discolouration.

Some people due to dental neglect or dental phobia have multiple broken teeth in their mouth which have become a source of infection. Often nervous patients leave these teeth in their mouth untreated due to lack of any symptoms. It is worth noting that broken teeth if left un-treated can cause chronic infection which can spread and damage the remaining bone and even cause cyst and abscess formation. Lack of symptoms should not be an excuse to leave broken teeth as they are as they can silently cause severe problems for the patient in future.

If you do have a broken tooth or even multiple broken teeth, we would recommend seeing your dentist for a consultation as soon as possible. If you suffer from anxiety, the dentist can usually offer you Intra-venous sedation and this will allow you to have dental treatment in a calm and relaxed atmosphere with you not having any recollection of the dental treatment that you had carried out. A wait and see approach is usually not recommended for broken teeth as things will usually get worst.

Learn which foods can help prevent and fight breast cancer that you should include in your diet. Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women, so it’s best to take precautions. One of the ways you could start is by eating the right foods, so here are a few choices of breast cancer fighting foods.

Walnuts
Walnuts are a good part of your anti-cancer diet because research has found that walnuts contain healthy fatty acid that slows down the growth of breast cancer. It contains Phytosterols, a plant compound that appears to slow or prevent the growth of cancer. Gallic Acid, which is found in the thin skin outside the walnut kernel, is antifungal and toxic to cancer cells. Alphalinolenic acid (ALA) which is a polyunsaturated fat that helps reduce inflammation and may also be effective in preventing breast cancer.

Whole grain foods
Whole grains have natural compounds to lower your cancer risk and plant compounds that can protect your cells from damages that may lead to the development of cancer.

Ground flaxseed
Flaxseeds are a humble but powerful cancer-fighting grain. Flax is a source of lignin which has anti-cancer properties, and according to recent studies, it could help prevent breast cancer. Researchers believe this because the lignin metabolites bind estrogens receptors preventing the spread of estrogens-stimulated breast cancer

Natural Sweeteners
Natural sweeteners like honey are low on glycemic index, which means unlike refined sugar, it doesn’t raise you blood glucose levels. Cancer thrives on sugar, so using this as a substitute would be helpful.

Garlic
Garlic may help to prevent cancer by its anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. This provides the ability to enhance genetic repair and slow down cancer cell proliferation. It can also prevent the formation of carcinogenic substances in your body which is an agent directly involved in causing cancer.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains a type of flavonoids called Proanthocyanidins which has a cogent antioxidant capability and may be able to prevent tumour growth by starving the cancer cells. These special flavonoids may also block the formation of nitrosamines which is a carcinogen that damages the DNA in your breast tissue

Eggs
The fat-soluble vitamins in eggs not only help absorb calcium to build strong teeth and bones, but also build protection against cancer.

Berries
Berries are rich with flavonoids which are cancer-fighting antioxidants. Try red grapes which contain anti-oxidants called Bioflavonoid and Resveratrol, which help prevent tumour growth.

Fish
Research shows that people who replace saturated fat from red meat with fish rich in PUFA omega-3 fatty acids have lower rates of breast and colon cancer. Omega-3s promote brain growth and development, and they are also important in reducing risk for inflammation and cancer

Carrots
Carrots contain a substance called Falcarinol. It has the ability to reduce the risk of cancer as isolated cancer cells grow slower when exposed to falcarinol

Pomegranates
Studies show that pomegranate juice could destroy breast cancer cells without affecting healthy cells alone. It may also prevent breast cancer cells from forming and can slow down the growth of breast cancer

Green tea
Green tea contains an anti-cancer compound called epigallocatechin gallate. Researchers have discovered that green tea also contains chemicals that have the ability to shut down one of the key molecules known as the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor that can cause gene changes

Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain many anti-cancer properties, including Beta-carotene, which protects the DNA in the cell nucleus from cancer-causing chemicals outside the nuclear membrane.

Seaweed
Seaweed contains important fatty acids like Beta-carotene, protein, vitamin B12, fibre, and chlorophyll and chlorophylones that may help in the fight against breast cancer

Soy products
Soy contains several types of phytoestrogens like non-steroidal estrogens that could help prevent breast cancer by blocking and suppressing cancerous changes. There are a number of isoflavone in soy products, one of it being the genistein which is the most potent prevention of the growth and spread of cancerous cells.

Cardiovascular disease is caused by disorders of the heart and blood vessels, and includes coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, raised blood pressure, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure. The major causes of cardiovascular disease are tobacco use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol.

The good news, however, is that 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. Do you know how to avoid a heart attack or a stroke. Healthy diet, regular physical activity, and not using tobacco products are the keys to prevention.

Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet is crucial to a healthy heart and circulation system. This should include plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and pulses, and restricted salt, sugar and fat intake intake.

Take regular physical activity: At least 30 minutes of regular physical activity every day helps to maintain cardiovascular fitness; at least 60 minutes on most days helps to maintain healthy weight.

Avoid tobacco use: Tobacco in every form is very harmful to health – cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chewable tobacco. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is also dangerous. The risk of heart attack and stroke starts to drop immediately after a person stops using tobacco products, and can drop by as much as half after one year.

Check and control your cardiovascular risk:

Know your blood pressure: High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but can cause a sudden stroke or heart attack. Have your blood pressure checked.

Know your blood sugar: Raised blood glucose, diabetes increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you have diabetes it is very important to control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimize the risk.

Know your blood lipids: Raised blood cholesterol and abnormal blood lipids increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Blood cholesterol needs to be controlled through a healthy diet and, if necessary, by appropriate medications.

In partnership with World Health Organization WHO, the World Heart Federation organizes World Heart Day every year. This year’s theme is “One world, one home, one heart”. Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s largest killers, claiming 17.1 million lives a year. Risk factors for heart disease and stroke include raised blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, smoking, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, overweight, obesity and physical inactivity.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include:

*coronary heart disease – disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle
*cerebrovascular disease – disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain
*peripheral arterial disease – disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs
*rheumatic heart disease – damage to the heart muscle and heart valves from *rheumatic fever, caused by streptococcal bacteria
*congenital heart disease – malformations of heart structure existing at birth
*deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism – blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs.

Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute events and are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain. The most common reason for this is a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the heart or brain. Strokes can also be caused by bleeding from a blood vessel in the brain or from blood clots.

What are the risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
The most important behavioural risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. Behavioural risk factors are responsible for about 80% of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.

The effects of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity; these are called ‘intermediate risk factors’ or metabolic risk factors.

There are also a number of underlying determinants of CVDs, or “the causes of the causes”. These are a reflection of the major forces driving social, economic and cultural change – globalization, urbanization, and population ageing. Other determinants of CVDs include poverty, stress and hereditary factors.

Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are major risk factors for chronic diseases. Reports of international and national experts and reviews of the current scientific evidence recommend goals for nutrient intake in order to prevent chronic diseases.

For diet, recommendations for populations and individuals should include the following:

*achieve energy balance and a healthy weight
*limit energy intake from total fats and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and *towards the elimination of trans-fatty acids
*increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, and legumes, whole grains and nuts
*limit the intake of free sugars
*limit salt (sodium) consumption from all sources and ensure that salt is iodized
*These recommendations need to be considered when preparing national policies and dietary guidelines, taking into account the local situation.

Improving dietary habits is a societal, not just an individual problem. Therefore it demands a population-based, multisectoral, multi-disciplinary, and culturally relevant approach.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and the total number of cancer cases globally is increasing. The number of global cancer deaths is projected to increase 45% from 2007 to 2030 (from 7.9 million to 11.5 million deaths), influenced in part by an increasing and aging global population. The estimated rise takes into account expected slight declines in death rates for some cancers in high resource countries. New cases of cancer in the same period are estimated to jump from 11.3 million in 2007 to 15.5 million in 2030.

In most developed countries, cancer is the second largest cause of death after cardiovascular disease, and epidemiological evidence points to this trend emerging in the less developed world. This is particularly true in countries in “transition” or middle-income countries, such as in South America and Asia. Already more than half of all cancer cases occur in developing countries.

Lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer – a trend that is expected to continue until 2030, unless efforts for global tobacco control are greatly intensified. Some cancers are more common in developed countries: prostate, breast and colon. Liver, stomach and cervical cancer are more common in developing countries.

A number of common risk factors have been linked to the development of cancer: an unhealthy lifestyle (including tobacco and alcohol use, inadequate diet, physical inactivity), and exposure to occupational (e.g. asbestos) or environmental carcinogens, (e.g. indoor air pollution), radiation (e.g. ultraviolet and ionizing radiation), and some infections (such as hepatitis B or human papilloma virus infection).

Key risk factors for cancer that can be avoided are:

*tobacco use – responsible for 1.8 million cancer deaths per year (60% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries);
*being overweight, obese or physically inactive – together responsible for 274 000 cancer deaths per year;
*harmful alcohol use – responsible for 351 000 cancer deaths per year;
*sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) infection – responsible for 235 000 cancer deaths per year; and
*occupational carcinogens – responsible for at least 152 000 cancer deaths per year.

Cancer prevention is an essential component of all cancer control plans because about 40% of all cancer deaths can be prevented

Above cancer information is provided by World Health Organization (WHO).

As with the general symptoms and signs of cancer, the following may not indicate that cancer is present, but if you experience these symptoms and signs, should be brought to a your doctor attention. So, personal health care information is play important part to detect the symptoms and signs of cancer.

1.Sores that don’t heal
2.A lump in breast or other parts of the body
3.Unusual bleeding
4.Change in bowel habits or bladder function
5.Recent change in a wart or mole
6.Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
7.Nagging cough or hoarseness
8.Unexplained weight loss of fever

1.Sores that don’t heal

Skin cancers may bleed and resemble sores that don’t heal. A persistent sore in the mouth could be an oral cancer and should be dealt with promptly, especially in patients who smoke or drink alcohol. Sores on the penis or vagina may either be signs of infection or an early cancer, and shouldn’t be overlooked.

A lump in breast or other parts of the body

Many cancers can be felt through the skin, particularly in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes and the soft tissues of the body. A lump or thickening may be an early or late sign of cancer, and should be reported to a doctor, especially if you’ve just discovered it or noticed it has grown in size. You may be feeling a lump that is an early cancer that could be treated successfully.

3. Unusual bleeding

This can occur in early or advanced cancer. Blood in the phlegm may be a sign of lung cancer. Blood in the stool (or a dark or black stool) could be a sign of colon or rectal cancer. Cancer of the cervix or the endometrium (lining of the uterus) can cause vaginal bleeding. Blood in the urine is a sign of possible bladder or kidney cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple may be a sign of breast cancer.

4. Change in bowel habits or bladder function

Chronic constipation, diarrhoea or a change in the size of the stool may indicate colon cancer. Pain with urination, blood in the urine or a change in bladder function (such as more frequent or less frequent urination) can be related to bladder or prostate cancer. Any changes in bladder or bowel function should be reported to a doctor.

5. Recent change in a wart or mole

Any change in colour or shape, loss of definite borders or an increase in size should be reported to your doctor without delay. The skin lesion may be a melanoma which, if diagnosed early, can be treated successfully.

6. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing

While they commonly have other causes, these symptoms may indicate cancer of the oesophagus, stomach or pharynx (throat).

7. Nagging cough or hoarseness

A persistent cough may be a sign of lung cancer. Hoarseness can be a sign of cancer of larynx (voice box) or thyroid.

8. Unexplained weight loss or fever

Most people with cancer will lose weight during some period of their illness.  An unexplained weight loss of about 5 kg may be the first sign of cancer, particularly cancers of the pancreas, stomach, oesophagus or lung.

Fever is common with cancer, but is more often seen in advanced stages of the disease.  Almost all patients with cancer will have fever at some time, particularly if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system and reduces resistance to infection

Cancer of the cervix can take many years to develop. Before it does, early changes take place on the cervix. The smear test is designed to detect changes in the cells so that treatment can be given before cancer develops.

Abnormal cells in the cervix which are not cancerous but may lead to cancer is called CIN (cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia). Some doctors call these changes precancer, meaning that the cells may develop into cancer if left untreated.

The abnormal cells are usually the result of a virus infection, usually by the human papilloma virus, which was probably acquired some years before it was detected by the smear test.

Many women have heard of risk factors for cancer of the cervix, such as having sex at an early age and having many sexual partners. They may be distressed that friends and families may think they fall into these categories. If you are in this situation, you should know there is no reason to blame yourself.

These factors do increase the chances of catching the virus infection, but many women without these factors in their life can also acquire the human papilloma virus and get cervical cancer. In fact, the majority of women with these risk factors never develop cervical cancer, so there are many other factors at work here, most of which are unknown.

Do you know health impact for overweight or obese. Carrying extra fat leads to serious health consequences such as cardiovascular disease mainly heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers likes endometrial, breast and colon. These conditions cause premature death and substantial disability.

The latest WHO (World Health Organization) projections indicate that at least one in three of the world’s adult population is overweight and almost one in 10 is obese. Additionally there are over 20 million children under age five who are overweight.

What is not widely known is that the risk of health problems starts when someone is only very slightly overweight, and that the likelihood of problems increases as someone becomes more and more overweight. Many of these conditions cause long-term suffering for individuals and families. In addition, the costs for the health care system can be extremely high.

The good news is that overweight and obesity are largely preventable. The key to success is to achieve an energy balance between calories consumed on one hand, and calories used on the other hand.

To reach this goal, people can limit energy intake from total fats and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats; increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; and limit their intake of sugars. And to increase calories used, people can boost their levels of physical activity – to at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days.

The liver is a large organ occupying the upper right portion of the abdomen. It is an important organ with many functions, production of bile which is needed for the digestion of fat in the intestines, protein synthesis, Storage of glucose and fat and also breakdown of toxic substances such as alcohol.

Liver cancer also known as hepatocellular cancer, arises from hepatocytes. hepatocellular cancer often develops only in liver that is severely damaged by longstanding diseases or chemicals. The liver becomes hardened and shrunken – a condition called liver cirrhosis. 

When the liver cancer is small (less than 5 cm diameter), it often does not present symptoms as the liver is a large organ. When bigger and more advanced, a liver cancer can infiltrate the liver capsule or obstruct the bile ducts. At this stage, it causes symptoms. 

Liver cancer can form many nodules within the liver and also spread into the blood vessels. These features make it difficult to surgically remove them.

The liver is also the seat of another type of cancer called secondary or metastatic cancer. The main cancer forms elsewhere in the body and secondary deposits are formed in the liver. A common example is colorectal cancer spreading to the liver via the bloodstream.

As well as mixed tumors, rarer forms of liver cancer include:

*mesenchymal tissue
*Sarcoma
*Hepatoblastoma, a rare malignant tumor, primarily developing in children. Most of these tumors form in the right lobe.
*Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancers), which account for 1 or 2 out of every 10 cases of liver cancer. These cancers start in the small tubes (called bile ducts) that carry bile to the intestine.
*Angiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma: These are rare forms of cancer that start in the blood vessels of the liver. These tumors grow quickly. Often by the time they are found they are too widespread to be removed. Most patients do not live more than a year after diagnosis.
*Lymphoma of liver: A rare form of lymphoma that usually have diffuse infiltration to liver. It may also form a liver mass in rare occasions.