Diseases List

Shingles Disease – Symptoms, riskfactors, complications, contagious

Posted on January 25, 2012 by AdminDr

What is Shingles disease?
Shingles or also known as Herpes Zoster is a health problem characterized by painful blisters on the skin. Shingles is brought about by a virus named Varicella Zoster Virus or VZV, the one that is also responsible for the chickenpox disease in human. A person who suffered chickenpox in his or her childhood is vulnerable to have Shingles disease.

Even if the person already recovered from chickenpox, the remainders of the VZV virus remain in his or her body for his or her entire life. Shingles disease is sometimes referred as revisiting chickenpox disease, which reappears once the needed situations for the disease are obtained like:

If the person is under stress
If the person become immunocompromised (diseases like AIDS, medications, illness, etc.)

Since shingles is a revisiting chickenpox disease, shingles is more painful than chickenpox.

Shingles Disease Signs and Symptoms

The following are the signs and symptoms of shingles disease:

Flu-like symptoms
Tiredness
Gastrointestinal problems
Sudden chills
Itching on the affected areas
Small painful blisters or skin rashes patterned like a belt or band arising from spine to chest is the most characteristic symptom of Shingles

Shingles Disease Risk Factors

Here is the list of some of the possible risk factors of Shingles Disease:

Previous case of chickenpox (highest risk)
Old age (above 50 years old)
Immunocompromised individuals (AIDS and cancer patients, etc.)
People taking chemotherapy or immunosuppressive medications

Shingles Disease Complications
Since there is no successful treatment available on Shingles Disease at present if the patient progresses into the advance stage, he or she may develop a condition known as chronic neuralgia, which is also a painful condition. To prevent this problem to happen it is recommended that if you experience shingles call your doctor right away for proper consultation and treatment.

If no proper treatment is given, in rare cases shingles can lead to these serious problems:

Blindness
Pneumonia
Organ malfunction
Hearing difficulties
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
Death

Is Shingles contagious?
Even though the VZV virus that is responsible for chickenpox and shingles disease can be transmitted by direct contact of any healthy person, with the open wounds, rashes or blisters of the patient who has shingles disease, shingles is not completely contagious condition.

A strong person can never have Shingles disease following an indirect contact with the patient having Shingles. The only stage when this condition is contagious is when the blisters with clear fluid appeared and the rashes surrounding the blisters have not formed crusts.

Things you need to remember about shingles disease:

Here are some helpful tips that you need to do manage this condition:

Shingles is a contagious disease during the stage when blisters appeared until the development of crusts, patient must be cautious to cover the blisters to prevent disease transmission
Follow the doctor strictly
Avoid contact with the sun and keep patient in a cool and dry room
Prevent rubbing of the skin rashes

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Fabry Disease – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Pictures

Posted on January 25, 2012 by AdminDr

What is Fabry disease?

Fabry disease is brought by deficiency of or failure of the enzyme required metabolizing lipids, a fat-like substance that involves oils, fatty acids and waxes. The enzyme is called ceramide trihexosidase, also known as alpha-galactosidase-A. A gene mutation that controls this enzyme brings the deficiency in the breakdown of lipids, which accumulate to dangerous levels in the kidneys, autonomic nervous system, eyes, and cardiovascular system. For the reason that the mutated gene is transmitted on an X chromosome, her sons have a 50% probability of having the Fabry disease and her daughters have a 50% probability of being a carrier.

Fabry disease symptoms

Several women who have the mutated gene may experience symptoms of the disease. Symptoms normally start during childhood or adolescence and involve:

Burning feeling in the hands that are aggravated with exercise and hot weather
small, elevated, reddish-purple blemishes seen on the skin

Some men will also suffer eye symptoms, particularly a cloudy cornea. Storage of lipid may result to impaired circulation of the artery and a greater possibility to have heart attack or stroke. Also, heart enlargement and kidney impairment may also happen.

Other symptoms involve:

Less sweating
Fever
Gastrointestinal problems especially after eating

Fabry Disease Causes

Fabry disease is brought about by an abrupt gene mutation. The gene that mutates is the one responsible for lipids breakdown. This gene affects an enzyme known as alpha-galactosidase A or ceramide trihexosidase.

The failure in the gene results to the lack of the enzyme. Therefore, the fats are not broken down and build up in the body’s tissues like nerve tissues, eyes, kidneys and heart.

The gene that causes fabry disease is only present on the X chromosome. Therefore, women have 50% possibility of becoming a carrier while men will have 50% possibility of having the disease.

Fabry Disease Diagnosis

The diagnosis of fabry disease will be based on the child’s symptom. A skin sample through biopsy can be obtained and assessed under the microscope. Unusual number of fat in the skin cells can signify Fabry disease.

Fabry Disease Treatment

Replacement of enzymes may be helpful in reducing the progress of Fabry disease. The pain felt in the hands and feet typically relieved by the use of anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepine. Gastrointestinal problems may be relieved by taking metoclopramide. Several patients may need dialysis or kidney transplant because of the kidney impairment brought by the disease.

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Breast Biopsy Results and Types – Stereotactic, MRI Guided and Excisional

Posted on December 12, 2011 by admin

What is breast biopsy?

Breast biopsy is a surgical procedure in which the doctor will remove and get a breast growth sample from the affected breast. The breast sample removed will then be subjected for examination for confirmation of presence of cancer cells. The breast tissue sample is extracted by a needle or excision with a surgical blade during a surgical procedure. The sample will be sent to the laboratory for examination and evaluation by the use of a microscope. This is usually performed by a pathologist to confirm if there is non-cancerous or the so-called benign growth or cancerous or the so-called malignant growth.

The abnormal growth can be referred as lump, mass, lesion and tumor.

Breast Biopsy Results

Immediately after the surgical procedure, the breast tissue sample will be sent to the laboratory. A pathologist, a doctor who is specialized in looking at cells to confirm diseases, will study the sample to look for malignancy or cancer.

If the result is negative or benign, the interpretation is no cancer was present. If you are having doubts about the negative result you canask for a second opinion wherein another pathology doctor will look at your breast sample. Once you are sure that the result is really negative it is still recommended to have mammograms regularly and to see your doctor for regular breast examinations. It is also important to always do a self breast examination and know the changes in your breasts that are abnormal, and always report abnormal changes in your doctor right away. Always remember to discuss the risks of breast cancer and if you have them with your doctor.

It is important to do both mammogram and physical examination. A mammogram may show abnormal growths or changes that can’t be detected during a physical examination. On the other hand, physical examination may detect a lump or skin change that a mammogram can’t be detected. If you happen to see any breast changes when you are having a breast self exam call your doctor immediately. It is important to know that breast changes do not necessarily mean breast cancer.

If the result is positive or it detects breast cancer, the positive results will tell your physician vital information on the cancer state. First, it would tell if the cancer is in situ or invasive. If the cancer is in situ it means that the cancer began inside a milk gland or duct, a tube that transmits milk from milk gland to nipple, and has not expand to the adjacent breast tissue or to other organs. If the cancer is invasive or infiltrating cancer it means that the abnormal growth began in a lobule or a duct and has expand to the adjacent breast tissues. Invasive type may expand the cancer to the other organs of the body when it spread to the lymph nodes. Once it spread inside the lymph nodes the cancer calls will spread in the lymph system and into the bloodstream.

Second, the result of the biopsy will also show the speed of the cancer cells. The pathologist will look into the arrangement of the cancer cells to find the cancer’s grade. The cancer grade will signify how fast or how slow the cancer is probably to divide and expand. Also, they can use other measures like Ki-67 tests which show how fast the cancer cells will spreadand will help doctors to figure out what treatment is more suitable for you. The pathologist can also see if the cancer is HER2-positive. When the cancer is classified as HER2-positive it is more likely to grow faster compared to other types of breast cancers. The HER2 test is only done to newly diagnosed breast cancer patient and they can be managed by drugs that fight the HER2 protein.

Third, the result of the biopsy will show you if the cancer will respond to hormone therapy. Some breast cancers have estrogen and progesterone receptors. If they have these receptors it means that they respond to estrogen and progesterone so a hormone therapy will likely to be beneficial.
Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

Stereotactic breast biopsy is a safe and less invasive kind of breast biopsy. It is indicated to get small samples from an abnormal breast growth for laboratory examination. Biopsies are the only reliable method to prove if the problem is cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign).

Stereotactic breast biopsy is a substitute option if you do not want an open or surgical biopsy. A computer-guided imaging system will be used to help the surgeon locate the sample breast tissue. The breast tissue will be extracted using a needle. It will be performed on an out-patient basis with less discomfort and less recovery time.

Most of the time stereotactic breast biopsy is a safe procedure. Although in rare cases bruises or infection in the site of biopsy may occur. If any of these risks occur, they are usually manageable with proper treatment. There are also cases that one biopsy will not be enough because a larger tissue is required to remove therefore another biopsy is performed.

While stereotactic breast biopsies are usually enough to find the nature of a breast mass, at times a larger piece of tissue may need to be removed. In that case, another biopsy may be needed. After the procedure, the removed sample is sent into the laboratory to be examined by a pathologist. The results are usually available after two to four days.

MRI Guided Breast Biopsy

MRI guided breast biopsy is very helpful for patients because it costs less, can be done in less than an hour and has little risks compared to open surgery. This is usually done if the areas involved can be seen under MRI.

The breast sample once found under the MRI can be removed either by needle or vacuum device. Local anesthesia is required for the procedure and the needle or vacuum device can leave little or no scar.

Excisional Breast Biopsy

Excisional breast biopsy is a surgical procedure wherein the surgeon makes a cut in the skin and removes a sample or the entire abnormal mass for laboratory examination. Excisional breast biopsy will leave a noticeable scar on the breast and at times will result to an alteration of the breast shape. It is recommended if you first talk to your doctor about the size of the cut and about the scar and the breast changes that might happen after the biopsy. After a few daysafter the biopsy, expect to have mild pain and swelling in the surgical site for several days. The result will usually take three to four days to become available.

Inflamed Liver – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Diet

Posted on December 6, 2011 by admin

Liver is the largest internal organ of our body and is located in the upper right part of the abdominal area. This organ has an important purpose in some metabolic processes of the body. It organizes and releases bile that absorbs fats in the intestine, breaks down important body nutrients, manufactures enzymes and proteins, gets rid of toxins and aids in body detoxification and a lot more functions are done by the liver. An inflamed liver is a problem that obviously means that the liver is unhealthy.

Inflamed Liver Symptoms

When the liver inflammation occurs for less than 6 months it is called as acute condition while if it persists for more than 6 months it is now called a chronic condition. The liver has a unique ability to work normally even when it is damaged. As a result, in the very first stage, the patient is asymptomatic. They do not experience any pain for the liver inflammation. The following are some of the symptoms of acute inflamed liver:

A slight and localized pain in the upper right part of the abdominal cavity
With more swelling, a person can sense the inflammation at the lower right part of the rib cage and it is painful when touched
A persistent feeling of fullness that makes plenty of discomfort.
Lack of appetite
Painful sensation in the muscles and joints that continue for some weeks
Unexplained loss of weight

In the chronic stage of liver inflammation, the following symptoms can be seen:

Jaundice or yellowish discoloration of skin and the white part of the eyes
Fever
Dark colored urine
Pain in the abdomen
Tenderness near the liver
Pain may extend up to the right shoulder
Bloating and flatulence especially after eating fatty or oily foods
Changes in the lipid levels
Weakness
Tiredness
Sleepiness

Inflamed Liver Causes

When the liver experiences some type of injury or damage, eventually the liver cells will be inflamed. There are some things that can cause this. The following are the usual causes of inflamed liver:

Viral attack on the liver

This is one of the leading causes of inflamed liver. When the liver is inflamed because of a viral infection, it is called hepatitis. There are several kinds of hepatitis virus. Hepatitis A, B and C are the most usual virus that causes inflamed liver.

Alcohol

Alcoholic hepatitis is another cause of inflamed liver. This targets people who are heavy alcohol drinkers for a long time. The metabolite of alcohol has a dangerous effect on the liver.

Side effects of some drugs

Inflamed liver can also be brought about by side effects of some medications. It can occur for the reason that drugs as well as illegal drugs are metabolize in the liver. The degree of liver damage brought about by these medications will be based on the dosage and the duration of the drug intake.

Autoimmune diseases

Those who have autoimmune problem may also have liver inflammation. This can happen if the immune system destroys the liver cells.

Other causes

The other factors that can cause inflamed liver are chemical exposure, bacterial infections, unhealthy diet, etc.

Inflamed Liver Diagnosis

Liver Biopsy

Under a local anesthesia, a needle is inserted in the lower area of the right chest and a small liver tissue is taken. The sample will be examined under a microscope.

Elevated liver enzymes

An increased level of liver enzymes may signify liver inflammation or liver damage. Inflamed liver releases an increased number of certain enzymes into the blood circulation that resulted to increased liver enzymes seen on the blood tests.

The most usually seen elevated liver enzymes are:

Alanine transaminase (ALT)
Aspartate transaminase (AST)

Increased amount of liver enzymes may be found during a routine blood examination. In usual situations, liver enzymes are merely slightly and briefly elevated. For the majority of the time, elevated liver enzymes do not signify a chronic and severe liver damage.

Inflamed Liver Treatment

The treatment for inflamed liver will be based on the degree of damage to the liver. This can be identified with the aid of liver function tests. There is no drug to treat acute viral hepatitis. A person must slow down his or her activities and change his or her diet to help the liver regenerate on its own.

Antiviral drugs are given for the management of chronic viral hepatitis like hepatitis B and C. Milk thistle is a famous herbal tonic, which is used to stop the viral infection. It also encourages the growth of new liver cells and therefore replaces the cells that are damaged. It also stops toxins from entering the healthy liver cells. If the inflamed liver is brought about by a medication that drug must be discontinued or changed after the doctor’s consultation.

Inflamed liver could be a severe problem if proper treatment is not given on time. If the liver continues to be inflamed for a long time, it can result to death of liver cells and will result to liver scarring. Scarred liver cells will not work normally and will only burden the healthy liver cells. Furthermore, an increased number of scarred liver cells can lead to cirrhosis, a permanent liver damage.

Inflamed Liver Diet

The diet has to be a healthy and balanced diet and intake of fatty and processed foods should be avoided. A person must be very careful with his or her caloric consumption and it should not be beyond 3000 calories daily. More fruits and vegetables should be eaten daily. The patient should only eat freshly cooked food. He or she should also drink plenty of water. Drinking of alcohol must completely stop.

Posted in Liver, Uncategorized | Tagged Autoimmune diseases, Inflamed Liver Symptoms, largest internal organ, Unexplained loss of weight | Leave a comment

Signs of Liver Damage

Posted on December 5, 2011 by admin

Usually individuals think that they might have some kind of liver problem, but it can be a repulsive deed for any person to pinpoint symptoms of liver damage simple-mindedly. Therefore, it is recommended to talk with your physician to confirm any possible liver problem.

This article merely provides information about the usual signs of liver damage and it is strongly recommended to consult a professional medical advice from a doctor to confirm liver damage.

Jaundice

The major manifestation of liver damage is jaundice. Constant jaundice means that there is a problem with a person’s gall bladder or liver. Jaundice is the yellowish discoloration of the skin and sometimes even the white part of the eye. The major purpose of liver is bile production and once the liver is not appropriately handing out the old venous blood and then not producing the bile appropriately, it can lead to jaundice. If the jaundice comes with flu you need to consult a doctor to verify if a gall bladder infection or acute hepatitis is happening.

Lack of Appetite

One of the most typical symptoms of liver damage is decrease in appetite that will later on result into loss of weight. Eventually the condition can be aggravated by improper metabolism of the carbohydrates, fats and proteins inside the body.

Because of lack of appetite, the condition can worsen into anemia. It can also lead to low number of liver cells. Lack of appetite can also sometimes accompanied by vomiting, nausea and diarrhea and because of these symptoms the body becomes weaker. Occasionally, blood also comes out together with the vomits brought about by some gastric ulcer inside the body. The development of ulcers can be accelerated by the complicated level of exchanges between histamine, gastrin, nitrogen, bile acids, portal hypertension and the mucous membrane, which is the stomach lining.

Light Coloration of Stool

If the discharge of the bile is obstructed because of bile duct blockage or there is decreased in bile discharge, the stool of the person becomes pale and lighter in color.

There will also symptoms of bowel irregularities and irritable bowel movements if the person is suffering a liver or gall bladder disease. The human stool is normally dark in color because of the bile. Therefore, having a light colored stool is a sigh that there is a decreased bile production or there is an obstruction in the bile duct. The bile duct can become obstructed because of scarring, stones or swelling of the lining. Gray-colored stool and pale stool are still considered light-colored stool.

Bloating and Abdominal Distention

The abdominal area under the lower ribs on the right side may become bloated due to hepatomegaly (liver enlargement) or ascites. But, if the abdominal distention becomes very serious, then breathing may turn out to be painful because of the pressure it gives on the diaphragm.

Excessive Thirst and Frequent Urination

Excessive thirst medically known as polydypsia and frequent urination medically known as polyuria are also typical symptoms of a lot of other diseases, but liver problems also show these kinds of symptoms.

Other Symptoms

The following are also considered symptoms of liver problems:

Dizziness
Headache
Stroke
Mood swings
Depression
Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
Redness and itchy eyes
Skin problem
Allergy
Back pain
Hypochondriac pain
Loss of tendons’ and ligaments’ flexibility
Tics, spasms, and tremors
Sudden seizures
Constant irritability

Posted in Liver | Tagged Bloating and Abdominal Distention, decrease in appetite, Gray-colored stool, irregularities and irritable bowel, Lack of Appetite, Light Coloration of Stool, nausea and diarrhea, pale stool | Leave a comment

Childhood Obesity – causes, symptoms, solutions and prevention

Posted on November 30, 2011 by admin

What is Childhood Obesity?

Childhood Obesity is a condition wherein the body has excess and abnormal fat accumulation. It means that there is too much fat in the body. These are unwanted fats and are not healthy. Presently, it poses a serious health concern as this condition may likely predisposes children to develop heart and vascular diseases, as well as diabetes as they grow in age.The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool to help compare the normal weight for the height and age of a child. A child witha calculated BMI above the normal is considered overweight or obese. There are also instances wherein the child’s BMI is normal, but the percentage of body fat is high, thus can still be considered obese.

Throughout the world, the incidence of childhood obesity for children under five years old in the year 2010 is estimated to be more than 40 million. The U.S., have 37% of its children obese, ranked first, and with the rest of the countries having an increasing rate of childhood obesity.

Causes of Childhood Obesity

The imbalance of calorie intake and calorie used is the primary cause for childhood obesity. A number of factors which can contribute to this condition include:

High intake of calorie rich-foods.Foods having high content in fat and sugar,but contain generally less vitamins and minerals, increases the likelihood of having more fats in the body. A study made by researchers of University of Carolina in Chapel Hill have found out that heavy snacking of desserts and colas or sweetened drinks is the number one cause of childhood obesity in the U.S. Over-eating on fast foods can also contribute to obesity.

Sedentary Lifestyle.With less physical activities to help burn fats and control insulin, more fats are stored in the body.With the media entertainment, television, internet, video games, cellphones children nowadays spent more of their leisure time indoors. Their time spent outdoors playing physical games and sports are minimized.

A rare genetic abnormality coined as Prader-Willi Syndrome has been found to cause some cases of childhood obesity. This is a condition wherein the body has a very low metabolism rate and the feeling of being always hungry. As the child with this condition is growing up, there will be an overly increase in food appetite and eating excessively and may go on binge eating even after eating a meal, more and more calories are taken in and a less amount of calorie used.

Effects of Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity has impact on psychological and physical aspects of a child.Children themselves rated their quality of life low, and perceived that discrimination from society and poor self-esteem resulted from obesity. Apart from that, obesity also gives rise to the following health problems:

Sleep apnea.The children experienced a disturbance in their sleep due to disorder in breathing pattern. Their sleep is disrupted and they tend to become sleepy during the day. This can result to low performance in daily activities.

Increase in blood cholesterol. A high LDL level form plaque in blood vessels, making the blood difficult to pass through. When plaques are carried in the bloodstream, it may clog small arteries in the heart that may cause coronary infarction or heart attack; and when plaque clogs the small arteries in the brain, this may lead to cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

High blood pressure. Obese children who were found out to have elevated blood pressure had developed hypertension as they grew into adulthood.

Increase in blood sugar. There is an increasing rate of children diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus type 2 among children who are obese.

Solutions to Childhood Obesity

Calorie used should balance the calories being taken in and that should be the main idea to solve childhood obesity.

Parents, as the primary caregivers, should first send their children to a pediatrician to have a thorough medical check-up to uncover physical disorders. For children found out to have Prader-Willi Syndrome, interventions with hormones are needed and behavioral therapy as well.

Creating and sticking to the plan of lowering calorie food intake and increasing the level of activity. Minimize the time spent in watching television, in video games and other sedentary activities. Instead, choose an activity that requires physical exertion like biking. It can also create and serves as time for the family to bond and spent time with each other.

Encourage the children to eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and minimize those foods high in fats and sugar. Lessen consumption of fast foods, and make available in the home the nutritious foods.

Provide emotional support. Children need to feel loved, accepted, and encouraged by their parents. Let them express how they feel and continue to show caring attitude towards them.These obese children will strive harder when their parents are giving them the support they need to achieve healthier lifestyle.

How to Prevent Childhood Obesity?

Here are some tips for parents to do to help keep their children healthy and their body weight in control:

Set by example. Having parents who are enjoying healthy and active lifestyle, children are more opt to follow.Set a time for family bonding outside the home and have activities that require physical exertion.

Visit pediatrician for a wellness-checkup once a year. Know the children’s BMI for assessment of weight status and evaluation of health status.

Encourage outdoor-plays and sports. Children who engage in physical playing and sports increase their physical activity and minimize sedentary habit. Physical activities help burn out fats, good for circulation and promote well-being.

Setting of Limit. Limiting time in watching television,surfing the internet, and playing video games can provide a way for children to try and engage in playing with other children and learn to be active in physical games.

Posted in Obesity | Tagged Body Mass Index, Childhood Obesity, Obesity, overweight | Leave a comment

Inflamed Gums – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Home Remedies

Posted on November 27, 2011 by admin

Inflamed Gums

There can be different causes for inflamed gums, from slight trauma and gum irritation to severe gum problems. Inflamed gums can lead to gum tenderness and increase possibility of bleeding.

Gum inflammation can be a manifestation of several severe gum problems. Nevertheless, sometimes, it can also be brought about by trauma or gum irritation. Occasionally, gum inflammation can come with severe pain. Inflamed gums are most usually caused by poor dental health.

Causes of Inflamed Gums

Trauma or gum irritation brought about by harsh brushing is one of the leading causes of gum inflammation. Nevertheless, that kind of minor injury or irritation typically do not need medical help and can be avoided with proper oral hygiene. Nevertheless, gum inflammation sometimes, can mean a more severe problem than mild injury or gum irritation.

Gingivitis is defined as a gum inflammation, which can happen, when appropriate dental care is not kept with brushing and flossing regularly. It is brought about by the collection of food in the tiny space between the teeth and gums. This will later on, lead to plaque formation, which eventually, can result to tartar development. That condition makes it a good place for bacteria to grow that can result to gum inflammation and infection. Gingivitis can in the end become a periodontal disease, which is distinguished by red swollen gums. This disease targets the bones that hold up the teeth, which leads to loosening of the teeth from the gums and eventually the teeth will fall out.

Moreover, loose-fitting dentures, lack of nutrition, some drugs and lack of Vitamin C also known as scurvy can also lead to gum inflammation. Sometimes, inflamed gums can be brought about by the canker sores that develop in the gums.

Symptoms of Inflamed Gums

The following are the common symptoms of gum inflammation:

swelling or inflammation of the gums
gum tenderness
pain
bad breath
color changes of the gum (pink to bright red)

Gums that are inflamed have been found out more prone to easy gum bleeding, even with only a mild irritation. Therefore, if the inflamed gums become irritated, upon brushing or eating, the gums can bleed easily.

Treatment for Inflamed Gums

If a mild injury or trauma caused the inflamed gums, then the problem can be solved without medication and it will just recover on its own. Nevertheless, if the gum inflammation is a manifestation of a more severe problem, then it would need an appropriate treatment and medications. In this condition, the treatment for gum inflammation will be based on the causes that brought the problem.

If it is brought about by the gum problem, gingivitis, then the doctor will get rid of the plaque and the tartar that developed in the small gap between the teeth and the gum. To treat periodontitis, the doctors will also get rid of the swollen tissues and the formed plaque. Therefore, every particular cause of gum inflammation can be managed with varied choices for treatment. Nevertheless, to have a short-time aid from the pain and swelling, doctors may recommend the use of analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Home Remedies for Inflamed Gums

Some home remedies for gum inflammation can aid to relief the inflammation and pain brought about by this problem. The following are some of the necessary home remedies for gum inflammation:

Use of Salt Water

This is a very good home remedy for oral problems. Rinsing your mouth with salt water couple of times daily, can aid to lessen the pain and hasten the recovery of the gums.

Application of Ice

Applying of ice on the swollen and painful gums can give fast relief from the gum pain and swelling.

Baking Soda

Application of baking soda paste and water on the gum can prevent bacterial growth. Nevertheless, do not massage or rub the gums while applying baking soda paste.

Aloe Vera Gel

The use of aloe vera gel is another effective home remedy for relief of pain and swelling.

Clove Oil

Clove oil can be also applied on the gum. Clove oil has antiseptic properties and can cure several gum diseases and teeth diseases.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil, similar to clove oil also has antiseptic abilities and therefore can provide relief for pain and swelling.

The most effective method to avoid the recurrences of gum inflammation is to have a good oral hygiene. Brushing using a soft bristle toothbrush and flossing regularly are the most essential ways to improve dental care. Nevertheless, individuals new to flossing teeth and people suffering from gum inflammation can have some problems with flossing. For instance, gum inflammation after flossing can slightly bleed, particularly if the flossing technique is incorrect. It is important to know how to floss correctly to avoid those kinds of problems. Also, having regular dental consultations usually twice annually is also a great solution.

Posted in Gum Disease | Tagged bad breath, Gum Bleeding, Gum inflammation, loose-fitting dentures, Use of Salt Water | Leave a comment

Abnormal Pap smear – Causes, Risk Factors, Results

Posted on November 23, 2011 by admin

What is a Pap smear?

It is recommended for women to begin having annual Pap smears when they reached their 21 years or inside three years after becoming active in engaging in sex. Pap smear is a screening tool not a diagnostic test. They are useful in finding dysplasia or abnormality in cells inside the cervix. If a woman is regularly having Pap smears it is more likely to detect problems early thus the treatment will be earlier. Early detection and early treatments are both good to prevent farther complications and risks.

What does an Abnormal Pap smear mean?

After hearing that your Pap smear is abnormal, you might be shocked and anxious. It is a normal reaction. However, you must bear in mind that it does not automatically mean that you have cancer. It could signify that you have an infection or abnormal cells also known as dysplasia. If you these results it means that additional tests are required to confirm if there is a problem or not.

Abnormal Pap smear Causes

The following might be the cause to have an abnormal pap smear:

Swelling or infection
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) such as Herpes, Trichomoniasis, etc.
Engaging in sexual activity recently
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) also known as genital warts (according to studies 60 out of 100 women are asymptomatic (show no symptoms) of HPV)
Abnormal cells known as dysplasia that might lead to cancer

Abnormal Pap smear Risk Factors

Engaging in high risk sex can increase the probability of getting Human Papilloma Virus and getting an abnormal Pap smear result. High risk sex involves:

unsafe sex without protection and condoms
having multiple sexual partners or more than one sex partner
having a sex partner who has multiple partners or other partners

HPV remains inside the body for several years without you even noticing it. Therefore, even if you practice safe sex now, you could still get an abnormal Pap smear result if you got the HPV in the earlier years.

Cigarette smoking and being immunocompromised also increase your odds of getting abnormal Pap smear result.

Abnormal Pap smear Results

The abnormal Pap smear results are the following:

ASCUS
LGSIL
HGSIL

ASCUS means Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance. If you have a Pap smear with an ASCUS result, it signifies that abnormal cells were found on the cervix. This can be brought about by infection and follow-up tests are needed with your doctor.

On the other hand, LGSIL means Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions. It is also known as CIN I. It signifies that mild type of dysplasia has been found. It can be brought about by cell changes made by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Lastly, HGSIL means High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions. This particular type is separated into two types. First type is the Moderate Dysplasia also known as CIN II. It signifies that the abnormal cells are found on half of the thickness of surface layer. Second type is the Severe Dysplasia also known as CIN III or carcinoma in situ. It signifies that the whole thickness of the surface layer is made up of abnormal cells, but the cells have not metastasized or spread underneath the surface layer yet.

Posted in Pap smear | Tagged Abnormal Pap smear, dysplasia, Pap smears | Leave a comment

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Posted on November 22, 2011 by admin

What is acute myeloid leukemia?

Acute Myeloid Leukemia or AML is the cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The cancer grows rapidly. The bone marrow produces many preformed cells known as blasts. The blasts grow into white blood cells to fight infection normally. But, the blasts are not normal in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. They are not fully developed therefore they are incapable of fighting infections. The bone marrow can also produce abnormal red blood cells and platelets. The amount of leukemia cells (abnormal cells) grows rapidly. They squeeze out the normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets the body requires.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Causes

Acute myeloid leukemia is one of the leading types of leukemia in adults. This type of cancer is uncommon below 40 years old. It usually happens at 60 years old in adults. It usually happens in men than women. Patients suffering from this type of cancer have abnormal cells in their bone marrow. The cells grow rapidly and take the place of normal blood cells. The bone marrow is the one responsible for fighting infections and because of this later on it will stop working well. Patients with AML become more susceptible to infections and become high risk for bleeding as the amount of normal blood cells decline.

Usually, your physician cannot tell what exactly the cause of your AML is. Nevertheless, the following factors are believed to cause several types of leukemia involving AML:

Chemicals like benzene
Chemotherapy drugs like etoposide and alkylating agents
Radiation
Gene defects

Your risk to have AML will increase if you have any of these:

Immunosuppression brought about by organ transplantation
Blood diseases like polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, myelodysplasia or refractory anemia
Radiation and chemicals exposure

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Symptoms

Usually AML comes abruptly, in days or weeks. Seldom, an individual has been sick for several months or may have a past history of Myelodysplastic syndrome.

AML brought illness mainly by hindering the normal function of the bone marrow. The abnormal cells take the place of the healthy cells and squeeze them. Therefore, they lead to low blood cell numbers. This inadequate number of red blood cells will result in anemia causing the patient to become fatigued and pale. The insufficient number of platelets can make the patient more vulnerable to bleeding and bruising particularly in the skin, nose and gums. Decreased levels of healthy white blood cells will cause the person to become vulnerable to infection. The usual common symptoms of infection involves flu-like symptoms, chest pain, difficulty of breathing, painful urination, occasional diarrhea, sepsis, and pneumonia.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stages

Once the disease is confirmed, medical examinations are performed to determine the leukemia stages. Acute Myeloid Leukemia is divided in three stages:

1. Untreated Adult AML

-the disease has been confirmed

-treatment main focus is symptomatic

· Fever
· Bleeding
· Pain

-characterized by bone marrow having 20% abnormal cells

-some signs and symptoms of leukemia are present

2. Adult AML in remission

-leukemia has been managed

-characterized by bone marrow having less than 5% abnormal cells

-no signs and symptoms of leukemia

3. Recurrent AML

-leukemia has recurred after the treatment

-relapsed leukemia

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment

The treatment of adult AML has two stages.

Remission Induction Therapy

This is the initial stage of treatment. The main focus is to eradicate the leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow. This will put the leukemia into remission.

Maintenance Therapy

The second stage treatment. It started after the leukemia is on remission. The main focus of maintenance therapy us to eradicate the remaining inactive leukemia cells that might grow and relapse.

There are three classifications of standard treatment that can be used:

Chemotherapy

This is a treatment for cancer that makes use of medications to inhibit the growth of leukemia cells either by means of killing the leukemia cells or stopping cell division.

Systemic Chemotherapy

This is a type of chemotherapy that can reach abnormal cells all over the body thus the word systemic. The medications can be taken orally or it can also be injected through muscle or vein.

Regional Chemotherapy

This is a type of chemotherapy wherein the medications can only affect a particular region or area. It can be done through placing direct medications on the spinal column also known as intrathecal chemotherapy or it can also be placed on the abdomen or other body organ or cavity. Intrathecal chemotherapy is beneficial for those who have spread the cancer in their brain and spinal cord

Combination chemotherapy

This is a type of chemotherapy that uses more than one medication.

The choice of what type of chemotherapy will be used will depend on the subtype of cancer and if it has spread on the brain and spinal column

Radiation therapy

A type of cancer treatment that makes use of high energy x-ray or other forms of radiation to eradicate leukemia cells

External Radiation Therapy

This type of radiation therapy makes use of a machine outside the body to transmit radiation to the leukemia cells.

Internal Radiation Therapy

This type of radiation therapy makes use of radioactive substances placed in needles, seeds, wires or catheters and they will be inserted toward or adjacent to the cancer.

The choice of what kind of chemotherapy will be used will rely on the type and the stage of cancer of the patient.

Stem Cell Transplantation

This is a procedure of giving chemotherapy and substituting the cancer cells that are killed by the chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Stem cells are the immature blood cells inside the blood and the bone marrow. The stem cells will be removed from a patient or from a donor and it will be stored and frozen. After the cancer treatment is done, the frozen and stored stem cells are given to the patient with the help of infusion. The stem cells will restore the body’s cells that are destroyed by the cancer treatment.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Prognosis

Once the signs and symptoms of leukemia leaves, you are now in remission. Complete remission usually happens in patients.

With proper management, young patients suffering from AML is likely to survive compared to those old people suffering from AML. The five year survival rate is less in old people compared to young people. Doctors say that this is maybe because the body of a person who is young can stand the powerful medicines of chemotherapy. If the AML did not relapse after five years, you are believed to be lastingly healed.

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Main Things You Want To Learn About Asthma Symptoms

Posted on September 20, 2011 by admin

As you know, millions of individuals around the globe are affected by bronchial asthma. It is not completely perceived why asthma occurs in a range of ways. Needless to say you would want to know if something odd could be an indicator. It is interesting because it is realistic to not have any problems for prolonged periods of time. However, for some obscure reason unknown to you, it leads to a trouble out of nowhere. When that occurs, you could have sometimes a mild attack or something more severe. But nonetheless, on the other hand, there are individuals who experience troubles every day.

What is usually far more common is what is thought as a moderate acute asthma. A mild attack can take place, and next all is back to normal breathing in a very small amount of time. But these should never be disregarded and treatment should still be given for a milder case. The rationale for this is just to stop them from getting much worse. Anytime someone has an asthma attack that is regarded as severe certainly should seek professional medical treatment immediately. You will find that asthmatics, commonly, have a a range of clues that are typically identical. In asthmatics, the air ways will enlarge and that may cause a situation of tightening in that area. This complication with breathing in typically becomes more serious throughout or just after physical exercise and is known as Exercise-Induced Asthma.

As this general progression is happening, the airways will start to fill up with mucus. That is when the very common indications appear with having difficulty breathing and also the common wheezing that is encountered. One widespread outcome is for the person with asthma to cough too much. (The treatment to this trouble can be uncovered here: Best treatment for cough) For others, there can be extra symptoms such as a constraint sensation in the chest.

You will discover the signs are not always precisely similar in some people. Not every asthmatic will have the same indications expressed the same as anybody else. For example, an asthmatic may express only one or two symptoms or far more. Then there is variability with how extreme the asthma attack are with several being more serious from time to time. Many persons are highly diverse and can endure episodes from pretty acute to minor attacks. So that means there is an element of the unidentified with what can happen.

Consequently there are early indicators that a total acute asthma is about to happen. In this situation, the asthma indicators are diverse and not what is typically seen. A person can have problems with coughing a lot after they go to rest. A person may have variable moods with becoming easily irritated or even a little bit of a difficult time with breathing. The full range of the problem is far and wide with numerous particulars and special situations. A physician should always be seen if someone endures chronic problems that could signify asthma.

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