agony of endometriosis
Clips that stimulate nerves in the ears could be the answer to the agony of endometriosis
agony of endometriosis
Clips that “tickle” the nerves in the ears could reduce the pain of endometriosis. One in ten women of childbearing age suffers from this disease, which causes heavy and distressing periods – it is the most common complaint treated by gynecologists.
Endometriosis develops when the tissue that normally forms the lining of the uterus begins to grow elsewhere, such as in the ovaries, intestines, bladder – in some cases even on the spine, lungs or brain.
This tissue behaves like the tissue of the uterus, swelling and bleeding with menstruation. But because this blood has no way to leave the body, it triggers inflammation, pain, and scar tissue.
The cause is unclear, but the condition tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic link.
One in ten women of childbearing age suffer from endometriosis, which causes heavy and distressing periods. This is the complaint most frequently treated by gynecologists
Poor knowledge of the disease means it takes an average of 7.5 years for women to be diagnosed, according to the charity Endometriosis UK.
Mild to moderate endometriosis can be treated with anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, as well as contraceptives to suppress the release of estrogen, which can promote tissue growth.
In the most severe cases, women may be offered surgery to remove the tissue – this is effective in around a quarter of cases but, in 50% of cases, symptoms return within five years of the operation.
The ‘ear tickling’ approach offers an alternative – and scientists hope it will control women’s pain and potentially help them avoid the need for surgery.
Clips that ‘tickle’ the nerves in the ears could reduce pain from endometriosis
The gadget works by passing a mild electrical current through the skin via ear clips – these are worn over both ears and are connected to a small power supply.
The current is used to stimulate a branch of the vagus nerve, a major nerve that runs through the chest and into the brain, and is involved in controlling a wide range of functions, from swallowing to managing heart rhythm and the digestion.
Stimulation of this nerve is thought to interrupt pain signals to the brain and reduce the inflammation that occurs in endometriosis.
Animal studies have already shown that vagus nerve stimulation can relieve pain from endometriosis. Tests on mice revealed lower pain scores and a reduction in the size of abnormal tissue growth due to reduced inflammation.
A trial is currently underway at Foch Hospital in Suresnes, France, involving 72 women to see if regularly ‘tickling’ their ears for 30 minutes twice a day for three months reduces their pain and prevents worsening of their condition.
Vagus nerve stimulation is already used for a number of other conditions. It is an effective treatment for epilepsy and depression, and it has also shown promise in relieving cluster headaches (a very severe type of headache) and pain from osteoarthritis.
Poor knowledge of endometriosis means it takes an average of 7.5 years for women to be diagnosed, according to the charity Endometriosis UK
This usually involves surgery to implant a battery-powered generator under the collarbone.
The new ear clips and power pack might prove a safer alternative, as they attach to the shell-like cavity in the middle of the ear, where a branch of the nerve runs just under the skin.
Jim Deuchars, professor of neuroscience at the University of Leeds who has studied vagus nerve stimulation, said: “Pilot studies suggest this treatment shows promise in endometriosis.
“And since it’s non-invasive, relatively cheap, and painless, it would be considered a success if it helps at least some patients.”
Zapping nerves in the ear can boost memory and concentration if you’re sleep deprived, according to a study published in the journal Behavioral Brain Research.
Scientists at Xidian University, China, used ear clips to send a mild electrical current to stimulate the vagus nerve (which runs through the chest and into the brain), in 30 people who had been awake for 24 hours – their memory and concentration were then tested (previous studies have suggested that the vagus nerve plays a role in memory).
Participants scored higher when the clips were on.
Blood stroke reverses loss of smell after Covid-19
Giving a prick of a patient’s own blood up their nose can help them regain a sense of smell lost to Covid, reports the Ear, Nose & Throat Journal.
Belgian and French doctors successfully used the technique on a woman whose sense of smell had not returned two years later.
The injection contained platelet-rich plasma (PRP), made by spinning a sample of the patient’s blood in a centrifuge to isolate growth factors – these help reduce inflammation and promote healing. Three weeks after treatment, the 22-year-old patient began to regain her sense of smell; it came back completely after two months.
The researchers said larger trials are now needed.
Delirium and insomnia affect up to half of patients after surgery, slowing their recovery. In a trial at Beni-Suef University in Egypt, patients are given magnesium sulfate after surgery to see if it reduces the risk. It is thought to help by regulating the production of melatonin, a hormone involved in the body’s sleep-wake cycle.
New eye implant for myopic people
An implantable lens with a small hole in the middle has been designed for severe myopia.
The pinprick-sized hole reduces the risk of pressure building up inside the eye – a rare but potentially serious side effect that can lead to blindness.
An implantable lens with a small hole in the middle has been designed for severe myopia
Once local anesthesia has been administered, the new lens, called EVO, is inserted behind the iris.
The results of the first six months of a US trial, published in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology, showed that 87% of patients who received the new lens had good vision without significant complications.
Further trials are planned.
The muscle could
Small muscles that play big roles. This week: Tibialis anterior in the tibia
This thin strip of muscle extends just below the knee on the outer edge of the tibia (the tibia), connecting to the metatarsal bones of the foot.
It plays an important role in supporting the ankle and foot and maintaining a healthy gait – it lifts the toes as we walk and helps maintain the arch of the foot and prevent the foot from rolling inwards .
The tibialis anterior in the tibia is a thin strip of muscle that extends just below the knee on the outer edge of the tibia (the tibia), connecting to the metatarsal bones of the foot
Neglecting this muscle can lead to shin splints, calf strains, and foot problems caused by pronation (where you walk with excess weight inside your foot).
The regular stretching of the calf muscles and the mobility of the ankles guarantee the good health of the tibialis anterior. Sit with your feet flat on the floor and raise and lower your toes repeatedly. Increase the challenge by pulling against a resistance band.
Physiotherapist Clare Lewey recommends sitting on a ledge, which allows your feet to hang down and pull the arches together to increase ankle mobility, using a resistance band against which shoot if you can.
Try that…
KinKind Butter Me Up! The moisturizer bar is made with cocoa nibs, with a hint of coconut scent. It’s free of parabens and plastic and made in the UK (£7, kinkind.co.uk).
KinKind Butter Me Up! the moisturizer bar is made with cocoa nibs, with a hint of coconut scent
Old drugs, new stuff
New uses for existing drugs. This week: Minoxidil
Minoxidil has been shown to stimulate hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp, nourishing hair follicles
This over-the-counter rubbing mousse or lotion (sold under the brand name Regaine) has been shown to stimulate hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp, nourishing the hair follicles.
But it started life in the 1960s as a high blood pressure tablet, working by dilating blood vessels.
When researchers tested it on patients, they noticed that some had hair on their heads, hands and necks. After initially dismissing it as a harmless side effect, executives at American pharmaceutical company Upjohn decided to reformulate it into a lotion for hair loss, rather than continue its use for high blood pressure.
Minoxidil works in about two-thirds of cases for both men and women, but potential side effects include rapid heartbeat, swollen feet, and stomach pain.
You must also continue to use it to maintain the effect.
