Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovarian Syndrome(PCOS), is a set of symptoms that result from a hormonal imbalance affecting women and girls of childbearing age.

PCOS, a heterogenous disorder is the most common endocrine abnormality among women of reproductive age.

ETIOLOGY :-

PCOS can be described as an oligogenic disorder in which the interaction of a number of genetic and environmental factors determine the heterogenous, clinical, and biochemical phenotype.

Although the genetic etiology of PCOS remains unknown. The current literature suggests that the clustering of PCOS in families resembles an autosomal dominant pattern.

Environmental factors implicated in PCOS (eg. : obesity) can be exacerbated by poor dietary choices and physical inactivity; infectious agents and toxins may also play a role.

EFFECTS :-

PCOS is the mos common cause of anovulatory infertility, meaning that the infertility results from the absence of ovulation, the process that releases a mature egg from the ovary every month.

PCOS can cause other problems as well, such as unwanted hair growth, dark patches of skin, acne, weight gain, and irregular bleeding.

Women with PCOS are also at higher risk for:-

• Obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that causes pauses in breathing during sleep.
• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity
• Heart diseases and high blood pressure.
• Mood disorders
• Endometrial hyperplasia, a condition in which the lining of the uterus becomes too thick, and endometrial cancer.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:-

The pathophysiology of PCOS involves primary defects in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, insulin resistance and action, and ovarian function.

Although the cause of PCOS is unknown, it has been linked to insulin resistance and obesity.

Follicular maturation arrest is a hallmark sign that an ovarian abnormality exists.

Clinical signs of PCOS include elevated luteinizing hormone(LH) and gonadotropin- releasing horMone(GnRH) levels, whereas follicular-stimulating hormone(FSH) levels are muted or unchanged. As a result of the increase in GnRH, stimulation of the ovarian thecal cells, in turn, produces more androgens.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION :-

PCOS is a hormonal disorder with a potential to lead to various diseases. It also continues to be a common cause of infertility among women.

Although signs and symptoms vary, the three most common factors associated with PCOS include ovulation irregularities, increased androgen levels, and cystic ovaries.

DIAGNOSIS :-

If PCOS is suspected, a complete medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and a pelvic ultrasound should be performed.

During the assessment period, other potential causes associated with reproduction, endocrine, and metabolic dysfunction should be excluded. Moreover, a pregnant woman with PCOS should be informed is the increased rates of miscarriage, gestation diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and premature delivery.

TREATMENT :-

Non-Pharmalogical Approaches :-

1) Weight reduction for obese patients with PCOS is beneficial in many ways. Weight loss helps to decrease androgen, luteinizing hormone(LH), and insulin levels. It also helps to regulate ovulation, thereby improving the potential for pregnancy.

2) Laproscopic ovarian drilling is an outpatient surgical intervention in which multiple perforations are created in the ovarian surface and stroma. It is thought that this intervention destroys androgen-producing tissue, which should lead to decreased androgen levels and also increases the risk of multiple pregnancies besides being effective as medical interventions.

Pharmalogical Approaches :-

• Clomiphene
• Anti-diabetic agents
• Gonadotropins
• Aromatase inhibitors
• Anti-androgens
• Oral Contraceptives.
• Medroxyprogesterone acetate

CONCLUSION :-

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex disorder for which multiple treatment approaches are required, depending on the reason a patient seeks treatment.

Clomiphene has shown that the best results in treating infertility, whereas data are limited regarding pharmalogical treatment of androgenic symptoms.

Long-term consequences of PCOS, which include Type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease can be treated with anti-diabetic drugs and statins.

6 years ago Health No comment

Does tooth infection cause heart disease?

“It’s better to have it treated when it’s treatable than to wait until it gets out of hand and is possibly life-threatening,” said Dr. Gary R. Hartwell, the president of the American Association of Endodontists.I think what Dr. Hartwell wanted to state is that if any infection left untreated, in future it may cause a toll on your overall health. As it has been seen that one or more focal infection in our body can lead or promote to various chronic degenerative diseases.

Researchers have found that gum disease have a strong association with heart diseases as the gum diseases increases the risk of heart attack by as much as 25 percent, and the risk of stroke by a factor of 10.You may find it strange that how can my tooth ache can lead to my heart ache?But it’s like an alarming statement which should not be neglected.  Plaque-a thick colourless adhesive layer formed on teeth is the reservoir of gram negative bacteria. And this microbial plaque causes dental caries and periodontal diseases.Studies have shown that both dental caries and periodontal diseases initiates the inflammatory process which act as a risk factor for cardiac diseases.

Is infection only in my teeth or my heart is also getting affected?

The subgingival biofilm is constitute of enormous bacterial load and initiates inflammatory reactions which stresses immunity. American Heart Institution states that too much inflammatory actions weakens the heart,causes plaque formation of arteries. Due to this the risk of stroke will be elevated. In a study by S.Al Mubarak periodontitis causes the atheroma progression by stimulating liver to produce C -reactive proteins (a marker of inflammation process).It is a hyperinflammatory monocytic activity which increases the risk of cardiac diseases.

Other oral infection which aggravates the cardiac mortality is periapical abscess.

It is a root tip infection usually happen when deep caries left untreated.The most common choice of treatment for periapical abscess is root canal treatment.But in reality, root canal treatments never completely sterilizes the pulp tissue, as there is always some remnants of bacteria present in dentinal tubules,accessory canals and pulp tissues. Now these bacteria travel in blood  and causes transient bacteremia.Patients with the risk of endocarditis may have this bacterial lodge in the compromised tissue, promoting significant infection deep in heart that can result in massive heart damage.

What is going around the world

The New York Times published a data  extracted from the Journal of Endodontics on the morbidity rate of dental emergencies with major focus on periapical abscess  and results are upsetting.A study from Finland states that the poor oral hygiene can hurt your heart. In a study, researchers have found that patients who underwent root canal treatment are more likely to have acute coronary syndrome.

Last note from us!

You cannot afford to keep your gum diseases left untreated as it is a serious health issue which should be manage quickly and effectively.And to keep your heart healthy one should keep his/her teeth healthy.

6 years ago Health No comment

Vaginal yeast infection

Vaginal yeast infection is most common type of infection seen in as many as 3 out of 4 women during their lifetime. It is primarily an infection of the vagina, caused by excessive growth of yeast in the vagina. It is a type of fungal infection, a yeast infection, caused mostly by the fungus Candida albicans. In General, the Lactobacillus bacteria prevents overgrowth of the yeast, though if yeast becomes exceedingly more in number, the symptoms of vaginal yeast infection will be seen. Vaginal thrush (or vulvovaginal candidiasis) is also another type of vaginal yeast infection seen in women than can particularly interfere with her sexual activities

In general yeast live in a balanced number in vagina. The bacteria Lactobacillus (a useful bacteria) is responsible for preventing overgrowth of yeast and other bacteria. Yet if yeast tend to overgrow beyond the control, it will result in itching, redness and burning sensation leading to vaginal infections.

This infection is mostly triggered in women taking antibiotics that used to treat another pathogenic infection. Antibiotics change the normal balance that is being maintained by Lactobacillus resulting in excessive growth of yeast which leads to candidiasis. It is also very common in women who have reached puberty and therefore produce reproductive hormones, particularly oestrogen. Hormones like these intensify the spread of Candida at inner vaginal wall lining thereby leading to vaginal yeast infection.

The symptoms of this infection include Itching, burning, Rashes or irritation in the vagina or vulva, a tissue surrounding the vagina. A thick odourless white discharge that looks like cottage cheese or a watery discharge is seen as a result of this infection. Sometimes during intercourse and urination significant Pain is observed

A pelvic examination is suggested to inspect signs of infection. A sample of vaginal discharge is sent to a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis. Swelling and redness of the skin of the vulva in the vagina and on the cervix, confirm the infection

It is suggested that women who are pregnant or with frequent attack of infection should visit a doctor

Candida infection cannot be cured completely, while taking preventive measures will stop spreading the infection. Women who are susceptible to the infection are advised to Wear undergarments made from cotton or natural fibers. It is advised to Wear loose fitting pants or skirts and also avoiding tight underwear and pantyhose.

Treatment of the vaginal yeast infection depends on whether it is complicated or uncomplicated. Uncomplicated yeast infection is treated with a short course vaginal therapy or with oral treatment. By using Over The Counter, OTC drugs which belong to chemical classes like azoles have been proven to clear up 80 to 90% of yeast infections. Drugs like clotrimazole, fluconazole, butoconazole, miconazole and terconazole are used as a part of treatment for at least one to 2 weeks. Women who have particularly itchy infection are advised a soothing cream like Terconazole cream.

A complicated yeast infection can be treated by the use of long course vaginal therapy or multi dose oral formulations. These include treatment with a vaginal cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository for approximately 7 to 14 days. Sometimes, two to three doses of oral fluconazole may be recommended instead of direct vaginal therapy. Maintenance medications if necessary are prescribed after the main treatment has finished which include treatment with oral fluconazole for 6 months or weekly treatment with vaginal clotrimazole.

If the patient’s sexual partner has yeast symptoms, they might want to consider treatment, too. The use of condoms is often recommended.

6 years ago Health No comment

10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF HIGH QUALITY SLEEP

10 Amazing Health Benefits Of High Quality  Sleep

health-benefits-of-high-quality-sleep

1. REDUCED INFLAMMATION

Studies have shown that people who get less than 6 hours of sleep per night have higher levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood.

These inflammatory proteins can cause heat, pain, redness and swelling. They also increase your risk for various chronic diseases including arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke.

By ensuring that you get at least 6 hours of high quality sleep each night, you can reduce the levels of inflammatory proteins in your blood and protect yourself against the chronic diseases listed above

2. IMPROVED MEMORY:

Getting good quality sleep has a double benefit when it comes to your memory.

First, it allows you to process and retain new information much more efficiently. Second, it increases your brain’s receptiveness to new information and allow you to absorb it much better.

3. BETTER PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE –

Research has shows time and time again that sleep quality has a direct impact on physical performance.

So if you want to blast through plateaus and achieve your fitness goals, make sure your’s getting consistent, good quality sleep.

4. IMPROVED CONCENTRATION

High quality sleep has been shown to have a hugely positive effect on concentration levels.

Therefore, by making an effort to sleep well every night, you can improve your concentration, be more efficient in your  day to day life and be more focussed during your workouts.

5.EASIER WEIGHT LOSS –

Poor quality sleep inhibits growth hormone levels (which builds muscle and burns body fat), increases your appetite and reduces your physical activity levels.

This means by aiming to get 6 – 10 hours of quality sleep per night, you can prevent the above from happening and improve your chances of weight loss success.

6.INCREASED MUSCLE MASS –

If you’re looking to build muscle, high quality sleep can help.

As already mentioned, quality sleep increases your growth hormone levels and this stimulates muscle growth.

Sleep also improves your physical performance and allows you to perform at you to perform at your peak during muscle building workouts.

7. LOWER STRESS LEVELS –

Research has shown that sleep quality can be directly correlated with stress levels.

Stress doesn’t just have negative effect on how you feel but it can also lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and more.By making sure you get a minimum of 6 hours of high quality sleep every, your’ll feel much happier and more relaxed and avoid the negative physical of stress.

8.STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM –

Failing to get good quality sleep on a regular basis can weaken your immune system which makes you much more susceptible to infections. It also means that your body takes much longer to deal with them you do contract them.

So if you want to stay healthy and infection free, make sure you’re getting lots of consistent, high quality sleep.

9.INCREASED LIFE EXPECTANCY –

Countless studies have shown that sleeping for less than 6 hours per night has a negative effect on your lifespan.

Therefore, if you want to live a longer and happier life make sure you’re getting plenty of good quality sleep.

10.BETTER MOOD –

you probably know from personal experience that holding a good mood when in a sleep deprived state is a difficult task.

So if you want to be happy more often aim to get over 6 hours of  high quality sleep a consistent basis

6 years ago Health No comment

Diet for kidney patients

Patients with chronic kidney disease, a properly balanced nutrition play a vital role in maintaining the body health and preventing further kidney degeneration. In kidney disease, the body does not get rid of the waste and unwanted nutrients like toxic fluids, extra nutrients. These further buildup in the body and affect the kidney even more. Hence a change in the diet is a solution to keep the health of the kidney.
Depending on the intensity of the kidney disease, the principal component nutrients include protein, potassium, phosphorous, sodium and fluids.
1. Protein: principal function of the protein is to build and maintain bones, muscle, skin and hair. With the kidney disease, lower protein diet, he body condition worsened. Meats, seafood, eggs, legumes are good sources of protein. Seafood like shellfish, fish, and meat like beef, lean, lamb, pork, loin pork, turkey are the essential sources of protein.

2. Potassium: functions primarily for working of muscles and nerves. Any changes in the potassium level, affect the tonicity of muscles, hence their functioning. Hence a low potassium diet has to be maintained.
Apple, apricot nectar, cherries, cranberry juice, grapes, grapefruit juice, pear, lemon, lime, pineapple, plum, cabbage, corn, cucumber, onions, spinach, carrots, asparagus, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, peppers are the fruits and vegetables giving less than 200 mg of potassium per serving.
For limiting potassium, these foods are to be eaten in a limit or avoided: banana, dried fruits, melon, mango, avocado, potatoes, broccoli, pumpkin, dried peas and beans.

3. Phosphorous: kidneys mainly control the balance of phosphorous in the body. When phosphorus is built up in the body, it removes calcium from the bones, leading to weakening of bones which break easily and cause severe pain. And too much phosphorous in the body, in the blood causes heart disease.
For a low phosphorous diet, milk substitutes like almond milk, rice milk, other supplements like angel food or cake, animal crackers, bun, cereals, cooked cereals except for oats, cookies of apple, berry, butter, popcorn, pita pocket.
To limit the phosphorous intake, boxed foods, cocoa, salad dressings, cheese(processed), light cream, soymilk.

4. Sodium: the primary and the most vital nutrient to be taken care of. The limit for sodium should be maintained, to prevent excess fluid from building in the body. When too much fluid is retained in the body, the blood pressure shoots up, suffer from breathlessness, and damage to the kidney and heart are observed.
Low sodium containing foods are bread, buns, rolls, desserts and pastries made from starch without much-added salts, fruits, meats without added sodium, homemade soups, vegetables without added salt.
The high sodium containing foods which should be prevented are boxed foods, cheese and cheese spreads, fast food, frozen dinners, soya and other Asian sauces, canned soups and vegetables.
5. Calcium: Calcium is another mineral component, calcium can affect kidney functioning, hence is limited by eating low-phosphorous containing foods. Phosphorus binders and high calcium content foods are to be avoided, as they deposit on the nephrons.

6 years ago Health No comment

How to overcome anxiety?

Panic is an overrated reaction to a real (or even imagined) problem. Frightening the self beyond is the way to really need to deal with a problem that puts the body into fight or flight mode as though life were immediately being threatened.

Emotional panic can create a shutdown of feelings, so and go into a state of shock.

In the panic, the patient does not retain any information, absorbs what they hear or accurately assess the situation. Panic is the worst thing that can do to the patient in a real emergency, and if the situation is not dire, panic will make the situation worse.

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behaviour, such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints, and rumination.

The patient personally feels unpleasant of dread over anticipated events, such as the feeling of imminent death. Anxiety is not the same as fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat, whereas anxiety is the expectation of the future threat.

Panic is a natural startle reaction that gets overstated and becomes long-standing.

Anxiety can be reduced by:

1. Recognize the unhealthy anxiety: “Physical sensations and conditions related to this include:

• nervousness and headaches
• Gastroenterological trouble – diarrhoea, upset stomach, difficulty holding food in, loss of appetite
• Dizziness or itchiness in the extremity – blood rush from the brain to the legs
• Muscle ache and fatigue – in due course the body is bushed from the augmented tension
• Insomnia – a recurrent end result of all of the anxiety chaos

2. Breathing is the short circuit for anxiety: Quicker, shallower breathing is the first prompt which propels all the other anxiety symptoms into action. by controlling breathing, and control all the other anxiety symptom as well.

 

3. Preparing for peaceful recital
4. Use a diverse part of the brain
5. Get have power over of the imagination: Fear and anxiety thrive when imagining the worst. The developed image to be able to project into the future so can plan ahead.

 

Use the AWARE technique

AWARE is an acronym standing for:

A: Accept the anxiety. Don’t try to fight it.

W: Watch the anxiety. Just watch it and when and notice it, scale the level of fear and start to breathe longer on the out-breath.

A: Stands for ‘Act normally’. Carry on talking or behaving as if nothing is different. This sends a powerful signal to the unconscious mind that its over-dramatic response is actually not needed because nothing that unusual is going on.  Compare to  Like firefighters coming out and seeing that no urgent situation is occurrence and so going back to the fire station.

R: Repeat the above steps in the mind if compulsory.

E: Expect the unsurpassed One of the greatest feelings in life is the realization and can control fear much more than any thought possible.

 

6 years ago Health , Home Remedies No comment

Reduce Arthritis and inflammatory Pain| Consult Specialist online

Magic Foods can give you relief from Arthritis pain

Rheumatoid Arthritis

As you all know, the arthritis has no cure yet. The hassle to move, it will get soft and aggravating to become a martyr effort to pick up a book on the shelf or get up from a chair, is caused by inflammation of the joints. In general, the problem becomes associated with trauma, exhaustion, autoimmune disorders or infections. The medical care and adherence to care, however, allow the patient to take a normal life without pain or physical limitations. The ideal scenario includes early diagnosis, practice mild exercise or physical therapy in less acute cases and some dietary adjustments. The main one is the consumption of foods rich in omega-3, fatty acid with anti-inflammatory action. Let us see how to make your meals more nutritious and protect your body from aching symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Reduce Arthritis and inflammatory Pain| Consult Specialist online

Fish

Fish like tuna, sardines and salmon are nice sources of omega-3 fatty acid unsaturated fatty acids, that forestall a method of conversion of nutrients within the body to blame for inflammation. The food additionally works as an excellent alternate source in dominant sterol, interference of disorder and even in assuaging the symptoms of PMS and change of life

Recommended quantity: 200 g at least two times in a week

Flaxseed

Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E and fiber, flaxseed is a food that provides greater blood flow, lowers bad cholesterol, prevents the formation of fat from the arterial plaques and promotes anti-inflammatory effects in the body. The seed also improves the functioning of the digestive system and eases the symptoms of PMS and menopause.

Recommended quantity: 2-3  tablespoons per day

Soybean Oil

Just like other vegetable oils Soybean oil is a food wealthy in unsaturated fats like omega-3 fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid and a very important supply of antioxidant. It acts within the bar of vas diseases in correctfunctioning of the immune and systema nervosum to fight free radicals. this kind of oil additionally has medicine action and helps regulate sterol levels within the body.

Recommended quantity: two tablespoons per day

Chia

Seed of the time, originated from southern Mexico, chia is a great source of omega-3, iron, magnesium and calcium. Be in oil, flour or grain version, the food promotes satiety, prevents cardiovascular disease, helps in maintaining muscle mass, strengthens the immune system and also has anti-inflammatory effect in the body.

Recommended quantity: two to three tablespoons of soup per day

Spinach

Spinach is a highly nutritious food, offering its composition in vitamins A, C and E, plus nutrients like omega-3, calcium , iron, potassium, bioflavonoids and carotenoids. Its antioxidant properties prevent some types of cancer, especially lung and prostate. Two other very important elements are folic acid, which fights anemia, and lutein, which strengthens the immune system, preventing problems such as macular degeneration.

Recommended quantity: two to three tablespoons per day

6 years ago Health , LifeStyle No comment

How do I floss my teeth?

“You are never fully dressed without your smile”

Isn’t it is true that smile is the best curve and we all wish for white sparkling smile. Now we all are very much aware about brushing and in twenty first century, it’s a morning routine which we follow certainly. But in this article, we will talk about the additive practice with brushing which is not quite famous in India is “dental floss”. Joel Spolsky said that, “Writing specs is like flossing: everybody agrees that it’s a good thing, but nobody does it.”This statement by Joel clearly expressed that being a good habit flossing is still not practised faithfully.

 

History of floss!

In year 1819, Levi Spear Parmly was the first to introduce the idea of interdental cleaning with filamentous material along with dentifrices and tooth brush. Later in 1882, unwaxed silk floss was introduced by Codman & Shurtleff. But in year 1887, Johnson & Johnson were the one who marketed the dental floss and made it available. But during the second world war the production of silk was foreshortening and Dr Charles C. Bass invented nylon dental floss. Nylon was not only more readily available, but it was also more durable. Within a century, the idea of cleaning between the teeth with floss was common dental knowledge.

 

Why do we need to floss?

Although we brush daily and we think that our basic regime to maintain an oral hygiene is completed, but in actual brushing only removes the plaque from the chewing surface of your teeth whereas the areas between the teeth or interdental spaces are still remains the habitat of the residual bacteria.

Flossing helps in removing plaque from the hard to reach area by toothbrush. According to the American Dental Association, we should floss daily to maintain a good oral hygiene. Combination of daily flossing and brushing prevents the dental caries and periodontal diseases. Adapting the habit of flossing is one of the easiest, inexpensive and safest methods of minimizing the risk of long-term dental diseases.

In recent studies by Dr Roger Sandre, flossing is always important especially when you are undergoing active cancer treatment because the patients with low immunity are prone towards the risk of getting infections and dental infections can cause life threatening conditions if the infection is not cleared from the blood stream. So, to keep your dear ones who are fighting with cancer let them know that the growth of bacteria should not get out of control.

But we can say that regardless of your health status one should always have the habit of flossing.

 

How to floss

1.Take a 18 inches long floss thread and wind it along your middle finger of each hand and use the thumb to direct the floss in upper teeth.

2.Now pinch the floss between the two thumbs and forefingers of opposite hands such that in the end 1-2 inches long floss will be there in between your hands.

3.By using zig-zag motion gently guide the floss between your teeth and under your gum line until you feel the resistance.

4.Bend the floss around each tooth in a “C” shape and each tooth should be floss thoroughly with a new section of floss.

5.Remember to floss behind your back teeth.

 

Most of the patients attribute their lack of dental flossing due to the lack of motivation and difficulties in using the floss as they do not know the correct technique of flossing.

In the end, we can say that there is only one goal that’s to keep working and keep flossing.

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