Prostate Cancer Treatment Benefits from Combined Therapies

Scottsdale, Arizona, physician Dr. Rajan Bhatt oversees locations such as Spectrum Dermatology & Vein Center, which provides wide-ranging, patient-centered care. Experienced in his field, Dr. Rajan Bhatt has given presentations on topics such as prostate cancer.

A study published in the Lancet in 2022 points to a newly developed, combined treatment therapy with the potential to boost survival rates for men with prostate cancer. A total of 1,792 participants enrolled in the study, including those who had previously had their prostates removed, and the patients were divided into three treatment groups.

Group one received salvage prostate bed radiotherapy (PBRT), a type of radiation that targets the area surrounding the prostate following its removal. Group two was administered the same PBRT regimen, as well as short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Group three received both PBRT and ADT, as well as pelvic lymph node radiotherapy (PLNRT), targeting the pelvic area’s lymph nodes, which can experience prostate cancer spread.

After 5 years, group three participants registered the greatest percentage of freedom from progression, with 87.4 percent meeting this criteria. By contrast, the percentage for group one members was only 71 percent. What this suggests is that the traditional PBRT standard of care can be amplified and intensified through related radiotherapies, with potentially life-saving results.

Varicose Veins During Pregnancy

 

Varicose Veins
Image: webmd.com

Dr. Rajan Bhatt, a cardiologist based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is the CEO and founder of Spectrum Dermatology and Vein Center. There, Dr. Rajan Bhatt provides patients with clinical expertise related to conditions such as varicose veins.

Varicose veins result when blood collects in blood vessels, causing them to become enlarged. These veins can be painful, causing noticeable discomfort and symptoms such as tenderness, pain, swelling, cramping, or itching. The condition most often occurs in a patient’s legs.

Women can develop varicose veins while pregnant. During pregnancy, a woman’s blood flow increases. As she gains weight and produces extra hormones, varicose veins may appear. The veins often shrink after the baby is born. The condition affects between 10 and 20 percent of pregnant women. While there isn’t one specific way to prevent varicose veins from forming, several lifestyle changes may be helpful.

–Stay off your feet. By elevating their legs when sitting down, pregnant women can help prevent blood from pooling in the legs. When a job requires a pregnant woman to be on her feet for long periods, experts suggest alternately resting each leg on a stool or chair while standing.
–Exercise. Cardiovascular activity helps blood keep glowing at a healthy rate throughout the body.
–Wear comfortable clothing. Avoid restrictive items such as tight belts, shoes, or socks.
–Watch weight gain. Gaining an appropriate amount of weight during pregnancy can help alleviate additional stress on the body.
-Focus on nutrition. A heart-healthy diet rich in nutrients not only helps the developing baby, but also the mother’s cardiovascular health. Prenatal vitamins are helpful supplements.

When pregnant women notice varicose veins, they should bring the condition to the attention of their physician. The doctor will monitor the veins throughout the pregnancy and may recommend consultation with a vein specialist.

ACC Update Heart Failure Guidance

American College of Cardiology
Image: acc.org

For nearly 15 years, Dr. Rajan Bhatt has served as a cardiologist at Spectrum Dermatology & Vein Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Alongside his everyday work seeing patients, Dr. Rajan Bhatt is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

In late 2017, ACC released a new update to its document titled Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure, with new information about treating patients who have reduced ejection fraction, a condition where the left portion of the heart doesn’t pump as much blood to the body as it should. In recent years, new data about how to optimally treat these patients has become available, which is why the organization felt it was time to update the document.

Some of the elements of the guidance include criteria for starting new therapy or changing therapy in reduced-ejection-fraction patients, guidelines for using multiple drug treatment strategies, when to consult with a doctor who specializes in heart failure, and when the right time might be to switch to pain management and hospice treatment in severe cases. The updated guidance can be found at onlinejacc.org.

ACOR and AHA Redefine High Blood Pressure

 

Blood Pressure
Image: heart.org

For the past 15 years, Dr. Rajan Bhatt has practiced cardiac medicine at Scottsdale, Arizona’s Spectrum Dermatology & Vein Center. Committed to the advancement of his field, Dr. Rajan Bhatt is a fellow of the American College of Radiology.

In partnership with the American Heart Association, the American College of Radiology has issued a new set of guidelines that redefines the range of blood pressures that are considered to be “high” and require intervention. According to the new guidelines, a blood pressure of 130/80 is considered to be high, which replaces the former threshold of 140/90. Under these new measurements, approximately half of American adults would fall into the “high” blood pressure category. The biggest demographic that will see an increase is men under the age of 45, as the rate of high blood pressure among that group will triple under the new guidelines. Women under 45 will see the rate of high blood pressure double among them, as well.

How Can Running Improve Your Health? by Dr. Rajan Bhatt

Everyone knows that exercise helps improve your health, but perhaps you are wondering what specific benefits running provides. Rajan Bhatt, MD, discusses three health issues that can be improved by running.

Running will lower the LDL levels (bad cholesterol) and raise the HDL levels (good cholesterol) in your blood. It will also improve your heart function. Researchers at the University of British Columbia discovered that increasing the number of calories burned by 1000 per week, which is equivalent to running ten miles in a week, decreases your risk of premature death by 20 percent.

Diabetes can be managed by running. Researchers have found that adding about five miles of running per week will decrease the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes happens when your body produces insulin but does not properly use the available insulin.

Another disease helped by running is osteoporosis. Athletes who participate in high-impact sports, such as running, have a higher bone density than athletes who only participate in low-impact sports, like bicycling or using an elliptical machine. Women who already have osteoporosis can decrease the severity of their disease by running.

Dr. Rajan Bhatt is a cardiologist and an avid runner. Dr. Bhatt is licensed to practice in Arizona and Florida.