Global Treatment Services Pvt. Ltd.

Global Treatment Services

Anosmia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Most of us take our sense of smell for granted. But have you ever thought about what it would be like to not be able to smell something? The complete loss of smell is called anosmia (an-OHZ-me-uh). Without your sense of smell, food tastes different, you can’t smell the scent of a flower, and you could find yourself in a dangerous situation, unknowingly. For example, without the ability to detect odors, you wouldn’t smell a gas leak, smoke from a fire, or sour milk.

Fortunately, for most people, anosmia is a temporary nuisance caused by a severely stuffy nose from a cold. Once the cold runs its course, a person’s sense of smell returns.

But for some people, including many elderly, the loss of a sense of smell may persist. In addition, anosmia can be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Any ongoing problems with smell should be checked out by a doctor.

Related image

The Basics of Smell

A person’s sense of smell is driven by certain processes. First, a molecule released from a substance (such as fragrance from a flower) must stimulate special nerve cells (called olfactory cells) found high up in the nose. These nerve cells then send information to the brain, where the specific smell is identified. Anything that interferes with these processes, such as nasal congestion, nasal blockage, or damage to the nerve cells themselves, can lead to loss of smell.

The ability to smell also affects our ability to taste. Without the sense of smell, our taste buds can only detect a few flavors, and this can affect your quality of life.

Anosmia Causes

Nasal congestion from a cold, allergy, sinus infection, or poor air quality is the most common cause of anosmia. Other anosmia causes include:

  • Nasal polyps — small noncancerous growths in the nose and sinusesthat block the nasal passage.
  • Injury to the nose and smell nerves from surgery or head trauma.
  • Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as pesticides or solvents.
  • Certain medications, including antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory medication, heart medications, and others.
  • Cocaine abuse.
  • Old age. Like vision and hearing, your sense of smell can become weaker as you age. In fact, one’s sense of smell is most keen between the ages of 30 and 60 and begins to decline after age 60.
  • Certain medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, nutritional deficiencies, congenital conditions, and hormonal disturbances.
  • Radiation treatment of head and neck cancers.

Anosmia Symptoms

The obvious sign of anosmia is a loss of smell. Some people with anosmia notice a change in the way things smell. For example, familiar things begin to lack odor.

Anosmia Treatments

If nasal congestion from a cold or allergy is the cause of anosmia, treatment is usually not needed, and the problem will get better on its own. Short-term use of over-the-counter decongestants may open up your nasal passages so that you can breathe easier. However, if the congestion gets worse or does not go away after a few days, see your doctor. You may have an infection and need antibiotics, or another medical condition may be to blame.

Marburg Diseases: Causes, symptoms & treatments

What causes Marburg disease?

Marburg and Ebola viruses are considered to be zoonotic infections (transmitted to humans from life cycles in other animals). Although it is unclear as to which animals contain both Marburg and Ebola, it is thought that both may be transmitted to humans from monkeys and/or bats (African fruit bat and Rousettus bat). There is no evidence for any insect vectors. Although it is unclear how humans contract these viruses from other animals (perhaps by eating them or by contamination of animal body fluids), it is clear that human-to-human transfer occurs by direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids (for example, saliva, tears, excretions, vomitus, and blood). The Marburg viruses are not thought to be spread by air droplets.

Related image

 

What are the symptoms and signs of Marburg infection? What is the incubation period for a Marburg virus infection?

The symptoms of Marburg virus infection usually come on suddenly after an incubation period of about five to 10 days. Early symptoms are as follows:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches

About five days after the symptoms first occur, other symptoms may occur as follows:

  • A rash occurs on the chest, back, and stomach in some individuals.
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Chest pain
  • Sore throat
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea may appear.

Symptoms continue and can become severe; they include the following:

  • Jaundice
  • Pancreatic inflammation
  • Severe weight loss
  • Delirium
  • Liver failure
  • Massive hemorrhaging with organ dysfunction

The case fatality rate (death rate) ranges from about 23%-90% of infected individuals. Many of the symptoms are similar to those of other infectious diseases such as Ebola, malaria, typhoid fever, and others; so diagnostic tests are useful to rule out other causes of the symptoms. People exposed to Marburg virus usually show signs of infection no later than about 14 days after exposure, but because the clinical symptoms resemble Ebola virus disease, most people are placed in isolation for 21 days.

What are risk factors for getting Marburg infections?

People at risk are those who come in contact with African monkeys (bush meat means meat from monkeys) and bats; individuals who do research on these viruses are also at higher risk of becoming infected. There have been several outbreaks in Africa in miners due to their exposure to bats. Veterinarians may also be at higher risk if they are exposed to African monkeys. Also, people who care for Marburg virus-infected patients and/or health workers who remove those bodies of deceased Marburg virus-infected patients are at high risk of contracting the disease.

How do health-care professionals diagnose Marburg viral infections?

The diagnosis is usually not made from clinical findings; however, during outbreaks, clinical findings should trigger health-care professionals to isolate patients who may have symptoms of Marburg virus infection. There are laboratory tests including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) that can detect the Marburg virus later in the course of the disease. These help distinguish Marburg viruses from others that cause Ebola and Lassa fever.

What treatment is available for Marburg virus infections?

Like Ebola and many other viral diseases, there is no specific treatment for Marburg virus disease. Patients are given supportive hospital care by maintaining their fluid and electrolyte balance and other considerations, such as replacing lost blood and maintaining a good oxygen supply. This supportive care is most effectively done in an intensive-care hospital unit. There are no home remedies to treat Marburg virus infections.

What specialists treat Marburg infections?

Most individuals with Marburg virus infections are treated in hospitals in the intensive-care units. Specialists who treat the patient are critical-care specialists, hematologists, infectious-disease specialists, hospitalists, and lung specialists.

Is it possible to prevent Marburg virus infections?

Image result for marburg virus

There is no antiviral drug or vaccine approved for use in humans against Marburg viruses. Preventive measures are based on barrier techniques (isolation techniques) that isolate the infected patient from other humans. Those health-care professionals who treat Marburg virus-infected patients must use barrier protections such as gowns, gloves, masks, and shoe coverings; most experts say the best barrier is a hazmat suit and a well-informed person who knows how to decontaminate a hazmat suit.

What is the prognosis for a Marburg virus infection? What complications may occur with Marburg infections?

The prognosis for Marburg infection ranges from fair to poor. The fatality rate varies from about 23%-90%. Individuals cared for in an intensive-care unit have a better chance of survival. Complications that can occur with Marburg infection include the following:

  • Retinitis (inflammation of the retinas of the eyes)
  • Orchitis (inflammation of the testes)
  • Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
  • Uveitis (inflammation within he pigmented layer of the eye)
  • Transverse myelitis (inflammation of a segment of the spinal cord)
  • Encephalitis (brain inflammation)

Dermatomyositis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory disease. Common symptoms of dermatomyositis include a distinctive skin rash, muscle weakness, and inflammatory myopathy, or inflamed muscles. It’s one of only three known inflammatory myopathies. Dermatomyositis can affect both adults and children. There’s no cure for this condition, but symptoms can be managed.

Causes:

The exact cause of dermatomyositis isn’t known. However, it has many similarities to an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease occurs when your body’s disease-fighting cells, called antibodies, attack your healthy cells. Having a compromised immune system may also contribute to getting the disease. For example, having a viral infection or cancer may compromise your immune system and lead to the development of dermatomyositis.

Related image

Symptoms

In most cases, the first symptom is a distinctive skin rash on the face, eyelids, chest, nail cuticle areas, knuckles, knees or elbows. The rash is patchy and usually a bluish-purple color.

You may also have muscle weakness that gets worse over weeks or months. This muscle weakness usually starts in your neck, arms, or hips and can be felt on both sides of your body.

Other symptoms you might experience are:

  • muscle pain
  • muscle tenderness
  • problems swallowing
  • lung problems
  • hard calcium deposits underneath the skin, which is mostly seen in children
  • fatigue
  • unintentional weight loss
  • fever

There is a subtype of dermatomyositis that includes the rash but not muscle weakness. This is known as amyopathic dermatomyositis.

Treatment for dermatomyositis

For most people, there’s no cure for dermatomyositis. Treatment can improve the condition of your skin and muscle weakness. Available treatments include medication, physical therapy, and surgery.

Corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, are the preferred method of treatment in most cases. You can take them by mouth or apply them to your skin. Corticosteroids lower the response of your immune system, which reduces the number of inflammation-causing antibodies.

For some people, especially children, symptoms may resolve completely after a treatment course with corticosteroids. This is called remission. Remission may be long-lasting, and sometimes even permanent.

Corticosteroids, especially in high doses, shouldn’t be used for extended periods of time because of their potential side effects. Your doctor will most likely start you on a high dose and then gradually lower it. Some people can eventually stop taking corticosteroids completely if their symptoms go away and stay away after stopping the medication.

If corticosteroids alone don’t improve your symptoms, your doctor might prescribe other medications to suppress your immune system.

Corticosteroid-sparing medications are used to reduce the side effects of corticosteroids. Drugs such as azathioprine and methotrexate may be used if your case is advanced or if you have any complications from corticosteroids.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)

If you have dermatomyositis, your body is producing antibodies that target your skin and muscles. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) uses healthy antibodies to block these antibodies. IVIG consists of a mixture of antibodies that have been collected from thousands of healthy people who have donated their blood. These antibodies are given to you through an IV.

Additional treatments

Your doctor might suggest additional treatments, such as:

  • physical therapy that improves and preserves your muscle strength, along with preventing loss of muscle tissue
  • an antimalarial medication, hydroxychloroquine, for a persistent rash
  • surgery to remove calcium deposits
  • medications to help with pain

Lactose Intolerance: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerancemeans the body cannot easily digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. This is not the same thing as a food allergy to milk.

When lactose moves through the large intestine (colon) without being properly digested, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as gas, belly pain, and bloating. Some people who have lactose intolerance cannot digest any milk products. Others can eat or drink small amounts of milk products or certain types of milk products without problems.

Lactose intolerance is common in adults. It occurs more often in Native Americans and people of Asian, African, and South American descent than among people of European descent.

A big challenge for people who are lactose-intolerant is learning how to eat to avoid discomfort and to get enough calcium for healthy bones.

 

Image result for lactose intolerance causes, symptoms & treatments

What causes lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine  does not make enough of an enzyme called lactase. Your body needs lactase to break down, or digest, lactose.

Lactose intolerance most commonly runs in families, and symptoms usually develop during the teen or adult years. Most people with this type of lactose intolerance can eat some milk or dairy products without problems.

Sometimes the small intestine stops making lactase after a short-term illness such as the stomach flu or as part of a lifelong disease such as cystic fibrosis. Or the small intestine sometimes stops making lactase after surgery to remove a part of the small intestine. In these cases, the problem can be either permanent or temporary.

In rare cases, newborns are lactose-intolerant. A person born with lactose intolerance cannot eat or drink anything with lactose.

Some premature babies have temporary lactose intolerance because they are not yet able to make lactase. After a baby begins to make lactase, the condition typically goes away.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of lactose intolerance can be mild to severe, depending on how much lactase your body makes. Symptoms usually begin 30 minutes to 2 hours after you eat or drink milk products. If you have lactose intolerance, your symptoms may include:

  • Bloating.
  • Pain or cramps.
  • Gurgling or rumbling sounds in your belly.
  • Gas.
  • Loose stools or diarrhea.
  • Throwing up.

Many people who have gas, belly pain, bloating, and diarrhea suspect they may be lactose-intolerant. The best way to check this is to avoid eating all milk and dairy products to see if your symptoms go away. If they do, then you can try adding small amounts of milk products to see if your symptoms come back.

If you feel sick after drinking a glass of milk one time, you probably do not have lactose intolerance. But if you feel sick every time you have milk, ice cream, or another dairy product, you may have lactose intolerance.

Sometimes people who have never had problems with milk or dairy products suddenly have lactose intolerance. This is more common as you get older.

If you think you might have lactose intolerance, talk with your doctor. He or she can make sure that your symptoms are caused by lactose intolerance and not by another problem.

How is it treated?

There is no cure for lactose intolerance. But you can treat your symptoms by limiting or avoiding milk products. Some people use milk with reduced lactose, or they substitute soy milk and soy cheese for milk and milk products. Some people who are lactose-intolerant can eat yogurt without problems, especially yogurt with live cultures. You can also take dietary supplements called lactase products that help digest lactose. In time, most people who have lactose intolerance get to know their bodies well enough to avoid symptoms.

One of the biggest concerns for people who are lactose-intolerant is making sure they get enough of the nutrients found in milk products, especially calcium. Calcium is most important for children, teens, pregnant women, and women after menopause. There are many nondairy foods that contain calcium, including:

  • Broccoli, okra, kale, collards, and turnip greens.
  • Canned sardines, tuna, and salmon.
  • Calcium-fortified juices and cereals.
  • Calcium-fortified soy products such as soy milk, tofu, and soybeans.
  • Almonds.

Fissured Tongue: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

What Causes Fissured Tongue?

Fissured tongue is a benign condition affecting the top surface of the tongue. A normal tongue is relatively flat across its length. A fissured tongue is marked by a deep, prominent groove in the middle. There may also be small furrows or fissures across the surface, causing the tongue to have a wrinkled appearance. There may be one or more fissures of varying sizes and depths.It may be evident at birth or develop during childhood. The exact cause of fissured tongue isn’t known. However, researchers believe it may occur as a result of an underlying syndrome or condition, such as malnutrition, infection, or Down syndrome. Since fissured tongue is often seen in families, the condition may also be genetic. It is seen more often in men than in women. The frequency and severity of fissured tongue also appears to increase with age.

Related image

What Are the Symptoms of Fissured Tongue?

A fissured tongue can make it appear as though the tongue were split in half lengthwise. Sometimes there are multiple fissures as well. Your tongue may also appear cracked. The deep groove in the tongue is usually very visible. This makes it easy for your doctors and dentists to diagnose the condition. The middle section of the tongue is most often affected, but there may also be fissures on other areas of the tongue.

You may experience another harmless tongue abnormality along with a fissured tongue, known as geographic tongue. A normal tongue is covered with tiny, pinkish-white bumps called papillae. People with geographic tongue are missing papillae in different areas of the tongue. The spots without papillae are smooth and red and often have slightly raised borders.

Neither fissured tongue nor geographic tongue is a contagious or harmful condition. However, both can cause some discomfort and increase sensitivity to certain substances.

How Is Fissured Tongue Treated?

Fissured tongue generally doesn’t require treatment. However, it’s important to maintain proper oral and dental care, such as brushing the top surface of the tongue to remove food debris and clean the tongue. Bacteria and plaque can collect in the fissures, leading to bad breath and an increased potential for tooth decay.

Keep up with your normal dental care routine, including daily brushing and flossing. Visit your dentist twice each year for a professional cleaning.

Peptic Ulcer : Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Causes

We don’t know if there’s a single cause for ulcers. We do know they come from an imbalance between digestive fluids in the stomachand duodenum. Most happen because of an infection in the lining of the small intestine with a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Things that can increase your odds of an ulcer include:

  • Use of painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These include over-the-counter meds like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, as well as others you can get by prescription.
  • A history of ulcers in your family
  • Being age 50 or older
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Smoking
  • Chewing tobacco
  • Stress
  • Spicy foods
  • Certain medications like steroids, anticoagulants, and drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  • Other medical problems like liver, kidney, or lung disease
  • Radiation treatment to the area

Image result for peptic ulcer causes, symptoms & treatments

Symptoms

You may not have any. If you do, they may include:

  • A gnawing or burning pain in your stomach between meals or at night
  • Bloating
  • Heartburn
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dark or black stool
  • Vomiting blood or material that can look like coffee ground
  • weight loss
  • Severe pain in your belly

How Serious Are They?

Though ulcers often heal on their own, you shouldn’t ignore their warning signs. If not treated, ulcers can lead to serious health problems, including:

  • Bleeding
  • A hole through the wall of your stomach called a perforation
  • Swelling or scarring that blocks the passageway from your stomach to your small intestine
    Taking NSAIDs can lead to an ulcer without warning. The risk is especially concerning for the elderly and those with a history of peptic ulcer disease.
    Treatment
    There are several ways to treat ulcers, including:Lifestyle changes: If you smoke or drink alcohol, stop. If you take NSAIDs, talk to your doctor about something else you can take.

    Medications: These can include:

    • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that ease acid levels and let the ulcer heal. They include:
      • Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
      • Esomeprazole (Nexium)
      • Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
      • Omeprazole (Prilosec)
      • Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid)
      • Pantoprazole (Protonix)
      • Rabeprazole (Aciphex)
    • Your doctor could also prescribe one of several combinations of antibiotics that you’d take for a week or two along with a PPI.

Squamous Cell Cancer: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

What Is Squamous Cell Cancer?

Squamous cell cancer (SCC), also known as squamous cell carcinoma, is a type of skin cancer that begins in the squamous cells. Squamous cells are the thin, flat cells that make up the epidermis, or the outermost layer of the skin. SCC is caused by changes in the DNA of these cells, which cause them to multiply uncontrollably.

What Are the Different Types of Skin Cancer?

Your skin has multiple layers. The outer, protective layer of the skin is known as the epidermis. The epidermis is made up of squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. These cells are constantly shedding to make way for fresh, new skin cells. However, when certain genetic changes occur in the DNA of any of these cells, skin cancer can occur. The main types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.

Squamous Cell Cancer

Squamous cells are the cells closest to the skin’s surface, and their purpose is to line the skin. SCC often develops on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to UV radiation, such as the face, hands, and ears. In some cases, it can occur in other areas of the body.

Basal Cell Cancer

Basal cells sit below the squamous cells, and they’re constantly dividing to form new cells. According to the American Cancer Society, basal cell cancer is the most common type of cancer. Like SCC, basal cell cancer develops on areas exposed to UV rays, particularly the face and neck. This type of cancer tends to grow slowly, and it rarely spreads to other parts of the body. However, if basal cell cancer goes untreated, it can eventually spread to the bones and other tissues.

Melanoma

Melanocytes are located in the deepest section of the epidermis. These cells are responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. When cancer develops in the melanocytes, the condition is known as malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma is less common than squamous cell and basal cancers, but it’s more likely to grow and spread when it’s left untreated.

What Are the Symptoms of Squamous Cell Cancer?

SCC often occurs in areas exposed to UV radiation, such as the face, ear, and hands. However, it can also appear in the mouth, in the anal area, and on the genitals.

In its early stages, SCC often presents itself as a scaly, reddish patch of skin. As it progresses, it can turn into a raised bump that continues to grow. The growth may also crust or bleed. In the mouth, this cancer will take on the appearance of a mouth ulcer or a white patch.

In some cases, you’ll notice a new growth on a pre-existing scar, mole, or birthmark. Any existing lesions or sores that aren’t healing can also indicate SCC.

Make an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist right away if you notice any of these symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for preventing complications.

Related image

 

What Causes Squamous Cell Cancer?

Skin cancer is caused by mutations that occur in skin cell DNA. These changes cause abnormal cells to multiply out of control. When this occurs in the squamous cells, the condition is known as SCC.

UV radiation is the most common cause of the DNA mutations that lead to skin cancer. UV radiation is found in sunlight as well as in tanning lamps and beds.

While frequent exposure to UV radiation greatly increases your risk of skin cancer, the condition can also develop in people who don’t spend much time in the sun or in tanning beds. These people may be genetically predisposed to skin cancer, or they may have weakened immune systems that increase their likelihood of getting skin cancer. Those who have received radiation treatment for other skin conditions may also be at greater risk of skin cancer.

What Are the Risk Factors for Squamous Cell Cancer?

Risk factors for SCC include:

  • having fair skin
  • having light-colored hair and blue, green, or gray eyes
  • having long-term exposure to UV radiation
  • living in sunny regions or at a high altitude
  • having a history of multiple severe sunburns, especially if they occurred early in life
  • having a history of being exposed to chemicals, such as arsenic

How Is Squamous Cell Cancer Diagnosed?

Your doctor will first perform a physical exam and inspect any abnormal areas for signs of SCC. They’ll also ask you about your medical history. If SCC is suspected, your doctor may decide to take a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

A biopsy usually involves removing a very small portion of the affected skin. The skin sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing. In some cases, your doctor may need to remove a larger part or all of the abnormal growth for testing. Talk to your doctor about any potential scarring or biopsy concerns.

How Is Squamous Cell Cancer Treated?

Treatment for SCC varies. Treatment is based on:

  • the extent and severity of your cancer
  • your age
  • your overall health
  • the location of the cancer

If SCC is caught early, the condition can usually be successfully treated. It becomes harder to cure once it has spread. Many treatments can be performed as in-office procedures.

  • In Mohs’ micrographic surgery, your doctor uses a scalpel to remove the abnormal skin and some of the surrounding tissue. The sample is immediately examined under a microscope. If there are any cancer cells in the sample, the process is repeated until no cancer cells are found.
  • During excisional surgery, your doctor removes the cancer cells as well as a thin layer of healthy skin in the surrounding area. Stitches are used to close the wound. The sample is then sent to a laboratory to ensure the entire cancerous area has been removed.
  • Electrosurgery, also called curettage and electrodesiccation, involves scraping off the cancer and burning the skin to kill cancer cells. This process is typically done more than once to ensure thorough treatment and complete removal of the cancer.
  • During cryosurgery, your doctor uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the cancerous tissue. Like electrosurgery, this treatment is repeated multiple times to make sure all cancerous tissue has been eliminated.
  • Radiation uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. This treatment is administered externally by a machine, which aims the rays at the affected area. Radiation is often performed multiple times a week for several weeks.

Some doctors may also use photodynamic therapy, laser surgery, and topical medications to treat SCC. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved these methods for treating SCC:

  • Photodynamic therapy, or PDT, involves the application of a photosensitizing substance to the cancerous areas. The following day, the areas that were medicated are exposed to a strong light for several minutes. This activates the medication that was applied and kills abnormal cells.
  • Laser surgery uses a laser to remove areas of skin that are abnormal.
  • Topical medications, such as 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod, that are used to treat other skin cancers may also help treat SCC.

Once SCC has been treated, it’s critical to attend all follow-up visits with your doctor. SCC can return, and it’s important to monitor your skin for any precancerous or cancerous areas at least once per month.

How Can Squamous Cell Cancer Be Prevented?

To help reduce your risk for SCC, follow these tips:

  • Limit your sun exposure.
  • Avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day, which is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • Wear sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15 whenever you go out in the sun.
  • Wear sunglasses with UV ray protection.
  • Wear a hat and cover your skin when working outside.
  • Avoid using tanning beds and lamps.
  • Protect your skin during winter as well because winter rays can be especially dangerous.
  • Check your skin each month for any new or abnormal growths.
  • See a dermatologist once per year for a full-body skin check.

 

 

Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms & Risks

What Causes Diabetes?

Your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin. It’s what lets your cells turn glucose from the food you eat into energy. People with type 2 diabetesmake insulin, but their cells don’t use it as well as they should. Doctors call this insulin resistance.

At first, the pancreas makes more insulin to try to get glucose into the cells. But eventually it can’t keep up, and the sugar builds up in your blood instead.

Usually a combination of things cause type 2 diabetes, including:

Genes. Scientists have found different bits of DNA that affect how your body makes insulin.

Extra weight. Being overweight or obese can cause insulin resistance, especially if you carry your extra pounds around the middle. Now type 2 diabetes affects kids and teens as well as adults, mainly because of childhood obesity.

Metabolic syndrome. People with insulin resistance often have a group of conditions including high blood glucose, extra fat around the waist, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol and triglycerides.

Too much glucose from your liver. When your blood sugar is low, your liver makes and sends out glucose. After you eat, your blood sugar goes up, and usually the liver will slow down and store its glucose for later. But some people’s livers don’t. They keep cranking out sugar.

Bad communication between cells. Sometimes cells send the wrong signals or don’t pick up messages correctly. When these problems affect how your cells make and use insulin or glucose, a chain reaction can lead to diabetes.

Broken beta cells. If the cells that make the insulin send out the wrong amount of insulin at the wrong time, your blood sugar gets thrown off. High blood glucose can damage these cells, too.

Image result for type 2 diabetes

Risk Factors and Prevention

While certain things make getting diabetes more likely, they won’t give you the disease. But the more that apply to you, the higher your chances of getting it are.

Some things you can’t control.

  • Age: 45 or older
  • Family: A parent, sister, or brother with diabetes

Some things are related to your health and medical history. Your doctor may be able to help.

  • Prediabetes
  • Heart and blood vessel disease
  • High blood pressure, even if it’s treated and under control
  • Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol
  • High triglycerides
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Having a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
  • Having gestational diabetes while you were pregnant
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition with dark rashes around your neck or armpits
  • Depression

Other risk factors have to do with your daily habits and lifestyle. These are the ones you can really do something about.

  • Getting little or no exercise
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Sleeping too little or too much

Because you can’t change what happened in the past, focus on what you can do now and going forward. Take medications and follow your doctor’s suggestions to be healthy. Simple changes at home can make a big difference, too.

Lose weight. Dropping just 7% to 10% of your weight can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes in half.

Get active. Moving muscles use insulin. Thirty minutes of brisk walking a day will cut your risk by almost a third.

Eat right. Avoid highly processed carbs, sugary drinks, and trans and saturated fats. Limit red and processed meats.

Quit smoking. Work with your doctor to avoid gaining weight, so you don’t create one problem by solving another.

Symptoms

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be so mild you don’t notice them. In fact, about 8 million people who have it don’t know it.

  • Being very thirsty
  • Peeing a lot
  • Blurry vision
  • Being irritable
  • Tingling or numbness in your hands or feet
  • Feeling worn out
  • Wounds that don’t heal
  • Yeast infections that keep coming back

Getting a Diagnosis

Your doctor can test your blood for signs of diabetes. Usually doctors will test you on two different days to confirm the diagnosis. But if your blood glucose is very high or you have a lot of symptoms, one test may be all you need.

A1C: It’s like an average of your blood glucose over the past 2 or 3 months.

Fasting plasma glucose: This measures your blood sugar on an empty stomach. You won’t be able to eat or drink anything except water for 8 hours before the test.

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): This checks your blood glucose before and 2 hours after you drink a sweet drink to see how your body handles the sugar.

Long-Term Effects

Over time, high blood sugar can damage and cause problems with your:

  • Heart and blood vessels
  • Kidneys
  • Eyes
  • Nerves, which can lead to trouble with digestion, the feeling in your feet, and your sexual response
  • Wound healing
  • Pregnancy

The best way to avoid these complications is to manage your diabetes well.

  • Take your diabetes medications or insulin on time.
  • Check your blood glucose.
  • Eat right, and don’t skip meals.
  • See your doctor regularly to check for early signs of trouble.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Heart Disease and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Symptoms

Many people with dilated cardiomyopathy have no symptoms. Some that do have only minor ones, and live a normal life. Others develop symptoms that may get worse as their heart gets sicker.

Symptoms of DCM can happen at any age and may include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling of your legs
  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Fainting
  • Palpitations (fluttering in the chest due to abnormal heart rhythms)
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Blood clots in the dilated left ventricle because of pooling of the blood. If a blood clot breaks off, it can lodge in an artery and disrupt blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke. A clot can also block blood flow to the organs in the abdomen or legs.
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Sudden death

Causes

DCM can be inherited, but it’s usually caused by other things, including:

  • Severe coronary artery disease
  • Alcoholism
  • Thyroid disease
  • Diabetes
  • Viral infections of the heart
  • Heart valve abnormalities
  • Drugs that damage the heart

It can also happen in women after they give birth. That’s called postpartum cardiomyopathy.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will decide if you have DCM after he looks at things like:

  • Your symptoms
  • Your family history
  • A physical exam
  • Blood tests
  • An electrocardiogram
  • A chest X-ray
  • An echocardiogram
  • An exercise stress test
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • A CT scan
  • An MRI

If you have a relative with dilated cardiomyopathy, ask your doctor if you should be screened for it. Genetic testing may also be available to find abnormal genes.

Treatment:

In the case of dilated cardiomyopathy, it’s aimed at making the heart stronger and getting rid of substances in the bloodstream that enlarge the heart and lead to more severe symptoms:

Medications: To manage heart failure, most people take drugs, such as a:

  • Beta blocker
  • ACE inhibitor or an ARB
  • Diuretic

If you have an arrhythmia(irregular heartbeat), your doctor may give you medicine to control your heart rate or make them happen less often. Blood thinners may also be used to prevent blood clots.

Lifestyle changes: If you have heart failure, you should have less sodium, based on your doctor’s recommendations. He may point you toward aerobic exercise, but don’t do heavy weightlifting.

Possible Procedures

People with severe DCM may need one of the following surgeries:

Cardiac resynchronization by biventricular pacemaker: For some people with DCM, stimulating the right and left ventricles with this helps your heart’s contractions get stronger. This improves your symptoms and lets you exercise more.

The pacemaker also will help people with heart block (a problem with the heart’s electrical system) or some bradycardias (slow heart rates).

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD): These are suggested for people at risk for life-threatening arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death. It constantly monitors your heart’s rhythm. When it finds a very fast, abnormal rhythm, it ”shocks” the heart muscle back into a healthy beat.

Surgery: Your doctor may recommend a surgery for coronary artery disease or valve disease. You may be eligible for one to fix your left ventricle or one that gives you a device to help your heart work better.

Heart transplant: These are usually just for those with end-stage heart failure. You’ll go through a selection process. Hearts that can be used are in short supply. Also, you must be both sick enough that you need a new heart, and healthy enough to have the procedure.

Pseudocyst: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

The pancreas — a spongy, tadpole-shaped organ located behind the stomach — makes enzymes our bodies need to digest food and hormones to regulate blood sugar levels. If the pancreas is injured, its ducts, which carry enzyme-containing juices, can become blocked. This can lead to the development of a fluid-filled sac called a pancreatic pseudocyst.

A pseudocyst isn’t a true cyst, because the wall of the sac is not composed of a specific lining of cells characteristic of a true cyst.

The most common cause of damage to the pancreas is inflammation, called pancreatitis. A less common cause or contributor is trauma, such as a blow to the abdomen. Pancreatitis is most commonly caused by alcohol abuseand gallstones.

Rarely, pseudocysts form on the spleen, an organ of the lymphatic system, which fights infection and keeps body fluids in balance. When a pseudocyst of the spleen happens, it is usually caused by trauma.

Here’s what you need to know about pseudocysts and their treatment.

Pseudocyst Symptoms

Although the symptoms of pseudocysts may be different for different people, some of the most common are abdominal pain and bloating.

Other symptoms may include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • weight loss
  • diarrhea
  • fever
  • a tender mass in abdomen
  • yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity

If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor to determine the cause.

Image result for Pseudocyst

Pseudocyst Treatment

Often pseudocysts get better and go away on their own. If a pseudocyst is small and not causing serious symptoms, a doctor may want to monitor it with periodic CT scans. If the pseudocyst persists, gets larger, or causes pain, it will require surgical treatment. If not monitored or treated, a pseudocyst can become infected or rupture, causing severe pain, blood loss and abdominal infection.

Surgery for Pseudocysts

For pseudocysts requiring treatment, surgery is usually necessary. During surgery to correct a pseudocyst, the surgeon usually makes a connection between the pseudocyst and a nearby digestive organ. This allows the pseudocyst to drain through that organ. Depending on the location of the pseudocyst within the pancreas, that connection may be with the stomach, small intestine, or duodenum, the upper end of the small intestine.

In some cases, this surgery is done laparoscopically. That means it’s performed through small incisions in the abdomen, using slender tools and a lighted scope. This procedure minimizes hospitalization and recovery time.

Pages:1...44454647484950...90