Avoid Aspirin in Dengue or Chikungunya
Dengue or Chikungunya both are the viral fever known to be adversely affecting (lowering) the platelets count. Low platelet count can result into bleeding from eyes, nose, alimentary canal which may sometimes prove fatal.
Aspirin (Disprin) is an over the counter pain killer commonly used for pain and fever. However, the lesser known fact is that aspirin is also a blood thinner which reduce the platelet count. This is often prescribed in old age to prevent stroke and heart attack.
When a patient suffering from Dengue or Chikungunya takes aspirin, the platelet count which is already on the lower side due to the infection, gets further reduced because of the medicine. This may complicate the health condition causing severe bleeding and posing as a threat to life.
During the season of dengue or chikungunya, when someone develops a fever one should avoid the medicines like aspirin. Instead, paracetamol (Crocin) is the drug of choice. Paracetamol should be taken to reduce the fever and lessen the body ache. Under no circumstances, aspirin should be taken.
Migraine: Causes, Prevention and Treatment
What is Migraine?
Word “Migraine” is derived from the Greek word – “hemicranias” – pain on one side of head. It is chronic neurological disorder. Patient suffers from recurrent moderate to severe headaches. The person is extremely sensitive to light and sound which can last for hours to days. It greatly affects the life of the sufferer. Headache is one of the most common reasons for patient to seek medical attention. Migraine affects approximately 12% of the population.
Types of Migraine
- Migraine with Aura
- Migraine without Aura
- Migraine with Brainstem Aura
- Hemiplegic Migraine
- Chronic Migraine
- Retinal Migraine
Causes of Migraine
- Allergies and allergic reactions
- Physical or emotional stress
- Changes in Sleep patterns or irregular
- Smoking or exposure to smoke
- Hormonal changes in women
- Changes in routine
- Tension headache
- The computer monitors
- Lack of food
- Teeth grinding
What is a Migraine Headache
A migraine is a painful throbbing sensation, usually experienced either in the temples, forehead, around the eyes, or at the rear of the head. This occurs due to the expansion of blood vessels, and the subsequent release of chemicals from the nerves which are attached to them. It is this expansion of the blood vessels which cause the pain associated with a migraine headaches.
Home Remedies for Migraine
- Peppermint
- Cayenne Pepper
- Ginger
- Chamomile
- Ice pack
- Ginkgo
- Ginger
- Rosemary
- Coffee
- Mint
Baker’s Cyst: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments
What is a Baker’s cyst?
Popliteal cyst is a distend bursa or herniation of synovial membrane through the posterior part of capsule of the knee or escape of fluid through normal communication of bursa with the knee. It is filled with synovial inside the knee joint (semimembranosus or medial gastrocnemius bursa) most common in children aged 4 to 7 years and in adults aged 35 to 70 years. More common in adults than in children.
Causes of Baker’s Cyst
A Baker’s cyst is caused when excess joint fluid is pushed into one of the small sacs of tissue behind the knee. When this sac fills with fluid and bulges out, it is called a cyst.
Baker’s cyst commonly occurs with:
- A tear in the meniscal cartilage of the knee
- Knee arthritis (in older adults)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Other knee problems
Baker’s cyst diagnosis
During a physical exam, the health care provider will look for a soft lump in the back of the knee.
- If the cyst is small, comparing the affected knee to the normal knee can be helpful.
- There may be a decrease in range of motion caused by pain or by the size of the cyst.
- In some cases there will be catching, looking, pain or the signs and symptoms of a meniscal tear.
- Shining a light through the cyst (trans illumination) can show that the growth is fluid filled.
If the lump grows quickly, or you have night pain, severe pain, or fever, you will need more tests to make sure you do not have other types of tumors.
X-rays will not show the cyst or a meniscal tear, but they will show other problems that may be present, including arthritis. MRIs can help the health care provider see the cyst and look for any meniscal injury.
Baker’s Cyst Treatment
A Baker’s cyst may go away on its own.
If arthritis or another problem is causing the Baker’s cyst, your doctor may treat that problem. This usually makes the pain and swelling of a Baker’s cyst go away.
If a cyst does not go away, or if it is causing a lot of pain, your doctor may drain the fluid with a needle. You also may be given a shot of steroid medicine to reduce swelling. You may need to use a cane or crutch and wrap you knee in an elastic bandage. In rare cases, a baker’s cyst is removed by surgery.
There are things you can do at home to help you feel better.
- Rest your knee as much as you can.
- Take over-the-counter medicines to reduce pain and swelling. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).
- Use a cane, crutch, walker, or another device if you need help to get around. These can help rest your knee.
- If you wear an elastic bandage around your knee, make sure it is snug but not so tight that your leg is numb, tingles, or swells below the bandage. Loosen the bandage if it is too tight.
- Follow your doctor, instructions about how much weight you can put on your knee
- Stay at a healthy weight. Being overweight puts extra strain on your knee.
Anal Fissure
What is an anal fissure?
An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the lower rectum (anal canal) that causes pain during bowel movements. Anal fissures don’t lead to more serious problems.
Most anal fissures heal with home treatment after a few days or weeks. These are called short-term (acute) anal fissures. If you have an anal fissure that hasn’t healed after 8 to 12 weeks, it is considered a long-term (chronic) fissure. A chronic fissure may need medical treatment.
Anal fissures are a common problem. They affect people of all ages, especially young and otherwise healthy people.
What causes an anal fissure?
Anal fissures are caused by injury or trauma to the anal canal. Injury can happen when:
- You pass a large stool.
- You are constipated and try to pass a hard stool.
- You have repeated diarrhoea.
- You give birth. (Child birth can cause trauma to the anal canal.)
Fissures can also be caused by a rectal exam, anal intercourse, or a foreign object. In some cases, a fissure may be caused by Crohn’s disease.
What are the symptoms?
You may have:
- A sharp, stinging, or burning pain during bowel movements. Pain from a fissure may be quite severe. It can be brief or last for several hours after a bowel movement.
- Itching.
- You may see a small spot of bright red blood on toilet tissue or a few drops in the toilet bowl. The blood from a fissure is separate from the stool. (Very dark, tarry stools or dark red blood mixed with stool may be a sign of a more serious problem.) Tell your doctor if you have any bleeding with a bowel movement.
Sometimes an anal fissure may be a painless wound that won’t heal. It may bleed from time to time but cause no other symptoms.
How is it treated?
Most short-term anal fissures can heal with home treatment in 4 to 6 weeks. Pain during bowel movements usually goes away within a couple of days after the start of home treatment.
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation
► Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder
► It causes the top chamber of your heart to beat out of rhythm — or ‘flutter” very fast
► Afib can affect you
► Causing many symptoms
► Increasing your risk of having a stroke
► Education is an important part of your treatment. It will allow you to participate and choose what’s best for you
What happens during Atrial fibrillation?
Normally, your heart contracts and relaxes to a regular beat. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly (quiver) instead of beating effectively to move blood into the ventricles.
If a clot breaks off, enters the bloodstream and lodges in an artery leading to the brain, a stroke results. About 15–20 percent of people who have strokes have this heart arrhythmia. This clot risk is why patients with this condition are put on blood thinners.
Even though untreated atrial fibrillation doubles the risk of heart-related deaths and is associated with a 5-fold increased risk for stroke, many patients are unaware that AFib is a serious condition.
Causes of atrial fibrillation-
- Fatigue
- Palpitations
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Increase risk of Congestive Heart Failure
- Other symptoms
What are the risk factors for AF?
Your risk of having AF is increased with the following factors’:
- Older age
- Family history
- Having heart failure, high blood pressure, or other cardiovascular disease
- Having diabetes
- Thyroid disorders
- Excessive alcohol intake
Astigmatism: Types, Symptoms and Treatments
Astigmatism is an eye condition with blurred vision as its main symptom. The front surface of the eye (cornea) of a person with astigmatism is not curved properly – the curve is irregular – usually one half is flatter than the other – sometimes one area is steeper than it should be.
When light rays enter the eye they do not focus correctly on the retina, resulting in a blurred image. Astigmatism may also be caused by an irregularly shaped lens, which is located behind the cornea.
Common types of astigmatism
The two most common types of astigmatism are:
- Corneal astigmatism – the cornea has an irregular shape
- Lenticular astigmatism – the lens has an irregular shape
Symptoms of astigmatism
The following are common symptoms of astigmatism:
- Blurred or distorted vision at all distances.
- Photophobia – sensitivity to light.
- Headaches.
- Excessive squinting.
- The person is constantly closing his/her eyes.
- Eye strain – occurs more often when the eye has to focus for long periods, as in reading from paper or a computer monitor.
Treatment
The goal of treating astigmatism is to address the uneven curvature that’s causing your blurred vision. Treatments include wearing corrective lenses and undergoing refractive surgery.
Angina: Symptoms, Types and Treatment
What is Angina?
• Regular symptoms might feel like squeezing or pressure in your heart.
• The pain sometimes can also extend to arms, shoulders, jams, neck or back. In some patients, it may also cause indigestion.
• Angina is a symptom of the coronary heart disease (CHD) and is one of the most common heart diseases found in adults.
Signs and Symptoms
• The main symptoms include discomfort and pain in the chest. Burning, tightness or pressure on the chest is caused due to angina.
• It is an observation that the pain begins just behind the breastbone.
• More often, people find it difficult to tell On point of origin of the pain. it seems to be corning from all the sides including jaws, back, shoulder, neck or arms.
• Other notable signs include fatigue, nausea, light-headedness, weakness, sweating and shortness of breath.
Types
Classical/Typical/Stable/Exertional Angina
• Due to fixed and stable plaque
– Prinzmetal/Variant Angina o Due to spasm of coronary artery
– Unstable Angina
• Due to unstable plaque (± thrombus)
Treatment
• Treatments for angina include lifestyle changes, medicines, medical procedures, cardiac rehabilitation , and other therapies. The main goals of treatment are to
• Reduce pain and discomfort and how often it occurs
• Prevent or lower your risk for heart attack and death by treating your underlying heart condition
Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles tendon attaches your calf muscles to your heel bone, or calcaneus. You use this tendon to jump, walk, run, and stand on the balls of your feet. Continuous, intense physical activity, such as running and jumping, can cause painful inflammation of the Achilles tendon, known as Achilles tendonitis (or tendinitis).
Causes of Achilles tendonitis
Excessive exercise or walking commonly causes Achilles tendonitis, especially for athletes. However, factors unrelated to exercise may also contribute to your risk. Rheumatoid arthritis and infection are both linked to tendonitis.
Any repeated activity that strains the Achilles tendon can potentially cause tendonitis. Some causes include:
- exercising without a proper warmup
- straining the calf muscles during repeated exercise or physical activity
- playing sports, such as tennis, that require quick stops and changes of direction
Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis
Symptoms include:
- discomfort or swelling in the back of your heel
- tight calf muscles
- limited range of motion when flexing the foot
- skin on your heel is overly warm to the touch
The main symptom of Achilles tendonitis is pain and swelling in the back side of your heel when you walk or run. Other symptoms include tight calf muscles and limited range of motion when you flex your foot. This condition can also make the skin on your heel feel overly warm to the touch.
Diagnosing Achilles tendonitis
To diagnose Achilles tendonitis, your doctor will ask you a few questions about the pain and swelling in your heel or calf. Your doctor may ask you to stand on the balls of your feet while they observe your range of motion and flexibility. The doctor also feels around (palpates) the area directly to pinpoint where the pain and swelling are most severe.
Imaging tests may help confirm Achilles tendonitis, but you usually don’t need them. If ordered, the tests include:
- X-rays, which provide images of foot and leg bones
- MRI scans, which can detect ruptures and tissue degeneration
- ultrasounds, which can show tendon movement, related damage, and inflammation
Treating Achilles tendonitis
Many treatments are available for Achilles tendonitis, ranging from rest and ibuprofen (Advil) to steroid injections and surgery. Your doctor might suggest:
- reducing your physical activity
- very gentle stretching and later strengthening of the calf muscles
- switching to a different, less strenuous sport
- icing the area after exercise or when in pain
- elevating your foot to decrease any swelling
- wearing a brace or walking boot to prevent heel movement
- going to physical therapy
- taking anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, for a limited time
- wearing a shoe with a built-up heel to take tension off the Achilles tendon
Preventing Achilles tendonitis
To lower your risk of Achilles tendonitis, try to:
- Stretch your calf muscles at the beginning of each day to improve your agility and make your Achilles less prone to injury. Try to stretch before and after workouts. To stretch your Achilles, stand with a straight leg, and lean forward as you keep your heel on the ground.
- Ease into a new exercise routine, gradually intensifying your physical activity.
- Combine high- and low-impact exercises, such as basketball with swimming, to reduce constant stress on your tendons.
- Choose shoes with proper cushioning and arch support. Also make certain the heel is slightly elevated to take tension off the Achilles tendon. If you’ve worn a pair of shoes for a long time, consider replacing them or using arch supports.
- Reduce the heel size of shoes gradually when transitioning from high heels to flats. This allows the tendon to slowly stretch and increase its range of motion.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
In Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Pulsating abdominal mass Aortic calcification is noted on x-ray. Mild to severe mid abdominal or lumbar back pain Cool, cyanotic extremities if iliac arteries are involved Claudication (ischemic pain with exercise, relieved by rest) Complication: peripheral emboli to lower extremities Rupture and hemorrhage.
- An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a permanent localized dilatation of the abdominal aorta.
- The disorder is conventionally diagnosed if the aortic diameter is 30 mm Or more.
Or increase in size of Vessel 1 and half times normal diameter
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Classification
1] Thoracic aortic aneurism.
2] Abdominal aortic aneurism
Definition of aneurysms: Is a localized sac or swelling in the wall of an artery due to weak point in the vessel wall. An aneurysm is a weak point in a blood vessel wall, most commonly in an artery. We have many forms of aneurysms but the most common forms of aneurysms are secular or fusiform aneurysm.
Clinical presentation
Most AAAs are asymptomatic unless they leak or rupture.
Un-ruptured aneurysms may uncommonly cause abdominal or back pain, or a pulsatile mass, if large.
Ruptured aneurysms present with severe abdominal or back pain, hypotension and shock.
What causes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
The aortic wall:
- Genetic predisposition
- Marfans
- Loyes-Die
- Ehlers Danlos ‘Atherosclerosis’
- Haemo-dynamic strain
- Thrombus formation
- Enzymatic degradation
- Vasculitis
- Syphilis
- Cystic medial necrosis
- Trauma
Prevention
- Control of risk factors
- Ultrasound screening roughly halves AAA related mortality in men over the age of 65.
- For men aged 65 years and older.
Asthma
WHAT IS ASTHMA?
- Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways, which causes breathing problems. It can be life threatening.
- The inside walls of the airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to allergens or irritants.
- When the airways react, they get narrower and less air flows through to the lung tissues. This causes symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. Breathing problems are called attacks or episodes of asthma.
SYMPTOMS OF AN ASTHMA ATTACK:
- Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
- Coughing that won’t stop
- Chest tightness or pressure
- Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
- Difficulty talking
- Feelings of anxiety or panic
- Pale, sweaty face
- Blue lips or fingernails
- Worsening symptoms despite use of your medications
Treatment
- Bronchodilators
- Steroids
- IV magnesium
- Antibiotics
- Assisted ventilation
- Anxiety control
- Immune modification
- Allergic modification
Natural Treatment for Asthma & Allergy Ginger Juice
- Clears Stomach Impurities
- Anti-Viral and Anti-fever
- Opens blocked air-ways
- Fight free radicals
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
- Avoid Pets
- Clean Up a Damp, Moldy Basement
- Remove Carpets with Mold
- Exterminate Any Insect Infestation
- Avoid Cigarette Smokes
- Use Mats for Mattresses
