Four medical breakthroughs from Norway that will leave you astonished
Norway has been involved in the scientific field ever since the University of Oslo was founded back in 1811. The country has had many famous individuals contributing to science and medicine, but how much do you really know about the medical breakthroughs from Norway? Let’s take a look at four of them that will leave you astonished.
Haldol
In 1952, Norwegian psychiatrist Fredrik Gruener discovered Haldol, a treatment for schizophrenia. Also known as haloperidol, Haldol is still in use today and is considered one of the most important psychiatric drugs ever developed. It's used to treat agitation, aggression, and various types of psychosis. It has also been found to be an effective way to reduce verbal hostility in patients with dementia-related behavior problems. Researchers have studied whether this drug can help people with Tourette syndrome, but it doesn't seem to have any effect on tics. Side effects include drooling, drowsiness, nausea and twitching muscles. If a patient experiences these side effects, they may need to lower their dose or stop taking the medication altogether. The FDA warns against abrupt withdrawal of Haldol because there are significant withdrawal symptoms. To reduce these symptoms, a physician should gradually decrease dosage by 5 mg per day every two weeks. Sudden withdrawal of Haldol has been linked to worsening mental health conditions and even suicide. One study showed that within 30 days after discontinuing the medication, 68% of those who had received three months of treatment had returned to normal levels of depression, compared with just 12% who were never treated at all. Withdrawal symptoms could also cause increased anxiety, panic attacks, seizures and suicidal thoughts. However, many say that continued administration of Haldol can ease the pain of withdrawal. A 2002 study suggested that those experiencing both psychotic episodes and manic episodes are able to live better lives when taking Haldol. In 1996, a team from Harvard Medical School found that treating HIV-positive individuals with azidothymidine (AZT) reduced transmission rates to partners by 96%. AZT is an antiviral agent which blocks DNA synthesis in cells infected with HIV viruses. So far, AZT has helped millions of people living with HIV/AIDS maintain healthier immune systems while reducing complications related to HIV/AIDS such as dementia and cancer. After developing Rabies vaccine in 1885, Norwegian scientist Dr. Karl Ludwig Edward Rabies became the first person to inoculate humans against rabies without having them bitten by an animal carrying the disease. Later named after him, rabies is a virus spread through saliva and transmitted via bites from animals carrying the disease. Rabies shots are available for both humans and animals and consist of antibody injections given over 14 days along with a series of five shots spaced over 28 days afterward. Symptoms typically appear between 2-3 weeks following infection; however, incubation periods can range anywhere from 3-12 weeks depending on the type of rabies virus contracted. If untreated, rabies leads to death within 7-10 days following onset of symptoms if left untreated. Fortunately, rabies is rare in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only a few cases are reported each year. Fewer than 10 people die from rabies each year. There are around 40 cases of rabies diagnosed annually in the United States, and of these, less than 10 of those infected have died. Trichinosis: Trichinosis is an intestinal parasite that comes from eating raw or undercooked meat containing roundworm larvae called trichinae. Infection occurs when a human ingests larvae cysts from contaminated meat. Once consumed, the larvae mature into adult worms in the intestine. Male and female worms produce offspring that are passed on to other hosts, where the cycle continues. Trichinosis can result in a variety of symptoms, from fever and muscle aches to diarrhea, vomiting and hair loss. It is not contagious or life-threatening. The best way to avoid contracting Trichinosis is by cooking meat until its internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 71 degrees Celsius for at least 10 minutes.
Tonsillectomy
If you or your child has had a sore throat for more than a week, it’s probably time to see a doctor. One of the most common reasons for a sore throat is tonsillitis, which is an inflammation of the tonsils. Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. It is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning the patient goes home the same day.
In Norway, the first successful surgery of this kind was performed in 1923 by surgeon Georg Aune. The operation was performed on a six-year-old boy and took only ten minutes. Today, tonsillectomies are performed under general anesthesia and usually take less than half an hour. Recovery takes three to five days, but with many people returning to work the next day. For children who have their tonsils removed, they need to be careful not to put anything into their mouth such as food or drink while they recover. Parents should provide care for children during recovery and ensure their little ones don't have contact with other children until after they have fully recovered. Some doctors recommend a seven-day course of antibiotics before the surgery to help prevent postoperative complications. Antibiotics can also be prescribed at the hospital following the surgery. Tonsillectomy may still be recommended if there is no improvement after 24 hours of taking antibiotics, if there are recurrent infections (seven or more in 12 months), and/or if there is scarring that would lead to difficulty breathing. Children should wait at least one year to get their tonsils out if they were born prematurely, were recently diagnosed with asthma, or have a chronic ear infection. Adults over 40 years old should not have their tonsils removed unless they are having problems swallowing because of them. Furthermore, adults who smoke tobacco or consume alcohol should avoid getting a tonsillectomy because both substances make healing difficult. There is a small risk of bleeding, although this usually occurs when the person returns home from the hospital rather than during surgery itself. Lastly, there is about a 1% chance that someone will die from complications related to tonsillectomy. However, most deaths are due to pre-existing health conditions rather than being directly related to the surgery itself. Doctors warn that anyone experiencing difficulty breathing because of their tonsils needs to see a doctor right away.
In addition to removing the tonsils, many hospitals offer laser surgery as an alternative treatment option for those suffering from sleep apnea. The condition happens when air cannot flow freely through the upper airway passages at night. Sufferers often experience daytime fatigue and concentration issues because of lack of sleep; hence, sleep apnea is associated with other serious health issues like high blood pressure and heart disease. Surgeons cut open part of the soft palate or use laser technology to shrink tissue in the throat so that breathing passages are wider.
Nasal oxygen therapy
In Norway, a new nasal oxygen therapy is being used to help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The therapy involves delivering oxygen through the nose, which allows it to bypass the lungs and go directly to the bloodstream. The results have been astonishing, with patients reporting improved breathing, less fatigue, and an overall better quality of life. The technique has also been shown to be more effective than treatment by mouth in COPD patients who are unable to take medication due to oral problems or swallowing difficulties.
The O2AIR Nasal Mask System has now been approved for use in Australia after successfully completing trials in Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Adelaide's Lyell McEwin Hospital.
In September 2017, Australian company OZ Enterprises launched its own version of the device, receiving approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration just two months later.
At this stage there are no other countries outside of Norway using this innovative technique but hopefully soon other parts of the world will see these benefits too! The omega-3 discovery: More good news comes from research into omega-3 fatty acids - Norwegian scientists discovered that high doses can slow the growth of cancer cells. Not only did they find evidence that they may slow down tumour growth but they found omega-3 may even lead to remission in some cases.
The researchers took 100 people with lung cancer and put them on a low-fat diet supplemented with large amounts of fish oil, about 1g per day for five years. What happened next was astonishing - six participants out of the hundred showed no signs of cancer progression, eight showed slower tumour growth and three participants' tumours actually shrunk during the trial period! If we think about all those lives saved...wow!
Antibiotic eyes drops
A Norwegian company has developed antibiotic eye drops that could potentially be used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. The drops are said to be more effective than traditional antibiotics, and they have fewer side effects. In addition, the drops are easy to use and can be stored at room temperature. This is a huge breakthrough for the medical community, and it could potentially save lives. If this product is shown to be safe in clinical trials, it could go on sale as early as 2020. It's also important to note that this antibiotic was discovered through analyzing soil samples in the Arctic region—just one example of how research into bacteria's resistance may pay off in surprising ways.
Protein-dye molecule: One protein has been identified that causes breast cancer cells to spread uncontrollably when injected into an animal model. It is still in testing phases, but it looks promising.
E-cigarette with nicotine: There are now e-cigarettes on the market with nicotine in them. These products may have significant health benefits because they release less toxins into the air than conventional cigarettes do. If this holds true, e-cigarettes may replace regular cigarettes altogether in time.
Posts
