Hemorrhoids are masses of tissues found in the anal canal that contain dislocated blood vessels. Most people have them but not all suffer the symptoms of the condition. Because of the rich supply of blood vessels in the area, bleeding from hemorrhoids shows bright red color. There are several reasons why these structures form in the anal area. Here are some of the most common causes.
Strain in Bowel Movement
One of the most common causes of prolapsed blood vessels is the strain during bowel movement. If you experience frequent constipation, the stress in pushing your stool causes the blood vessels to move downward. To prevent a worsening problem, include more fibers in your diet. These will improve your bowel movement and reduce the strain in your anal area.
Obesity
Excessive weight gain is another predictor for hemorrhoids. Obese individuals and even pregnant women suffer the symptoms due to the pressure put on the blood vessels. The added weight to the anal area leads to collapsed veins.
Genetic
Despite the good bowel habits and ideal weight of some people, they still suffer from hemorrhoids. One probable reason for this is their genetic predisposition. If you have any family history of the problem, your likelihood of suffering from it is also very high.
Athlete’s foot derived its name because of its frequent occurrence among athletes. The disease is caused by a fungus called. The organisms love to thrive warm and sweaty environment especially in between the toes. The infection is not a life threatening condition but it can be very itchy. Because anyone can have the infection, you should know the different remedies to deal with it.
Medication
Unless the athlete’s foot is so severe, anyone can treat it at home. You can get the topical cream from your local pharmacist and apply the cream generously everyday for the next two weeks. Be sure to wipe your feet dry before wearing your shoes and use anti-perspirant to avoid a sweaty feet.
Home Remedies
If you do not have the money to buy the over the counter medications, you can go straight to your kitchen and prepare the home remedies for the infection. Get garlic and crush it to extract the juice. Apply the extracts around the infected area and leave it for 30 minutes to one hour before washing. If you are more concern with your persistently itchy feet, use tea tree oil or soak your fee in warm lukewarm saltwater.
In these modern times, in vitro fertilization is one way to overcome infertility. Infertility produces mental and emotional depression. Because the ultimate goal of couples is to have a child, inability to have may lead to your breakup. But with the advances in medicine, it is now possible to defy nature and conceive a child even with the so called “artificial method”.
Preparation
Prior to the In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), the couple has to undergo a thorough physical and medical assessment. The doctor checks the sperm quality of the male and tracks the menstrual cycle of the female. When everything is clear, the procedure commences.
Procedure
IVF starts when the egg cell from the sperm and egg cell are allowed to meet outside the woman’s body. When fertilization is successful, the fertilized egg will be injected back to the female uterus for normal intra-uterine development to occur. From this time onwards, the female will experience the normal course of pregnancy and childbirth.
Success
One IVF may not necessarily lead to successful pregnancy. Some couples experience several failed procedure before they finally have their baby. Some common scenarios include miscarriage and premature birth. While many couples only aim for a single baby, you have the option to ask your IVF provider to implant multiple embryos.
Heatstroke takes the life of millions of people worldwide. The extreme heat can make people sick. If you live in a tropical area or during summer in moderate countries, you must be aware of the possibility of a heatstroke. The condition affects all genders and all ages. Here are some facts about it.
Mechanism
Heatstroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate the normal temperature. During hot seasons, the body’s temperature increases and if the sweating mechanisms fail, it will be too difficult for your system to cool down. As a result, the different body organs start to malfunction. The heart beats abnormally fast and may lead to the fatal heatstroke.
Risk Factors
Some people are highly susceptible to it because of their underlying medical condition. Health problems like existing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity make at risk for heatstroke. Once you feel sudden dizziness, heavy sweating, muscle cramps, rapid heart rate or cold and clammy skin, you must be extra careful as these are signs that you are in trouble.
First-Aid
Once you experience the symptoms, get out of the heat. Get some water, loosen your clothing and seek medical help as soon as possible. Remember, heatstroke is an emergency situation. Do not take the symptoms for granted.
Constipation can be defined as having less than three bowel movements per week and the stool is hard and difficult or painful to pass. It is one of the most common gastrointestinal problems that even healthy people encounter from time to time. Your diet, lifestyle, lack of fluid intake and inadequate exercise all contribute to the occurrence of the problem. To avoid the abnormal bowel movement, here are tips to avoid constipation, that you can follow.
Diet
Your diet plays a crucial role in adding bulk to your stool. In most countries, the less consumption of fibers leads to an increase incidence of constipation. Health experts recommend that you should at least consume 30 grams of fibers per day. Products like whole wheat bread, less refined rice and corn, fruits and vegetables are high in fibers. Be sure to include them in your major meals to meet the recommended daily intake.
Fluid
Fluid is important in all body processes and this includes the passage of stool. The water serves as a lubricant during the bowel movement. As much as possible, drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day and increase it as the environmental temperature rises. Other possible sources of fluid are fresh fruit juices.
Posted 03 Dec 2010 — by admin Category Uncategorized
By: Engracia S. Arceo, MPH, RMT
Newborn screening test is gaining popularity in many countries worldwide. It is a process of testing newborns for treatable genetic and diseases of the endocrine glands that may otherwise be irreversible if diagnosis is delayed. The list of screened diseases varies from one country to another depending on the susceptibility and its frequency in the population and the presence of reliable tests.
Why is it important?
Newborn screening detects abnormalities in the newborn that are not apparent at birth. Many are metabolic disorders that hinder the normal development of the infant. With simple blood tests, doctors can tell whether the child has the disorders. With early diagnosis, the prognosis is excellent and with proper treatment, the baby is spared from possible lifelong impairment and can enjoy a normal life.
When was the first test done?
The earliest test for newborns occurred in the early 1960’s when Robert Guthrie, a scientist, developed a blood test to determine the metabolic disorder, Phenylketonuria (PKU). Infants with the disorder lack the necessary enzyme to convert the amino acid, phenylalanine. The buildup of phenylalanine causes brain tissue damage and eventually leads to developmental delay. From the development of the PKU blood test, other scientists started to develop other tests to detect disorders.
Is it mandatory?
The Newborn screening test is mandated in most parts of the United States. Although the number of disorders tested varies from one state to another. In other parts of Europe and Asia, there are existing laws that support the testing.
What are the disorders tested?
Some of the most common metabolic disorders tested during the newborn screening test are congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital hypothyroidism, galactosemia, phenylketonuria, sickle cell disease, tyrosinemia, homocystinuria, cystic fibrosis and congenital deafness. Again, the coverage of the program varies depending on the availability of the test in the country and the susceptibility of the population.
How is the test done?
The test requires only two to three drops of blood obtained from the heel of the infant. The blood collection should be on the second or third day of life when protein has already been introduced and the level of maternal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone has subsided in the blood of the newborn. After collection, the filter paper with the blood should bear the name of the infant and the parents, the doctor and the hospital. The hospital then brings the specimen at the central laboratory for processing.
What happens after the collection?
After the collection, the authorized laboratory performs the newborn screening. If the results are negative, they release the result at once. However, for positive results, the laboratory informs the doctor and parents and a confirmatory test is requested. If the result is a true positive, the baby is referred to a specialist for the treatment to commence. With proper treatment, many of the ill effects of the metabolic disorder are prevented.
Are there controversies involved?
Some of the issues concerning the newborn screening test include the cost of the procedure. Many parents especially those who cannot afford the test and in countries where it is not given for free are hesitant to get the test done. Other ethical concerns include the mass storage of blood samples and their use in genetic testing without appropriate consent from the parents.
Here is a video from YouTube explaining the importance of Newborn Screening.
Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most critical emergency procedures designed to restore partial blood flow to the brain and the heart. It is done to patients who suffered from cardiac arrest. Although CPR alone is not sufficient to bring a person back to life, the procedure can delay tissue death and extend the time before brain damage occurs. While waiting for response from the medical practitioners, you should commence the CPR to help save the victim.
What are the new guidelines?
The American Heart Association updated the CPR guidelines in 2010 to stress the importance of high quality CPR. The guideline includes the need for sufficient rate and depth of compression without excessively ventilating the lungs. Still, the new guidelines adapt the different interventions for each age group. However, instead of using the acronyms, ABC for Airway, Breathing and Circulation, they recommend the CAB or Chest compressions, Airway and Breathing. The only exceptions to the new CAB guideline are infants and drowned patients.
Who Should Perform the CPR?
Previously, the CPR can only be performed by people who have special training on procedure. But with the new guidelines released by the American Heart Association, even the lay public can help save the life of victims. By doing the chest compressions alone without artificial respiration, the likelihood of success is still high compared when CPR is not commenced. With the compressions only delivery, ordinary people do not have to be passive bystanders. Instead they can become active participants in saving the life of a person.
Why is it crucial?
CPR keeps the vital organs alive. Even with artificial means, the brain and the heart maintain their supply of oxygen. Otherwise, four to seven minutes of lack of oxygen leads to irreversible damage to the brain. It is therefore crucial that the procedure must be done as early as possible to increase the chances of the vital organs to respond to other medical attempts designed to revive them.
Is it effective?
The use of CPR does not guarantee 100% success. Studies show a high correlation between the timing and the success rate of the procedure. Because the CPR is most effective before brain damage occurs, it is important that the rescuer provides the artificial treatment as soon as possible.
Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills should not only be for the medical practitioners. It should be a natural skill of everyone. Because you will never know when to use it, it is important that you know what to do when emergency situation arises.
You can outline the differences of serum and plasma in the several aspects. They are both blood specimens used in laboratory testing, but each has its own characteristics.
Criteria
Serum
Plasma
Anticoagulant
none
Present
Protein present
albumin , globulin
albumin, globulin & fibrinogen
Rimming of specimen
done
not done
Standing of specimen
done
Not done
Revolutions per minute (RPM)
2,000-3,000
2,000 – 3,000
Time of centrifugation
5 – 10 minutes
5-10 minutes
Supernatant fluid
Supernatant fluid when clotted blood is centrifuged.
Supernatant fluid when unclotted blood is centrifuged.
These are major differences of serum from plasma. What is important is when to know what specimen is ideal for a particular laboratory blood test.
If you are hypertensive, then you should know what to eat and what not to. The ideal food for hypertensive patients are the following.
Low salt foods
Salt increases blood pressure, so you should lessen your salt intake. Salt can come not only from table salt but also from most preserved foods. Opt for fresh foods instead of these types of foods. Saltine crackers and some oatmeal brands are also rich in salt. Read the labels and ascertain that the salt content is low before eating it.
Low fat foods
Hypertension can result from high lipids or fats, so these types of foodstuffs should be avoided. Fat can come from meat fat, like pork and chicken fat.
Dairy products
Most dairy products are rich in triglycerides and cholesterol which are predisposing factors in increasing the likelihood of hypertension.
Foods for hypertensive patients include fruits and vegetables because these foodstuffs are low in calories and are fat free. Vegetable oil and fish oil are healthy fats so they can be taken in. Knowing what food to eat and what not to, is a big factor in controlling your hypertension. You should therefore know the ideal foods for hypertensive patients to help you out in maintaining your health.
Bilirubin is the major bile pigment in the body. There are crucial precautions you should observe in performing bilirubin tests because the substance can be affected by many factors. Here are precautions that are observed in the Jendrassik and Grof method and Evelyn and Malloy method.
Avoid hemolysis of blood specimen.
Bilirubin is a degradation product of Red Blood Cell or RBC, so any lysis or rupture of these blood cells will increase inaccurately the results of the bilirubin test.
Avoid exposure to light.
Biluribin is photosensitive. It is easily destroyed by light, so exposing it to natural or artificial light will erroneously decrease its laboratory results.
Maintain the correct pH.
Maintaining the correct pH or alkalinity and acidity of the test solution and reagent will ensure the reliability of results. This is vital precaution in performing bilirubin tests.
Avoid interference from proteins and foreign substances.
Protein and foreign substances will greatly affect you bilirubin tests. Be sure to cover your solutions at all times with a rubber stopper or a parafilm. This will ensure that the results of your bilirubin tests are accurate and precise.
