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Botox: The New Anti-Wrinkle Treatment by Ihor Magun, M.D., F.A.C.P. The history of botulism conjures up fearful images. For many years, it was something we really did not know much about, except that it was lethal and should be avoided by taking precautions. Most cases of botulism were associated with home-canned goods and damaged commercially produced canned products. These fears are still relevant today even though we now have stricter regulations on most commercially canned goods. Clostridium botulinum bacteria and their spores are everywhere, not just in badly canned food products. They are found in soil and water worldwide. The spores themselves are harmless and are found on the surface of fruits and vegetables and in seafood. So where is the danger? The dangerous substance is a toxin produced by the bacteria when they grow. Botulism bacteria produce this toxin only under certain conditions, which can be caused by improper canning of home goods or damaged commercially produced canned food. Rusty or swollen cans should be avoided as both are indica tors that something may be very wrong with the con tents. The toxin, once present in the body, binds to nerve endings at the junction where nerves join mus cles. This blocks the nerves from signaling the muscles to contract. The result is weakness and paralysis. Clas sical symptoms of systemic botulism include general ized muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing. This can progress to a paralysis of arms, legs, trunk, and respi ratory muscles. Proper medical care and anti-toxin can be lifesaving. Because botulism is so dangerous, the bacte rial toxin that causes it would seem to be an unlikely source for medicinal use. But one increasingly popular way to fight wrinkles is actually a derivative of this potential deadly toxin. How this came about is an in teresting story. The first purified botulism toxin developed in the laboratory was licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration in December 1989. It was marketed under the trade name Botox and was used to treat excessive muscle contractions of the eye. The toxin was injected into the muscle, weakening the in jected muscle while leaving other muscles unaffected. Botox was used to treat neurological problems, such as facial tics, muscle spasms of the body, and spasticity in stroke victims. Eventually, what began as a medical treatment moved into the realm of cosmetic treatment. Botox moved into the practices of plastic surgeons and other medical specialists, driven there by the demand of men and women who wanted to look younger. As most of us know, the repeated muscle con tractions of our facial expressions contribute to changes in facial appearance. Over time, these muscle contractions cause wrinkles that make us look older. Botox, when injected, stops the muscle contractions and thus temporarily relaxes wrinkling. It works best on frown lines between the eyes, crow's feet, the upper third of the face, and the horizontal lines of the fore head. An injection may take up to one week to take effect, but when this effect occurs, it can produce dra matic changes which can last four to six months. Re peated injections are required to maintain these changes. Common side effects are usually localized. There may be some bruising at the site of injection, temporary eye drop, headache, or temporary paralysis of neighboring muscles. Botox rarely causes any sys temic internal side effects, but individuals with neuro muscular disorders should exercise caution. Although Botox injections are considered safe, long-term use has not been studied. The costs of injections vary widely, depending on the type of medical practice and its location in the country. Since procedures for cosmetic reasons are not covered by medical insurance, those seeking Botox treatments can expect to pay several hundred dollars for this—all out of pocket. If all this sounds like a good thing at too high a price, my suggestion is to try a cheaper alternative. Keep a positive outlook and don't frown too much. A big smile can neutralize and average out the facial lines we all get sooner or later. And it's free. 14 “НАШ Е Ж ИТТЯ”, ЧЕРВЕНЬ 2003 Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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