Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Allergic rhinitis – how to deal with nasal allergy?



Allergic rhinitis is a common kind of allergy mostly found among children. This allergy is caused by the  swelling of the inside lining in the nose.  


Causes :  

The allergy develops with the contraction of viral allergens which may be seasonal or year around. Seasonal allergens appear with the change of weather while the year-around allergens are present indoor in the form of dust, pets fleeces and molds. 


Clinical feature : 

The first symptom of the allergy is the congestion of the nose which inhibits the air supply. Other symptoms of the Rhinitis are : 

  • Watery discharges
  • Itching 
  • Irritation in the eyes
  • Fever, sneezing  


Treatment: 

Oral medications can serve as an immediate relief but a skin testing should be conducted to identify the allergens. The indoor allergens can be removed by spraying around the room. While with a drug thereapy medicines should be taken two to three times a day. Other examples include sedation and nasal spray . 


It is an allergy mostly common in children but dealing with this nasal allergy is quite simple and quick. 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

What are the early symptoms of autism?



Autism in children is characterized by the inability to socially interact, communicate or to behave in a repetitive manner.  Autism is usually detected in the early months or years of life. In some cases children may lose their language skills that had been acquired previously. Let’s understand some common symptoms of Autism: 
Social Skills: 
  • Unresponsive to his name or to others’ feeling or emotion
  • Avoids eye contact  
  • Prefers staying alone 


Language: 

  • Unable or slow in speaking. Some may have a different rhythm of speaking.  
  • Unaware of when to converse 
  • Unable to follow simple directions 
  • Repeats words without knowing the meaning. 


Behavior: 

  • Repeatedly moves or harms himself  
  • Fascinated by tiny details and loses focus on the larger picture 
  • Sensitive to change, light or noise  

The early years of development are the toughest for autism patients. With the passage of time some children do overcome their weaknesses by learning and understanding their peers. On the other hand some children either don’t recover or get worse. Some Autism patients are highly intelligent but only lack the ability to communicate.

Diagnosis: 

Parents must be fully aware of their children’ development specifically during the first year. Doctors recommend development tests based on the following symptoms: 
  • Responsiveness to emotion 
  • Mimicry of sounds or expressions
  • Movement or gesture making 
  • Speech  

Though this inability cannot be overcome entirely but certain types of drug and behavioral therapy can help improve the situation. Family support and encouragement at home will help Autistic children feel normal and improve the situation.   

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affect fertility




To understand the effect of the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome on fertility I will first explain the purpose of the two ovaries present in the pelvis. Under normal circumstances the ovaries must produce hormones and an ovum with the menstrual cycle for the fertility of the eggs. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome however is the formation of a cyst(s) in these ovaries. 


Causes: 

Scientific research suggests that the main cause of the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is genetic. There are 50% chance of inheriting the predisposing genetic variant(s). Secondly, harmonal imbalance. In this case the ovaries over produces androgens, which is also produced in men. This over production of androgen inhibits the release of eggs during ovulation. The other reason of the over production in androgen is the high level of insulin. 


Sign and symptoms : 


  • Menstrual disorder: Less or no menstruation 
  • Infertility : lack of ovulation
  • Masculinity Hormones: Acne, dandruff , Baldness or male pattern baldness 
  •  Metabolic Syndrome: abdominal obesity
  • Pelvic pain 
  • Patches in Skin 
  • Weight gain 


Treatment: 

The cure for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is to manage it. Lets begin with the easier steps:
  • Lifestyle modicficcation:Try to eat healthy and exercise as much as possible. Try to control your weight.Avoid sugar and increase  the intake of whole grain food, vegetables and meat. 
  • Birth control pills:This is helpful to control the menstrual cycle and may clear acne. 
  • Diabetes : Pills the way insulin controls blood sugar and lowers testosterone production. 
  • Fertility : Stimulate ovulation to become pregnant.
  • Surgery: Ovarian drilling, to increase the chance of ovulation. 




In Pregnant women the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can lead to miscarriage, diabetes, premature delivery and further more complications like heart attack, sleep apnea and endometrial cancer. 


What are the symptoms of Andropause?

A deficient level of male hormone called the testosterone is called Andropause or the male menopause. This common condition is witnessed in men at the age of 30 and above and is a gradual shortage that occurs @10 per annum.  



Causes: 


The most basic cause of andropause is not only the reduction of testosterone but also the increase of SHBG(Sex hormone-binding globulin). SHGB binds the testosterone in the blood and makes it inactive/useless for the body. Evident mood swings and fatigue by the patients are alos the result of low stimulation of tissues. Furthermore, patients involved in obesity, diabetes, hypertension, chronic disease are at a higher risk of developing andropause. 


Symptoms:  


The symptoms of Andropause vary and often times can be confused with hypogonadism which is due to diseases of the testes, the pituitary or the hypothalamus.Other common symptoms are listed as: 
• lack of interest in sex  
• difficulty in erections 
• lack of energy
• depression 
• irritability and mood swings
• memory lapses
• nervousness
• fatigue and inability to get adequate sleep
• brittleness of bones due to osteoporosis 
• increased risk of heart disease


Management and Treatment


Testosterone replacement therapy has proven to be the most effective means of treatment. Based on convenience and sensitivity various forms like capsules, skin patches, gels, and injections are used. The following summarizes the different methods: 
  • Oral testosterone:The side effects include  jaundice and liver tumors. Hence patient already with liver conditions must avoid this. 
  • Test injections: An oily preparation of testosterone is used as it has a longer duration of action. It is injected into the muscles every 2 to 4 weeks.
  • Skin patch: The effect of the skin patch skin is visible after 4-12 hours but may cause some irritation 
  • Gel: A calculated dose depending upon the diagnosis is applied. This method has been recognized as  Easy and convenient. 


Men should proactively consult doctors when they notice the symptoms. In addition to the test therapy;easier means such stress reduction exercise, meditation and good nutrition can significantly improve the condition 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

What causes chronic bronchitis


Bronchitis is primarily an inflammatory disorder caused in the lining of the bronchial tubes which lead to the lungs. Our respiratory system depends on these linings for the production of mucus and for a smooth flow of air in and out of the lungs. 

What are the causes : 


Its is almost shocking to understand the causes of bronchitis because it ultimately reveals how everyone, every single person, is a victim. Firstly, in-taking tobacco is the most common route for the toxic pollutants which includes second hand smokers as well.This trend is observed in the millions of cases reported from Asia and Africa every year. The second resource of pollutants is the smoke or gas in the form of bio-fuel, animal dung, crop residues etc. Most inhabitants of rural and snowy areas practice this due to the limitations of utilities. Similarly odd professions like coal mining, cotton ginning,indicate higher chances of developing bronchitis. The inhaling of pollutants released from heavy vehicle are dangerous as they made up of sulphur and nitrogen dioxide.
Lets take a read upon how the pollutants work in our body....

The excessive mucus produced,during bronchitis, can be accounted to a  number of reasons: 
  • The blockage of the respiratory epithelium 
  • The increased size of the glands in the respiratory lining 
  • The weakened potential of the white blood cells or 
  • The rapid production of goblet cells 

Signs and Symptoms: 

  • Cough 
  • Chills 
  • Fever 
  • Shortness of breath 


Kinds of Bronchitis

  • Acute : This is the kind that comes and goes very quickly, but it is short lived. 
  • Chronic:This can be mild to severe and is long lasting from months to years. 


The Cure : 

The easiest cure for bronchitis is protect yourself using masks made up of cloth, try to avoid dust and smoke as less as possible. 

Friday, August 23, 2013

How to protect from the Sun?


Enjoying the warmth of the sun and in taking free vitamin D seems like the most relaxing and healthy means of spending weekends. But then the tanning of your skin and the prominent aging signs under your eyes poses a question mark on the positive effects of the Sunrays. 


Why protect yourself from the Sun ?


The radiation from the sun has a wide range of spectrums categorized as short, long and medium. Each kind of the UV causes a different kind of reaction on the skin cells, depending upon the sensitivity of the cell. On sensitive cells these UV rays causes the release of chemicals which degenerates the skin and results in swelling, redness, tanning, premature aging of the skin, skin cancer or eye damage . This reaction is more evident among people who spend long hours under the sun either performing their duty or for leisure.

How to determine the sensitivity of your skin:


Simple :
  • Does your skin burn after sun exposure
  • Do you develop a tan complection after  sun exposure.
These two questions can be answered with either yes, no, none or even with different combinations. 

 How to protect yourself from the Sun ? 

 

  • Avoid exposure to the sun during Mid- day, UVrays are the strongest at this hour.
  • Protect yourself using embrella, shades, hats etc.
  • Use sun screens, creams and lotions:These sunscreens will either reflect or filter the UV rays . 

SPF of sunscreens


Now stands the question of choosing a sun screen with appropriate SPF( Sun Protection Factor). Sunscreens with a higher SPF should offer more protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Higher SPFs can help: An SPF 15 sunscreen blocks 93 percent of UVB radiation, while an SPF 30 sunscreen blocks nearly 97 percent.

Usefulness of the sunscreen:

  • Sunscreens do not make you Vitamin-D deficient because of its minimal required percentage.
  • It can prevent the genetic mutation in skin cells which later leads to cancer.
  • Sunscreens prevents skin cancer among patients undergone organ transplant.
  • Sunscreen with high SPF (>30) are used in the treatment of phototoxicity and photoallergy.

Although the use of sun screen has become very popular yet it has been noticed that users have become more careless about the use of shades or  umbrella which is obviously easier and cost effective. So for all sun-lovers, protect yourself against skin cancer or skin aging by using effective sunscreens.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Herbal diet pills - how do they work?


Obesity and depression has become the most popular disorder of our times. More than a disorder it has now been categorized as a disease. Physical disorders such as obesity, heart strokes, blood pressure all are derived from a mental disorder such as depression, low self esteem and fatique. 

Who is the herbal pill for ? 

Herbal diet pills has come to the rescue for those people who want to reduce their weight but are either restricted to their hectic daily schedules, restriscted by complicated and expensive surgeries or simply cannot diet. 

How does the pills work its work ?

The following read will enable us to understand how do they work ? 

The herbal pills works its magic in the body by restraining our appetite to distaste food items rich in calories such as junk food and takeaways. The pills increases our body rate to burn fats and make the person feel more energized.  

How is the herbal pill made ? 

The herbal pill is comprised of the following natural remedies: 

  • Green tea: this lubricates the blood platelets and reduces the cholesterol 
  • Konjac Plant : blocks the absorption of dietary fats 
  • Hoodia: acts as a appretite suppressant
  • Gaur gum: prevents fat absorption 
  • Capsaicin and Fucixanthin: burns the fats and carbohydrates by increasing the body metabolism 
  • Acai berry: antioxidants that prevents many diseases 
  • Yerba mate bark: keeps and makes the stomach feel full 
  • Resveratrol: protects from diseases and aids in fat burning 
  • Forslean Coleus: suppresses appetite and lowers the intake of calories. 

Some herbal components are extracted from fruits. 

Side effects : 

Considering the composition of the pills it is evident that there are no side effects. Furthermore huge amount of time and efforts have been spent in researching and developing the pills. 

Special instructions: 

Pregnant and breast feeding mothers should not take the pills. Children below the age of 18 years are not recommended to take. Lastly, patients diagnosed with other complications must consult their doctors before taking the pills. 

Despite its readily availability doctors and physicians must be considered before taking the pills. Drugs and pills still stand as an alternative to regular exercise and healthy diet.