KIDNEY STONE

Kidney stones are pebble-like solid particles found in various parts of the urinary system. They are said to be formed by an excess of salts in the bloodstream that crystallise in the urine. The stones are vary in size and shape ranging from tiny particles that pass out unnoticed in the urine to large-branched formations about 5 cm across. They remain unnoticed as long as they stay in place. But even a tiny stone may cause excruciating pain as it leaves the kidney. Slight bleeding can occur due to tears in the lining of the urinary tract.


SYMPTOMS:
*"Silent" kidney stones produce no symptoms.
* Severe pain in the back over the spreads to the front of the abdomen
downwards. The pain builds up for about 1 minute before it eases off
and then returns again in a few minutes.
* Pain on passing urine.
* Fever or tenderness in the flank may indicate a stone related kidney
obstruction or infection.
COMPLICATIONS
Kidney blockage and infection. If not relieved, it can lead to kidney failure.

COMMON CAUSES:
*Insufficient fluid intake or frequent fluid loss (dehydration) can make the
urine so concentrated that stones form.
*An excess of calcium or uric in the bloodstream caused by gout or hormones
disorders.
*Kidney infections foster stone formation by slowing urine flow or changing
the acid balance of the urine.
*Prolonged bed rest, e.g due to illness.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
*Consult the doctor immediately if there is severe pain accompanied by the
other symptoms.
PREVENTION TIP:
Drink plenty of fluids to keep urine diluted enough to hold all dissolved salts, in solution and keep them from forming stones.

DOG BITES

The seriousness of a dog bite depends on the extent and area of tissue damage in the wound, the presence of infection and rabies. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be transmitted to a person by the bite of infected animal.

SYMPTOMS:
*Puncture wound or laceration.
*Bleeding
*Pain, which can be severe.

COMPLICATIONS:
*Severe bleeding, if a main blood vessel is torn.
*Infection of the wound, characterized by fever, inflammation, worsening pain, and pusformation
*Tetanus. This is a disease of the central nervous system(brain and spinal cord) due to the infection of the wound by tetanus bacteria.
*Rabies an acute viral infection transmitted to humans by the bite of a rabid animal
*Death due to rabies or tetanus

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
*Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water to prevent infection.
*Apply antiseptic lotion and cover the wound with clean, dry dressing.
*If the wound bleeds profusely, try to stop the bleeding.
*Consult a doctor if there is severe bleeding, the wound is in infected, you are not immunized against tetanus or you suspect the dog to be rabid.

WHAT DOCTORS CAN DO FOR YOU:
*Stop the bleeding wound.
*Treat wound infection.
*Refer you to a hospital if rabies is suspected.
*Give you tetanus toxoid injection if your vaccination is not to update.

PREVENTION TIPS:
*Avoid stray dogs.
*As much as possible, have your dog immunized for rabies.
*Never leave a child alone with a dog to avoid attacks or accidental biting.
*Send your dog to expert obedience trainers so that it will heed commands and not to bite in play.

Muscles strains: When you've overdone it

If a muscles is overstretched, some muscle fiber may tear. If this happens, the muscle contracts and may also swell because of internal bleeding. Occasionally, the muscle may be ruptured, or torn completely.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The main symptom is pain when the injury occurs . The pulled muscle feel tender, may become swollen, and will not function efficiently until the torn fibers have healed. If the muscle that gradually becomes stiff, painful, and tender (often overnight) has probably been strained. In addition, a few of its fiber may have been torn.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Almost everybody pulls, or strains, a muscle at some time. People who are active in sports are particularly susceptible to such injuries. Ruptured muscles are much less common.

In most cases recovery from a pulled muscle is quick and complete, and there is no danger of permanent loss of mobility. The older you are, the greater the damage you can do and the more slowly you recover. A strain that tears muscle, however, may permanently impair the working of the muscle unless it is successfully treated.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

If you pull a muscle and it does not seem to be severely damaged, try the self-help measures suggested below. If you are in great pain or the affected area becomes badly swollen, consult your physician, who may be able to evaluate the extent of the injury by carefully examining the affected area.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?

Self-help:

* Apply ice wrapped in a cloth or ice pack to the area to help prevent further swelling and to decrease the pain.

* Try not to use the pulled muscle for several days, or while pain persist.

* Bandaging or wrapping the affected area will help decrease swelling, but make sure not to bind it too tightly. This could cause further swelling, which might then interfere with blood circulation.

* Raise the injured part of your body to help reduce the swelling. Elevation also helps drain any fluid that has accumulated in the injured area.

PROFESSIONAL HELP:

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Your physician may prescribe pain killer. you may be advised to use crutches for a leg injury or a sling for an arm injury. In severe cases your physician therapy by the use of heating modalities such as a diathermy machine.

It is the use of high electric current to produce heat. It refers to a method of delivering core warming to deep body tissue for therapeutic purposes, a treatment that effectively warm from within rather than from outside. Heat increases blood flow and makes the connective tissue more flexible. It lessens joint stiffness, pain and muscles spasm, injuries such as sprain and strain.

As pain and swelling subside a special program of exercise may help restore motion and strength to the injured muscle.

SOURCE: PEOPLE'S TONIGHT

BY: DR. GARY SY, M.D.

Anemia

Anemia or Iron deficiency
Hemoglobin, a pigment found in red blood cells, carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues. When the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood is below the normal range for the age and sex of individual, the person suffers from anemia. A deficiency in iron, an important component of hemoglobin is the most common cause of anemia.

Symptoms
* Pale lips and mouth lining, nail beds, skin creases, and inside the eyelids.
* Lethargy ( lack of vigor), tiredness, weakness.
* Shortness of breath when exercising.
* Dizziness, fainting spells ( because of loss of oxygen reaches the brain).
* Angina pectorisis ( pain in the chest caused by insufficient oxygen reaching the heart muscle).
* Palpitation (fast and extra ordinary strong heart beat).
* When due to vitamin B12 deficiency, appetite and weight loss, difficulty in walking, and mental confusion.
* Jaundice, in hemolytic anemia.

Common Causes
* Vitamin or mineral deficiency ( particular iron, vitamin b12, and folic acid). A pregnant woman need more iron to accommodate the iron needs of the fetus; if iron intake is not increased, the woman can become anemic, especially during the second half of pregnancy.
* Low production of hemoglobin as in thalassemia ( click thalassemia for info ) or decreased or absent production of red blood cell as in pure red cell anemia or aplastic anemia whice may be inherited as in hereditary spherocytosis , enzymopathies, thalasemia, hemoglobinopathies, or acquired as in Coombs' positive hemolysis.
* Excessive o abnormal blood loss( e.g. heavy menstrual flow, bleeding stomach ulcer).
* Certain medicines that destroy red blood cells or cause bleeding in stomach.
* Excessive destruction of red blood cellls (hemolytic) as in Coombs' positive hemolysis ; hereditary e.g. spherocytosis, enzymopathies, thalasemia and hemoglobinopathies.
* Certain treatment ( e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy).
* In children, moderate to severe intestinal parasitism or worm infestation ( e.g. hook worm infestation ).

What you can do
* Consult a doctor who will determine what is causing anemia and treat accordingly.

What the doctor can do to you
* Do a test to confirm the condition, find out how bad it is and identify the cause and treat it.
* If anemia is due to:
A. Iron deficiency - recommend iron supplements to correct it at the time, determine the cause of anemia.
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency - vitamin b12 injection can be given if the patient has pernicious anemia.
C. Intestinal parasitism or worm infestation - deworming medication.
D. Heavy blood loss - recommend blood transfusion for decompensating patients.
* For pregnant woman, prescribe a combination of iron and folic acid.

Prevention tips
* Eat balanced diet which include iron rich foods e.g. fruits, whole-grain bread, beans, lean meat, and green and leafy vegetables.
* have a good source of clean water.
* Exercise atleast twice a week.
* Good rest and have a stress free environment.

Insomnia - What can you about it

Did you ever get so desperate in getting at sleep? Or did you even got so desperate having at least a nap during at night when every body is already sleeping? Well your not alone! Just like you, I have an insomnia and here is my story.

When I was a high school student, I was elected as an Student Body Officer at our school. I was so excited that year that I kept thinking of what project I would do or propose next after the other. I was so active at our school performing my tasks and duties as an officer that I did not realize that was giving it too much of my attention. Why?

Yes! As I go to my bed, I kept thinking of my responsibilities and what would I do the next day. Think! Think! Think! And there it goes, my insomnia had started. Its a bad habit whenever I go to my bed or whenever I needed a sleep. My mind did not really want to sleep. I keep of thinking so many things. I have such an active mind at my bed. My mother told me it is called insomnia. (Read more)...

Bleeding Gums

Healthy gums do not bleed spontaneously or when you brush your teeth; so bleeding gums are abnormal and means that something is wrong.

Causes
* Bacteria / dental plaque buildup in the space between gum and teeth.
* Gum disease. ( Inflamed / infected gums bleed easily because there is more blood in the vicinity bringing defense cells to fight off the bacteria)
* Injury due to a toothbrush with hard/splayed bristles or careless toothbrushing/flossing.
* Vitamin C deficiency.
* Dengue hemorrhagic fever.
* Bleeding disorder.

What you can do
* Go to the Emergency Department of the nearest hospital if you have a (read more)

Abnormal Jaw Relationships

An abnormal jaw relationship exist when the upper and lower jaws are mismatched for a proper bite. This problem results in poor bite, strain on facial muscles, jaw joint problems and poor facial appearance.

Symptoms
* Difficulty in biting and chewing.
* Pain and stiffness in the jaw joints, causing difficulty in opening or closing the mouth.
* Speech defects.
* Arthritis in the (read more)

Baby-Teething problems

Teething Problems
Teething can occur anywhere from 3 months to 3 years of age. The teething period is different from baby to baby. Some babies breeze through without worry, other babies may be clingy, uncomfortable, restless and cranky.

Symptoms
* Increase in drooling.
* An increase tendency to chew things.
* Thumb sucking may become more vigorous.
* Gum (read more)

Bad Breath ( Halitosis )

( Halitosis )
The condition is usually due to bacteria that act on food residues in the mouth. Bad breath is often more embarrassing than harmful, and can easily be prevented with good oral hygiene. However, there may be serious cause of bad breath, such as digestive, kidney, liver, respiratory disorder, sinusitis which may need medical attention. Liver failure gives the breath a mousy odor, kidney failure makes the breath smell like urine, and severe uncontrolled diabetes makes breath smell like nail polish remover.

Symptoms
* Bad breath observed when person exhales or (read more)

Anti-aging strategies

*Wrinkles cannot be avoided. However, strong sunlight should be avoided which can cause premature aging. Skin that has been over exposed to sunlight becomes thickened, yellow, rough.

* Too much sun also increases the risk of skin cancer. It has been estimated that having a bad sunburn increases the chances of getting skin cancer by twofold. There for, if you have to go out, use a sun screen on exposed (read more)

Care for Dry Skin

* Quite a lot of people complain that they have dry, rough skin. This can be due to a variety of reasons. Strong saps, not drinking enough water and an air-conditioned environment all dehydrate skin.

* Using a very hot water bathe also causes skin dryness. To prevent this, you should use lukewarm water only when showering. You should avoid using strong soap. Try to use one which is pH balanced. You can also apply an emollient cream to hydrate the skin.

* To have soft, fresh skin remove the outer layer of dead skin cells by rubbing a loofah or a washcloth in circular motions on your skin. This is called exfoliation.

* Eat a balance diet supplemented with vitamins A, C and E and drink plenty of water at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day.

* Cut down on teat, coffee and alcoholic drinks which can cause water loss through an increase in urination. (read more)

Athlete's foot

( Foot ailments, Fungal infection )
Athlete's foot is a fungal skin infection not exclusive to athletes. The fungus thrives in areas that are always moist and warm, but the skin between the toes ( toe webs ) is most susceptible to it. Especially in hot humid weather. Feet in poorly ventilated shoes soak the socks in sweat and become breeding grounds for infection. In an advance stage, the disease may become chronic and painful.

Symptoms
* Mild to severe itch, usually n the feet.
* Cracked, scaling, and peeling skin, particularly in sometimes spreads to the soles.
* Blisters. (read more)

Body Odor

(Underarm Odor)
Everybody has his/her own distinctive body smell. However when a person's body odor is o strong or pungent that it drives other people away' it becomes a problem. Unpleasant body odor is usually easy to prevent with proper hygiene unfortunately, those who have it are often unaware that they do, probably because they are used to the smell.

Symptoms
*An unpleasant or bad smell ( read more)

Basic Skin Care

* Basic skin care includes bathing at least once a day with soap and water.
* Try to clean your face at least twice a day; in the morning and before you retire to bed in the evening (read more...)