Itsanutha

Archive for December, 2011

Spontaneous abortion can have many causes including litter developmental defects, nutritional deficiencies, and stress. Usually the entire litter will be lost but in some cases a single baby will die in the womb and be born with the rest of the litter. This baby can easily be identified as it will be shriveled and dry. Sometimes the dead fetus is not delivered but instead remains in the womb. Treatment in this case usually involves x-rays for diagnosis and then surgery – otherwise this condition can result in infertility.

Abortion if it occurs in the first trimester can frequently go unnoticed as the fetus and uterine contents are simply reabsorbed. This condition is not unusual nor evidence of existing problems. Rather there was some type of developmental problem and this was the body’s natural way of dealing with in. In other cases, reabsorption can be brought on by malnutrition or mange and so if concerned make sure these conditions are ruled out.

The primary symptom of abortion in the second trimester is vaginal bleeding. The dead litter is usually aborted without excessive discomfort or illness. Do not be alarmed if you see your guinea pig consume signs of the birth. This is normal.

Third trimester abortion is most likely to be a sign of life threatening conditions. Look for bloody vaginal discharge or pus. This could be signs of a uterine infection and lead to other conditions such as pregnancy toxemia. Treatment is usually antibiotics and in some cases surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus.

Pregnancy toxemia is the most dangerous of all pregnancy complications and can frequently result in the death of both the mother and the litter. There are two types of pregnancy toxemia – primary and secondary. Primary toxemia is caused by physical factors such as the weight of the full uterus pressing on the stomach and preventing the mother from eating enough. The weight of the uterus can sometimes actually block off its own blood supply – this can result in suffocation of the litter. Secondary toxemia is more common and frequently brought on by stress. Stress can have many causes and is best avoided by creating a quiet environment and checking regularly for health problems.

Why is pregnancy toxemia so dangerous? If the mother’s body is unable to provide enough resources for the litter her body will start to draw resources from her own reserves. This can lead to a chain of reactions in the body that lead to the mother feeling sick, not eating, liver and kidney failure. Eventually the litter will die inside the mother further escalating her condition.

Symptoms of pregnancy toxemia include loss of appetite, lethargy, hunched posture, cold ears and feet, and a noticeable loss of body weight. Treatment includes glucose infusions, injections, and oral solutions. Many experts suggest that the condition once developed cannot be treated and that treatment in fact just extends the suffering of the mother. Avoidance is considered the only cure – so skip any unnecessary stress, transportation, or food changes. Also remember to move the pregnant mother into her own cage as being too crowded can also bring on unnecessary stress.

Approximately 23.6 million people in the United States alone have diabetes. That is about 7.8% of the population. Diabetes is a metabolism disorder, as the pancreas either produces very little insulin or no insulin at all. Also, the body’s cells may not respond in the right manner to insulin that is produced. This causes a buildup of insulin in the blood, which eventually overflows into the urine and is dispensed from the body through the urine, rather than being used for fuel by the body. There is no diabetes natural cure, but those that suffer from the disease must carefully monitor themselves and keep to a proper management.

There are three main types of Diabetes; they include type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, as approximately 90% to 95% of those with diabetes have type 2. Approximately 80% of type 2 diabetes suffers are overweight. Type 2 is not only associated with being overweight, but also is associated with older age, particular ethnicities, not being physically active and a family history of diabetes. There are also several other types of diabetes, but the previous mentioned are the most prevalent types.

Diagnosis of diabetes preferably is done with a test of the fasting glucose level. The testing is to be done in the morning, as the results are most reliable at this time. Today healthy eating, blood glucose testing and physical activity are the closest steps toward a diabetes natural cure. These are the basic management tools, but some types of diabetes require additional insulin, pills, or other medications that are injected in an attempt to control blood glucose levels. Maintenance by keeping blood glucose levels from getting too high or too low can be quite a challenge. Close monitoring by a physician is important as well in order to ensure proper maintenance is being followed. Healthcare providers can also use the data acquired from different diabetes cases for researchers to utilizing in finding a diabetes natural cure.

Much research continues on finding treatment and improved management of diabetes. Insulin that acts quicker and longer, as well as the introduction of a pump that replaces injection of insulin, and better ways to monitor blood glucose levels are a few of the advances.

Many diabetes individuals can lose their sight or experience kidney or pancreas failure. Advances in diabetes research have developed a laser procedure to reduce the risk of blindness, and there is the capability for pancreas and kidney transplants for those that have failed. For type 1 diabetes treatment they have devised advances in implanting cell clusters that produce insulin. Researchers have not yet found a diabetes natural cure, but they have found evidence that individuals that could be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and reduce their chances of developing it by following guidelines for physical activity, diet and weight loss.

Diabetes is a metabolism disorder, as the pancreas either produces very little insulin or no insulin at all. Also, the body’s cells may not respond in the right manner to insulin that is produced. There are still a number of research studies and clinical trials being done to focus on causes and prevention of diabetes.

Hair loss can be a very unpleasant experience for any person. Men are more prone to this problem than women and usually get male pattern hair loss that is characterized by hair thinning and balding that starts in the crown and hairline areas and progresses towards partial or complete baldness. It may be not the worst thing to happen from the physiological point of view since hair doesn’t play any significant functional role in the health of a person. However, hair loss can trigger serious psychological discomfort because it affects a visible portion of a person’s body and can seriously affect a person’s image. Since hair loss is still considered to be a sign of bad health the person experiencing it can automatically be regarded as ill and get treated respectively. That’s why so many men a desperate to find an effective solution for hair loss problems and weight in on all the possible options, the most popular of witch are hair transplantation and Propecia treatment course.

Hair transplantation has become one of the most promising and effective methods of dealing with hair loss when it was introduced as compared to all the semi-medical treatment options that were available in the past. Hair transplantation involves surgical removal of hair from one part of the body and its inception in the area of hair loss. This technique requires high qualification from the doctor performing transplantation and can be rather costly if you are looking to do it in a professional clinic. Besides, there’s always a risk that the hair that’s been transplanted will fall off too and you will need another pricey procedure to restore its previous state. Still many men choose this treatment option because it is more effective than most herbal and semi-medical preparations for hair loss and was the only medical solution for a period of time.

Propecia, on the other hand, was the first medication to be actually approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss in men. Before it was introduced to the market there were no prescription medications to use for hair loss and even the causes of the problem haven’t been studied well. However, after people started using Propecia and observed its effectiveness there were more studies undertaken on the nature of hair loss in men and it was discovered that it’s triggered by the excess of a specific androgen in the bloodstream that Propecia helps controlling. Thus, unlike hair transplantation. Propecia targets the exact cause rather than effect when dealing with hair loss. Yet, the drug also has its limitations and is not for everyone.

Hair transplantation can be used by both men and women whereas Propecia is prescribed solely to men and shouldn’t be even handled by women because it may cause serious hormonal changes. Propecia has higher effectiveness rates and is much cheaper than transplantation surgeries but you will have to take it for a really long time in order to stop, reverse hair loss and sustain the effects you’ve achieved. So it’s highly recommended to consult with your doctor about the both options in order to choose the one that’s more appropriate in your situation.

Blepharoplasty or surgery aimed at the eyelids is more of an aesthetic touch up than a reconstructive one. There are also times when this is used to improve a person’s sight function instead of his or her looks. Eyelid surgery is quick and relatively safe. There are also some risks to it especially since the area is quite close to the eyes but experienced surgeons rarely encounter sight problems after an operation such as this.

Post Operative Instructions: The surgeon in charge of the patient usually gives post operative instructions and tips before the operation is to be done. This is because eyesight of the patient will be affected, therefore rendering him or her unable to fully see or read the instructions after the procedure. Cold compresses are recommended to help with the swelling and discomfort in and around the affected area. Medicated eye lubricants or eye drops will also be prescribed by the attending physician to prevent infection and keep the eyes moist. Itchiness is to be expected once the stitches heal and it is best to avoid touching or holding the area.

One other important instruction is to keep the head elevated for several days after the operation. This is to prevent further swelling and aggravation in the stitches if blood pools due to none elevation of the head. Extra pillows may be necessary when sleeping.

Tips: The patient will need a person to accompany him or her after eyelid surgery. This is because the area around the stitches may need to be covered afterwards to protect it from dirt and infection. Once the anesthesia wears off, the patient can expect to feel a slight discomfort and soreness, which can be addressed with some pain medication which the surgeon is sure to prescribe. If the degree of pain is intense, it is best to consult the surgeon immediately.

Tears are to be expected for several days post operation as well as the development of bruises. Expect the bruising to disappear after several days to a week after they appear. The person’s eyesight may also be more sensitive to light but this will improve after several days. Blurred vision occurs most of the time after eyelid surgery so this is not something that the patient should panic about. The occurrence should improve in more or less a week.

There will be consultations following the eyelid surgery to give the surgeon time to assess and monitor the progress of the procedure. Stitches will be taken out during one of these times and once the doctor is satisfied with the result everything will be normal.

To an average individual, HIV spells AIDS. That is not, however, the case. HIV and AIDS are not very different, but the difference, inconspicuous though it may seem, is there. That may be why they usually go hand in hand. It is important however, to outline the differences. HIV is a virus; a lentivirus in actual fact, which is a subset of viruses called retroviruses or slow viruses; the virus that leads to AIDS. Scientific research proves that, AIDS is the final of four stages of HIV, the first three being the window stage, the seroconversion stage and the symptom-free stage respectively. HIV is called a retrovirus because it is a progressing virus. It invades the body through mucous membranes and blood stream (through blood to blood contact) and exists in bodily fluids- semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate or breast milk. Once in, the virus begins its journey into the body with the attack and destruction of the immune system cells thereby causing deterioration of the immune system. This inevitably leads to AIDS.

HIV is said to have originated from African, non-human primates and transferred to humans in the 20th century. There are 2 subtypes; HIV-1, which is a more virulent type and easily transmitted and is the cause of majority of HIV infections worldwide and HIV-2, which is less transmittable and largely confined to West Africa. These strains were found to have originated from Cameroun and Guinea Bissau/ Gabon respectively.

There are many ways through which HIV can be transmitted, but the major ones are through infected needles (or sharp objects), unsafe sex, breast milk and vertical transmission (also known as mother-to-child transmission).
However, it cannot be transmitted through handshakes, hugs, sharing the same mug or spoon with an infected individual, or sitting in the same chair.

HIV is a deadly virus which infects the most vital cells of the immune system such as the CD4+ T cells and macrophages. The infection causes a rapid drop in the number of CD4+ T cells by killing the cells and causing an increased rate of apoptosis (programmed cell death).

When the count of these cells (CD4+ T cells) drops below 200, and 2 or more opportunistic infections set in, then the individual can be diagnosed as an AIDS patient.

How then can HIV be treated?

In present day, there are a few drugs for treatment of the virus which are called antiretroviral drugs or anti-HIV drugs.

These drugs however require total commitment and must be taken throughout an individual’s life and at the right time too, because the virus can easily develop resistance to these drugs. They have also been known to give severe side effects which can now be reduced.
HIV may take about ten or more years to develop into full blown AIDS in an average person. This time interval ranges however, from individual to individual and well depends on having a reasonable diet.
Symptoms to show the presence of this deadly virus?

The most effective way to know if an individual has got the virus is to take a test. Some people however develop flu-like symptoms like rashes and swollen glands for a short period of time, but these symptoms do not necessarily depict the presence of HIV. Most often, individuals are asymptomatic and feel healthy, but can pass the disease on to other unsuspecting individuals. It is therefore important for an individual to take the test if he feels he might have chances of contacting the virus. The test may not be accurate if it is taken less than three months since the last exposure.

HIV has no current cure, but it CAN be prevented. As the saying goes

”Prevention is better than cure.”
The best way of preventing infection as recommended by the World Health Organization is ABSTINENCE. However, practicing safe sex (latex condoms are only about 85% effective when used correctly) when one cannot abstain from sex, avoiding sharing sharp objects with people is also recommended. These are few of the many ways of preventing the spread of this pandemic disease which affects about 0.6 percent of the world’s population.

Being diagnosed with HIV is not however, the end of the world. One can still have a full, normal, long and happy life with the virus being just a footnote in your existence. The first step to this life, is to get tested. A pregnant woman who has tested positive doesn’t necessarily need to pass it on to her unborn child. Antiretroviral drugs have been known to reduce this risk from 25 percent to 2 percent. There have been stories of particular people with HIV who have normal kids AND a pretty normal life.
Being HIV positive doesn’t make you less human than anyone else, it only means you have a virus that CAN be treated. People have been known to survive with this disease for over thirty years with good treatment. The key is early detection.

Different societies have different un-called for ways of ‘dealing with’ HIV patients. Some go as far as burning them. Other not so severe consequences of having the disease include estrangement from all forms of human life, even exile from the community. All these are not necessary, these patients are human like everyone else and alienation is not the way to banish the disease from the society. Each and every society should be more considerate to people living with this disease, it cannot be contacted by talking to them, and sharing with them and making them feel accepted. HIV is real, and people should be made aware of that fact. The earlier we all learn that we have to come together and fight it, the better.

An individual can live a normal life with HIV. It is JUST a virus.

The condition termed as arthritis of the eyes is known as Uvetis. Uvetis can be caused by a lot of factors, although the most definite one that triggers a particular attack is hard to pinpoint. It is believed that the eyes have a lot in common with joints and the knees, as these body parts are self-contained. By being self-contained, it means that these body parts have definite boundaries that create cavities that are filled with fluids, spaces, and connective tissues.

Most cases of eye arthritis have a lot to do with poor diet. Studies also show that smoking may trigger this disease as well. But links with other health conditions such as headaches, infections, and injuries are associated with it too. If a person has a weak immune system, it is also possible that it could have been the point of origin of their eye arthritis.

To prevent eye arthritis, the following steps can be performed:

Undergo eye exams. Every time you feel that there’s something wrong with your eyes, such as if you feel that your eyes are painful, you should go to the doctor and have them checked. Headaches are also a sign of eye arthritis. Therefore whenever your episodes of headache are becoming frequent, don’t waste time and consult with a health expert right away.

Take medications at the onset of symptoms. One of the common symptoms of eye arthritis would be dry eyes. For such cases, apply topical eye drops to relieve the pain. But before doing so, make sure that the medicine you are using is prescribed by your doctor. The most effective eye drops in the market today are the ones that contain betamethosone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone. Never self-medicate. It is mandatory that you determine what type of eye medication is best for your health problem. That’s the only effective way to treat the disease.

Avoid using contact lenses. Those who are suffering from eye arthritis should make sure that they never use contact lenses at all. Contact lenses are known to make the eyes dry out to some degree. If contact lenses are used all the time, then the possibility of triggering eye arthritis will increase.

Use sunglasses to protect the eyes. The use of the right type of sunglasses is going to be beneficial to eye arthritis patients. When the correct type of sunglasses are worn, the eyes won’t be subjected to conditions that could set off eye arthritis. There are sunglasses that can protect the eyes. But there are also sunglasses that can be harmful because they do not use the right type of materials. If you have eye arthritis, be sure to invest on a good pair of sunglasses.

Take oral medications. There are times that oral medications are required to address the pain caused by eye arthritis. Sometimes, the pain becomes too unbearable that oral anti-inflammatory drugs need to be prescribed. For these cases, tell your doctor that mere eye drops are not sufficient to make the pain go away. Ask him to give you oral medications to supplement the effects of the eye drops.

Surgery. Should your case of eye arthritis be on the advanced level, try to consider surgery, especially if your doctor had already suggested it. Surgery has its pros and cons. Make sure that you weigh them first and take them into consideration when you make your decision. Also, ask your doctor to explain to you the entire process and all the possible effects when you choose to undergo it. This way, you will know what to expect after the procedure.

These are the different ways to prevent, and possibly cure, eye arthritis. Eye arthritis is a medical condition that should not be ignored. The moment you know that you have it, take immediate action so that you can avoid the pains associated with it.