Latest news with #AVN
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Ankur Warikoo details journey from hip decay to marathon running and six-pack abs: Can bones regenerate?
Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo has taken to Instagram to document a transformative journey of not only recovering from a hip condition and 'no-walk' days but running a marathon, eventually losing body fat and developing chiselled abs at 44. In February 2012, Ankur was diagnosed with avascular necrosis, a condition where his hip bone was slowly decaying because of a lack of blood supply. He found himself in the unfortunate 10% of cases with no clear cause and was asked to stop walking. This was followed by a surgery, a trying and long recovery period with crutches, a determined 10-month effort of getting back on his feet and running a marathon. He found a new problem at 33, that he was overweight with 26% body fat. And now, after years of following a customised diet, sleep and fitness routine, his body is ripped and his fat percentage is below 10%. But does this routine work for everybody? 'The truth is, hip bone decay manifests differently in different people. So does the recovery and rehabilitation. Which is why a solution has to be medically guided and completely dependent on the bone recovery,' says Dr Raju Vaishya, Orthopaedic and Robotic Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. What is avascular necrosis (AVN)? This is a condition when blood supply to the head of the femur (thigh bone) is disrupted, leading to bone tissue death and hip bone decay. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including trauma, prolonged steroid use, excessive alcohol consumption, certain medical conditions (like sickle cell disease) and even some medications. Over time, this can lead to joint collapse, especially in weight-bearing joints like the hip. It often begins with pain during movement and progresses to pain even at rest. In severe cases, doctors may advise complete rest or avoiding walking altogether to prevent further damage. What about treatment? Treatment options can include medication, joint-preserving surgeries or even joint replacement depending on the stage of the disease. We also do core decompression, which involves drilling small holes in the affected bone, relieving pressure and helping restore blood flow to the area. A bone graft is inserted to speed up healing. Can running a marathon help or harm in such a condition? Running a marathon after being diagnosed with AVN is not typically recommended unless the person has undergone successful treatment and rehabilitation. Get an endurance approval from your doctor. Always consult an orthopaedic specialist before considering high-impact exercise. Each case is different, and pushing too early can worsen the condition. Focus on the treatment no matter how long it takes Whether it's medication, physical therapy or surgery (such as hip replacement), the priority is to stabilise the joint and restore function. Start with low-impact exercise Activities like swimming, cycling, or elliptical training are preferred in early recovery. These strengthen muscles without stressing the joint. Then strengthen supporting muscles. Building muscle around the joint improves stability and reduces stress on the affected area. This is important if running is a long-term goal. If cleared by a doctor, transition slowly to walking, then light jogging. Studies show marathon running strengthens muscles and reduces the load on joints. Continued scans and check-ups are necessary to ensure that bone health is stable and there's no further degeneration.
Qatar Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Venezuelan electoral authority declares Maduro party victorious
BerlincTypeface:> Venezuela's pro-government electoral authority (CNE) has announced that the country's ruling parties won in the parliamentary and regional elections. Preliminary results suggest President Nicolás Maduro's socialist ruling party PSUV and its allies won 82.7% of the votes, the CNE announced during Sunday night, according to the state news agency AVN. The South American country's electoral authority said smaller opposition parties received 17% of the votes. It said voter turnout was around 43%. Maduro celebrated the election results in front of supporters in the capital Caracas as a 'victory for peace and stability.' Twenty-three of the 24 governor posts went to candidates from the ruling camp. The largest opposition parties criticized the vote as a farce, and had called for a boycott of the elections. According to the opposition, turnout was far lower due to the boycott, at only around 15% of eligible voters. According to the Interior Ministry, security forces arrested more than 70 people, including prominent opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa. Around 21 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote in the elections for the 285 members of parliament, 24 governors and numerous mayors, city councillors and local representatives.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Venezuelan electoral authority declares Maduro party victorious
Venezuela's pro-government electoral authority (CNE) has announced that the country's ruling parties won in the parliamentary and regional elections. Preliminary results suggest President Nicolás Maduro's socialist ruling party PSUV and its allies won 82.7% of the votes, the CNE announced during Sunday night, according to the state news agency AVN. The South American country's electoral authority said smaller opposition parties received 17% of the votes. It said voter turnout was around 43%. Maduro celebrated the election results in front of supporters in the capital Caracas as a "victory for peace and stability." Twenty-three of the 24 governor posts went to candidates from the ruling camp. The largest opposition parties criticized the vote as a farce, and had called for a boycott of the elections. According to the opposition, turnout was far lower due to the boycott, at only around 15% of eligible voters. The election was preceded by a wave of arrests of opposition figures. According to the Interior Ministry, security forces arrested more than 70 people, including prominent opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa. The authoritarian government in Caracas accuses them of planning terrorist attacks on embassies, hospitals, police stations and power stations in order to disrupt the vote. Around 21 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote in the elections for the 285 members of parliament, 24 governors and numerous mayors, city councillors and local representatives.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Are steroids, protein powders building muscle but damaging your hip bone? What young gym goers need to know
Can arbitrary use of gym steroids and protein powders damage the hip bone permanently? Orthopaedic experts are seeing hip bone damage and degeneration of the kind associated with the elderly among young people in their 20s, who may be picking up performance enhancers from gyms. Recently, the Maharashtra FDA also launched statewide checks on protein powders after several brands were found to be spiked with performance-enhancing steroids, many of which are freely available online or at gyms without proper labelling or approvals. According to Dr Gaurav Prakash Bhardwaj, Director, Sports Injury, Joint Preservation and Replacement Surgery, PSRI hospital, 'Steroid use is one of the most well-documented causes of Avascular Necrosis (AVN), a condition where bone tissue dies because of lack of blood supply. When taken in high doses or over a long period, especially without medical need, steroids can interfere with the blood supply to the bone.' There has been a noticeable rise in hip-related complaints among young individuals, especially those in their 20s and early 30s. They report persistent pain in the hip joint, difficulty walking, or stiffness, all linked to unsupervised gym workouts and supplement use. Abuse of steroids can also impact liver and cardiovascular health. Earlier, AVN was considered relatively rare in this group, but in recent years, we are seeing around 3 to 5 cases per month in some urban hospitals alone. This number may vary depending on the location, but overall, there is a clear upward trend. Many patients are unaware that their symptoms could point to a serious condition until the damage becomes severe. Medication can slow down degeneration, surgery is the last resort. Steroid use is one of the most well-documented causes of AVN. When taken in high doses or over a long period, especially without medical need, steroids can build up fat levels in the blood and bone marrow, obstructing blood vessels and interfering with blood supply to the bone. This eventually leads to bone tissue death and collapse of the hip joint. Similarly, excessive alcohol intake damages blood vessels and can also reduce blood flow to the hip, triggering AVN. The most affected age group is between 20 and 35 years. These are mostly fitness-conscious individuals who engage in intense workouts and are influenced by social media trends or body-building goals. Unfortunately, they are using steroids or unregulated protein supplements without medical supervision. We should regulate the supplement market, build gym hygiene with fitness trainers and insist on basic bone screening of gym goers.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Steroids, protein powders behind alarming rise in hip damage among urban youth, warn experts
A group of orthopaedic experts have raised a serious public health concern, stating that the misuse of steroids and unregulated protein powders is severely damaging the hips of young gym-going individuals in their 20s. This warning came during the 'Delhi Hip 360' conference held in the national capital, where orthopaedic specialists highlighted the alarming rise in cases of Avascular Necrosis (AVN) and early hip degeneration in youth, conditions traditionally seen in older adults. Dr L Tomar, the organising chairman of the conference, said, 'We are observing a significant surge in hip-related complaints among young patients in recent years. Every week in my OPD, I see two to three patients under the age of 30, many in their early 20s, complaining of persistent hip pain.' 'Investigations often reveal Avascular Necrosis (AVN), a condition where blood supply to the hip bone is compromised, leading to bone death. In over 70% of these cases, there is a history of anabolic steroid use or excessive consumption of unverified protein powders,' said Dr Tomar, who is the unit head of orthopaedics and joint replacement at Max Hospital, Delhi. Recent studies have indicated a rise in hip issues among youth and how alcohol and steroid use were key contributors to AVN among young adults, he said. More recently, the Maharashtra FDA launched statewide checks on protein powders after several brands were found to be spiked with performance-enhancing steroids, many of which are freely available online or at gyms without proper labelling or approvals. Youth, especially those chasing rapid physical transformation, are unknowingly damaging their bone health, particularly the femoral head of the hip joint, which is uniquely sensitive to blood flow changes, Dr Tomar pointed out. There is a thriving underground online market for performance-enhancing drugs and muscle-building supplements in India. Dr Rajiv Jain, senior orthopaedic surgeon, said that steroids, especially when misused or consumed unsupervised, directly impact the blood supply to the bones. 'It (AVN) begins with pain, stiffness, and limping and in many cases, leads to complete collapse of the hip joint. Hip replacements are required for patients whose condition can be treated using medications,' Dr Jain stated. The condition, AVN, is not only painful but also often irreversible if not diagnosed early. In extreme cases, the only treatment is total hip replacement, a complex procedure typically meant for older patients. Orthopaedic experts say this is becoming disturbingly common in India's urban youth. Another observation presented by orthopaedic researchers at the conference revealed that over 30 per cent of AVN cases seen in Delhi's tertiary hospitals over the past three years involved patients under 35, and most had a history of either steroid injection, oral steroid abuse or supplement misuse. Dr Sharad Agarwal, scientific chairman of the conference and senior orthopaedic surgeon, said that fitness has become a booming industry in India, but without proper regulation and education. 'What they don't realise is that behind that muscle, their bones might be silently deteriorating. We urgently need awareness drives, regulation of supplement markets, and basic orthopaedic screening at gyms,' Dr Agarwal said. Doctors have urged fitness trainers, influencers and gym owners to educate their clients about the risks of shortcuts like steroid cycles and unverified protein supplements.
