DIABETES

Millions of people have diabetes mellitus, commonly called diabetes. You may be surprised to know that many of these people don’t even know they have it.
Diabetes is a serious disease and should not be ignored. If you have it, correct treatment can help you live a long and healthy life.
What Is Diabetes?
If you have diabetes, your body can’t make or use insulin. Insulin helps change sugar into energy to keep you alive.
There are different kinds of diabetes. The main ones are type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is mostly found in children and young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin and you must inject insulin daily.
You May:
urinate often
be very thirsty
be very hungry
lose a lot of weight
be very tired
be irritable
have blurred vision
have trouble seeing.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Type 2 is usually found in people over 45, who have diabetes in their family, who are overweight, who don’t exercise, and who have cholesterol problems. It is also common in certain racial and ethnic groups (blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics) and in women who had diabetes when they were pregnant. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body cannot make enough insulin or correctly use it. Treatment is diabetes pills and sometimes insulin injections, as well as diet and exercise.
You May Have:
any of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes
a lot of infections
cuts or bruises that heal slowly
tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
skin, gum, or bladder infections that keep coming back.
Controlling Diabetes
Daily monitoring and careful control of blood sugar levels are the most important steps to take for people with diabetes. If not treated, diabetes can cause:
High blood sugar (which could make you thirsty, tired, lose weight, urinate often, or give you infections that won’t go away)
Many serious health problems (which could hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart).
Warning: Low Blood Sugar
People with diabetes may develop low blood sugar because their blood has too much insulin or other blood sugar-lowering medication or from not eating enough food. It is important to follow the eating and medication schedule your doctor has prescribed to avoid low blood sugar.
Low blood sugar could make you shaky, dizzy, sweaty, hungry, have a headache, have pale skin color, have sudden mood or behavior changes, have clumsy or jerky movements, have difficulty paying attention, feel confused, or have tingling sensations around the mouth.
Taking Care of Your Diabetes
The best way to take care of your diabetes is to make sure the levels or amount of sugar in your blood are near the normal range. This will make you feel better and help you stay healthy.
Your doctor will tell you how often to check your blood sugar level. To do this, you will need to take a drop of your blood and place it on a special test strip. Then a device, called a blood glucose meter, reads the strip. This device measures the amount of sugar in your blood.
Writing down this level, along with the time and date, will help you see how well your treatment plan is working.
Remember:
A person’s blood sugar level rises after eating any meal that contains carbohydrates or protein. Table sugar (also called ?sucrose) counts as a carbohydrate. Artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin, aspartame (NutraSweet), and sucralose (Splenda), do not count as carbohydrates or fats. They make food taste sweet. But they do not raise blood sugar levels and have little or no calories.
What Else Can You Do?
Eat well-balanced meals. The right amount of healthy food will keep your weight under control and help manage your diabetes.
Your body needs food from the four main food groups every day:
Fruits and vegetables (oranges, apples, bananas, carrots, and spinach)
Whole grains, cereals, and bread (wheat, rice, oats, bran, and barley)
Dairy products (milk, cheese, and yogurt)
Meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dried beans, and nuts.
Remember:
Too much fat and cholesterol in your diet can be very harmful to people with diabetes. Food that is high in fat includes red meat, dairy products (whole milk, cream, cheese, and ice cream), egg yolks, butter, salad dressings, vegetable oils, and many desserts.
Can You Do Anything Else?
Exercise is important for good diabetes control. It usually lowers blood sugar and may help insulin work better. Exercise and a healthy diet can also help you take off extra pounds if you are overweight.
Warning:
Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. You may need a snack before or during the activity to avoid having low blood sugar while you exercise.

HEART FAILURE

Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart loses its ability to pump enough blood to the body's tissues, organs and limbs.

The heart is no longer able to contract completely and can not eject sufficient blood out on each contraction to supply the body’s needs.


Heart failure can be caused by a number of factors including viral or bacterial infection, heart valve disease, high blood pressure or scarring of the heart muscle following a heart attack.

Heart disease kills more people in Australia than any other disease according to the Australian Heart Foundation.

The American Heart Association estimates nearly five million people in America suffer from heart failure with 550,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

An estimated 11.2 million people worldwide suffer some type of heart failure.

An estimated one million of these people enter end-stage (New York Heart Association Class IV) heart failure each year and have a life expectancy of less than one year.
Measuring heart failure
One of the most common ways to classify the different stages of heart failure :
Class I (Mild)
No limit on physical activity. Ordinary physical activity does not cause discomfort, undue fatigue, palpitation or shortness of breath.

Class II (Mild)
Slight limitations on physical activity. Comfortable at rest but ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, heart palpitation or shortness of breath.

Class III (Moderate)
Marked limitations on physical activity. Comfortable at rest but less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, heart palpitation or shortness of breath.

Class IV (Severe)
Unable to carry out any physical activity without discomfort.

Treatment options
Treatment varies according to the stage of heart failure and each person’s medical history. Each class of heart failure listed here requires different treatments.

A heart transplant has been the only treatment that provides sustained benefit for patients suffering end-stage heart failure.

At present, the donor supply limits heart transplantation to about 3,500 hearts worldwide every year. While advances in drug therapy have been able to improve the quality of life and extend survival for many people suffering heart failure, the survival and quality of life for those with severe failure remains limited.

There is a continuing shortage of donor organs and many patients die while they are on the waiting list for transplantation.


Ventricular assist systems contain pumps that take over the function of the damaged heart and restore blood flow. Most systems assist the left ventricle of the heart and are referred to as left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

CIRRHOSIS

The liver is a large organ that sits in the right upper abdomen, just under the right lung. It is one of the body's most "intelligent" organs in that it performs so many different functions at the same time. The liver makes proteins, eliminates waste material from the body, produces cholesterol, stores and releases glucose energy and metabolizes many drugs used in medicine. It also produces bile that flows through bile ducts into the intestine where it helps to digest food. This remarkable organ also has the ability to regenerate itself if it is injured or partially removed. The liver receives blood from two different sources -- the heart and the intestine. All of this blood flows through the liver and returns to the heart. It is no wonder that the ancient Chinese viewed the liver, not the heart, as the center of the body.
What Is Cirrhosis?Many types of chronic injury to the liver can result in scar tissue. This scarring distorts the normal structure and regrowth of liver cells. The flow of blood through the liver from the intestine is blocked and the work done by the liver, such as processing drugs or producing proteins, is hindered.
What Causes Cirrhosis?Cirrhosis can be caused by many things, some known and others unknown:
Alcohol -- Using alcohol in excess is the most common cause of cirrhosis in the United States.
Chronic Viral Hepatitis -- Type B and Type C hepatitis, and perhaps other viruses, can infect and damage the liver over a prolonged time and eventually cause cirrhosis.
Chronic Bile Duct Blockage -- This condition can occur at birth (biliary atresia) or develop later in life (primary biliary cirrhosis). The cause of the latter remains unknown. When the bile ducts outside the liver become narrowed and blocked, the condition is called primary sclerosing cholangitis. This condition is often associated with chronic ulceration of the colon (colitis).
Abnormal Storage of Copper (Wilson's Disease) or Iron (Hemochromatosis) -- These metals are present in all body cells. When abnormal amounts of them accumulate in the liver, scarring and cirrhosis may develop.
Drugs and Toxins -- Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals or drugs can scar the liver.
Autoimmune Hepatitis -- This chronic inflammation occurs when the body's protective antibodies fail to recognize the liver as its own tissue. The antibodies injure the liver cells as though they were a foreign protein or bacteria.
Cystic Fibrosis and Alpha l-antitrypsin Deficiency -- These disorders are inherited.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?Cirrhosis takes years to develop. During this time, there are usually no symptoms, although fatigue, weakness and decreased appetite may occur and worsen with time. When cirrhosis is fully developed, a number of signs may be present:
Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen -- The liver produces a protein, called albumin, that holds fluid in blood vessels. When the blood level of albumen falls, fluid seeps out of the tissues into the legs and abdomen, causing edema (fluid accumulation) and swelling.
Jaundice -- The liver produces bile that normally flows into the intestine.With advanced cirrhosis, bile can back up into the blood, causing the skin and eyes to turn yellow and the urine to darken.
Intense Itching -- Certain types of cirrhosis, such as chronic bile duct blockage, can produce troublesome itching.
Gallstones -- Cirrhosis causes the abnormal metabolism of bile pigment. Because of this, gallstones develop twice as often in cirrhosis patients as in those without the disorder.
Coagulation Defects -- The liver makes certain proteins that help clot blood. When these proteins are deficient, excessive or prolonged bleeding happens.
Mental Function Change -- The liver processes toxins from the intestine. When these substances escape into the bloodstream, as occurs in severe cases of cirrhosis, a variety of changes in mental function can develop.
Esophageal Vein Bleeding -- In advanced cirrhosis, intestinal blood bypasses the liver and flows up and around the esophagus (the food tube) to the heart. The veins in the esophagus dilate (widen) and may rupture, causing slow or massive intestinal bleeding.
Diagnosis and Liver BiopsyThe physician can always suspect cirrhosis from the patient's medical history and physical examination. In addition, certain blood tests and scans or ultrasound (sonography) can provide helpful information. To make a definite diagnosis, however, a liver biopsy (tissue sample) is required. This is performed by anesthetizing the skin of the right-lower chest and inserting a thin, needle into the liver. A core or specimen of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope.
What Is the Course of Cirrhosis?When cirrhosis is diagnosed, the patient and physician begin a plan of action designed to preserve the remaining liver cells and correct the complications mentioned above. By following this plan, most patients can lead long, productive lives.
PreventionPerhaps 90 percent of cirrhosis is caused by excessive alcohol consumption or hepatitis viruses. Of course, alcohol can be avoided. Alcohol consumption should always be limited to no more than 1 or 2 drinks per day. And type B hepatitis now has an effective vaccine against it. Vaccination against B hepatitis virus is safe and inexpensive. It should be taken especially by certain high-risk groups: all health care professionals, persons traveling to third world countries, homosexuals, intravenous drug users, and prostitutes.
TreatmentOften, the only required treatment for cirrhosis is removing the offending cause:
The alcoholic patient must permanently stop consuming alcohol.
When iron is being retained in the body, chronic removal of blood by vein eliminates large amounts of iron.
Cortisone medicine helps treat autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Restricting salt and using fluid pills (diuretics ) reduce edema and abdominal swelling.
Toxins and injurious drugs must be avoided.
Decreasing dietary protein and using certain laxatives generally can prevent changes in mental function.
Bleeding veins in the esophagus can be injected with sclerosing (clotting) agents or closed with small rubber bands. Occasionally, surgery is necessary to prevent recurrent massive bleeding.
Ursodiol (Actigall) and other drugs have been helpful in treating primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Liver Transplant Liver transplantation has progressed to the stage where it can now be considered as standard treatment for selected patients.

Gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and can be an acute or chronic complaint. Acute gastritis involves a simple inflammation with superficial ulcers.
Chronic gastritis may be associated with an autoimmune condition, such as anaemia or hypothyroidism, or long term use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
What causes Gastritis?
It is commonly caused by aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, alcohol or from stressful situations, burns, injuries, kidney or liver disease.
What are the symptoms?
In acute gastritis there are bouts of epigastric pain and vomiting. In cases of ulceration, blood may be vomited.
Chronic gastritis has fewer characteristic symptoms. These include discomfort in the stomach with nausea in the mornings, belching, vomiting of mucus, abdominal distension and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. There may also be signs of bleeding gums (gingivitis).
How is it diagnosed?
This is made by gastroscopy. In chronic gastritis there will be a reduced level of gastric acid and there maybe evidence of anaemia. A barium meal can also reveal the quality of the stomach lining.
Treatment
Pernicious anaemia will be treated with B12 injections for life. It is important to remove the cause of the gastritis if possible.
Antacids are given to neutralise the acid.

STROKE

The sudden death of some brain cells due to a lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain. A stroke is also called a cerebrovascular accident or, for short, a CVA.
Symptoms of a stroke depend on the area of the brain affected. The most common symptom is weakness or paralysis of one side of the body with partial or complete loss of voluntary movement or sensation in a leg or arm. There can be speech problems and weak face muscles, causing drooling. Numbness or tingling is very common. A stroke involving the base of the brain can affect balance, vision, swallowing, breathing and even unconsciousness.
A stroke is a medical emergency. Anyone suspected of having a stroke should be taken immediately to a medical facility for diagnosis and treatment.
The causes of stroke: An artery to the brain may be blocked by a clot (thrombosis) which typically occurs in a blood vessel that has previously been narrowed due to atherosclerosis ("hardening of the artery"). When a blood clot or a piece of an atherosclerotic plaque (a cholesterol and calcium deposit on the wall of the artery) breaks loose, it can travel through the circulation and lodge in an artery of the brain, plugging it up and stopping the flow of blood; this is referred to as an embolic stroke. A blood clot can form in a chamber of the heart when the heart beats irregularly, as in atrial fibrillation; such clots usually stay attached to the inner lining of the heart but they may break off, travel through the blood stream, form a plug (embolism) in a brain artery to cause a stroke. A cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain), as from an aneurysm (a widening and weakening) of a blood vessel in the brain, also causes stroke.
The diagnosis of stroke involves a medical history and a physical examination. Tests are done to search for treatable causes of a stroke and help prevent further brain damage. A CAT scan (a special X-ray study) of the brain is often done to show bleeding into the brain; this is treated differently than a stroke caused by lack of blood supply. A CAT scan also can rule out some other conditions that may mimic a stroke. A soundwave of the heart (echocardiogram) may be done to look for a source of blood clots in the heart. Narrowing of the carotid artery (the main artery that supplies blood to each side of the brain) in the neck can be seen with a soundwave test called a carotid ultrasound. Blood tests are done to look for signs of inflammation which can suggest inflamed arteries. Certain blood proteins are tested that can increase the chance of stroke by thickening the blood.
Stroke look-alikes: Just because a person has slurred speech or weakness on one side of the body does not necessarily mean that person has had a stroke. There are many other nervous system disorders that can mimic a stroke including a brain tumor, a subdural hematoma (a collection of blood between the brain and the skull) or a brain abscess (a pool of pus in the brain caused by bacteria or a fungus). Virus in the brain (viral encephalitis) can cause symptoms similar to those of a stroke, as can an overdose of certain medications. Dehydration or an imbalance of sodium, calcium, or glucose can cause neurologic abnormalities similar to a stroke.
Treatment of a stroke: Early use of anticoagulants to minimize blood clotting has value in some patients. Treatment of blood pressure that is too high or too low may be necessary. (Lowering elevated blood pressure into the normal range is no longer recommended during the first few days following a stroke since this may further reduce blood flow through narrowed arteries and make the stroke worse.) The blood sugar glucose in diabetics is often quite high after a stroke; controlling the glucose level may minimize the size of a stroke. Drugs that can dissolve blood clots may be useful in stroke treatment. Oxygen is given as needed. New medications that can help oxygen-starved brain cells survive while circulation is reestablished are being developed.
Rehabilitation: When a patient is no longer acutely ill after a stroke, the aim turns to maximizing the patient's functional abilities. This can be done in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital or in a special area of a general hospital and in a nursing facility. The rehabilitation process can involve speech therapy to relearn talking and swallowing, occupational therapy for regaining dexterity of the arms and hands, physical therapy for improving strength and walking, etc. The goal is for the patient to resume as many of their pre-stroke activities as possible.

ASTHMA

Asthma is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the lungs and airways (bronchi) that affects 5 people in every 100. In children, this figure is higher and rising.
Asthma is characterised by attacks of breathlessness, tight chest, wheezing and coughing which are caused by the airways becoming narrowed and inflamed. Some people may have these symptoms all of the time and others may be normal between attacks.
How do you get Asthma?Asthma can arise at any age, but why some people have the disease and others don't is not known. People with asthma have airways that are more sensitive than normal.
Doctors know, however, that asthma can sometimes run in families.
Asthma attacks can be set off by many different things, these are called triggers. Examples include cold air, vigorous exercise and stress.
These triggers may also include 'allergens'. These are present in the environment and contain chemicals that trigger allergic reactions.
Allergens include, for example, pollen, animal danders, house dust, pollution, some foods, perfumes and cigarette smoke.
Allergens cause the lining of the airways to become swollen and inflamed. It produces extra mucus and the muscles of the airways tighten. There is then less room for the air to pass in and out.
Attacks may be more frequent or severe in people who have a chest infection.
How serious is Asthma?Asthma is not generally considered by doctors to be a serious illness in most people who have it, mainly due to the mildness of symptoms and the range of very effective medicines that control these symptoms and stop asthma worsening. Asthma does, however, have an effect on quality of life because attacks can be unpleasant and distressing and can restrict activity. Whilst most sufferers learn to live with and manage their condition, for some it can be disabling. In exceptional cases, asthma can be life-threatening, particularly if it is not treated adequately or promptly. For some of these, an attack is so severe that it results in death.How long does Asthma last?Asthma attacks come and go, with wide variation in the symptoms at different times. Many people with asthma have problems only occasionally but others struggle with it every day. Modern medicines control and relieve symptoms and so attacks may only last a few hours or minutes, but without treatment this may go on for several days. Some children grow out of asthma and some people are only affected at different times of the year. However, the period of time during which people may have asthma attacks can last for many years or throughout life.How is Asthma treated?There is no cure for asthma, but there are different types of medicines that will help to keep it under control and relieve symptoms.
Most sufferers must be given a type of medicine called a preventer, which is usually an anti-inflammatory steroid (of the glucocorticosteroid type) that treats the underlying causes of the asthma. These are usually given from an inhaler.
Even if symptoms are not present, sufferers should keep taking the preventer medicines, as this will greatly decrease the risk of suffering asthma attacks. This will help many asthmatics to live a normal active life.
One type of preventer can be taken as tablets and can be used together with steroids.
Another sort of medicine is called a reliever that is used during an asthma attack and may be contained in an inhaler. This contains a bronchodilator medicine that opens up the air passages (bronchial tubes) of the lungs and works in a few minutes.

PNEUMONIA

Pneumonia is a general term that refers to an infection and inflammation of one or both lungs. There are more than 50 kinds of pneumonia and while many forms are mild, others can be life-threatening. Older adults and those with chronic illnesses are the most vulnerable. However, pneumonia can also strike young, healthy people, especially after they’ve just had a cold or the flu. Pneumonia can be effectively treated, and in many cases, it can be prevented.
Causes
Pneumonia can be caused by different types of germs, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites which, for reasons that are still sometimes unclear, get past bodily defenses and infect the lungs. Pneumonia affects the lungs in two ways. Lobar pneumonia attacks a lobe of the lungs, and bronchial pneumonia can affect patches throughout both lungs. In both cases, the lungs' air sacs fill with pus, mucus, and other liquid, restricting the flow of oxygen to the blood. Without sufficient oxygen, cells in the body cannot function properly.
Viral pneumonia is responsible for half of all cases of pneumonia. Some viruses that cause pneumonia are adenoviruses, rhinovirus, influenza virus (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and parainfluenza virus (the virus that causes croup).
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. If the immune system is weakened and the bacterium is breathed in, it can multiply and cause serious infections of the lungs (pneumonia), the bloodstream (bacteremia), the covering of the brain (meningitis), and other parts of the body.
Mycoplasma (also called ‘walking pneumonia’) shares the characteristics of both bacterial and viral pneumonias and is responsible for about 20 per cent of all cases of pneumonia. Its most prominent symptom is a violent cough that produces sparse white coloured mucus.
There are many, less common pneumonias that are caused by the inhalation of food, liquid, gases, dust or some other foreign particles.
Risk Factors
The viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia are contagious and are usually found in fluid from the mouth or nose of an infected person. If your own immune system is temporarily weakened you could be at risk when an infected person coughs or sneezes near you or if you share drinking glasses and eating utensils, or touch the used tissues or handkerchiefs of an infected person.
You're at increased risk of pneumonia if you're age 65 or older. Very young children, whose immune systems aren't fully developed, also are at risk of pneumonia. You're also more likely to develop pneumonia if you:
Have certain diseases These include immune deficiency diseases such as HIV/AIDS and chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, emphysema or diabetes. You're also at increased risk if you've had your spleen removed, or your immune system has been impaired by chemotherapy or long-term use of immunosuppressant drugs.
Smoke, or abuse alcohol or drugs Smoking damages your airways, and alcohol interferes with the action of white blood cells that fight infection. If you inject illegal drugs, there's a chance you may develop injection-site infections that can travel through your bloodstream to your lungs.
Are exposed to certain chemicals or pollutants Your risk of developing some uncommon types of pneumonia increases if you work in agriculture, construction or around certain industrial chemicals. Exposure to air pollution or toxic fumes can also contribute to lung inflammation.
Symptoms
Some common symptoms of pneumonia:
fever
chills
cough
unusually rapid breathing
breathing with grunting or wheezing sounds
labored breathing that makes the rib muscles retract
vomiting
chest pain
abdominal pain
decreased activity
loss of appetite or poor feeding
in extreme cases, bluish or gray color of the lips and fingernails
Symptoms of pneumonia vary, depending on the age of the patient and the cause of the pneumonia. When pneumonia is caused by bacteria, an infected child usually becomes sick quickly and experiences the sudden onset of high fever and unusually rapid breathing. When pneumonia is caused by viruses, symptoms tend to appear more gradually and are often less severe than in bacterial pneumonia. Wheezing may be more common in viral pneumonia.
Some types of pneumonia cause symptoms that help identify which germs are causing the illness. For example, in older children and adolescents, pneumonia due to mycoplasma causes a sore throat and headache in addition to the usual symptoms of pneumonia.
Treatment
If you develop pneumonia, your chances of prompt recovery are greatest under certain conditions:
you are young
your pneumonia is diagnosed early
your defenses against disease are working well
the infection has not spread
you are not suffering from any other illness
There is no effective treatment yet for viral pneumonia. However, prompt treatment with antibiotics usually cures bacterial and mycoplasma pneumonia. The drug or drugs used are determined by the germ causing the pneumonia. The drugs lower body temperature within a day or two and produce a dramatic recovery. After temperature returns to normal, medication must be continued according to your doctor’s instructions, otherwise the pneumonia may recur. Relapses can be far more serious than the first attack.
You should also know that bacteria such as streptococcus pneumoniae, are now capable of resisting and fighting off the powers of antibiotics to destroy them. Such antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide because these medicines have been overused or misused. Therefore, if you are at risk of getting pneumococcal pneumonia, you should talk with your doctor about ways to prevent it. (See below).
Most cases of pneumonia are treated successfully at home. However, children may be hospitalized if they have chronic illnesses that affect the immune system, if they are vomiting so much that they cannot take medicine by mouth, or if they have recurrent episodes of pneumonia. Hospital treatment may also be required for those who need supplemental oxygen or if a lung infection has spread into the bloodstream.
A vigorous young person may recover from pneumonia within a week. Older adults, however, may require several weeks before regaining their strength and a general feeling of well-being. To get better and avoid complications:
Get plenty of rest
Drink lots of fluids, especially water
Take the entire course of any prescribed medications
Keep all follow-up appointments with your doctor
Prevention
Get vaccinated Getting a yearly flu shot is a good way to prevent pneumonia. In addition, pneumococcal vaccine can prevent pneumonia and other infections caused by 23 types of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.

SORE THROAT

The dry scratchiness and painful swallowing that are the hallmarks of a sore throat — known medically as pharyngitis — can be miserable. Yet a sore throat isn't a disease. Most often, it's a symptom of another illness — usually a viral infection such as a cold or the flu (influenza). In many cases, a sore throat is the first indication that you're getting sick.
Sore throats are so common they're one of the main reasons Americans see a doctor. But many of those office visits aren't necessary. Most sore throats are caused by a virus and go away on their own in about a week. Only a small percentage are bacterial infections that may require medical care.
Bacterial infections are sometimes treated with antibiotics, although drugs don't always speed healing or prevent infections from recurring. And antibiotics aren't effective against viruses, which respond best to self-care measures such as resting and drinking plenty of fluids. Until you're feeling better, salt-water gargles, throat lozenges or warm water with honey and lemon can help make having a sore throat easier to swallow.
A sore throat usually occurs with other signs and symptoms. These can vary considerably, depending on the type of infection you have. Most often, a sore throat accompanies a viral infection
Most sore throats go away without treatment, often within a week or so. That's a good thing, because no medical therapy exists for sore throats caused by viral infections. But increasing your fluid intake and getting extra sleep can help speed your recovery.
When you're sick, choose fluids such as water, soups and broths — not sodas or drinks that contain caffeine, which can dehydrate you further. If you find it extremely painful to swallow, try sipping warm broth through a straw or sucking on ice chips. You may also find that jello slides down easily.
Treating bacterial infectionsAt one time, doctors automatically treated all sore throats with antibiotics, both to cure the infection and to prevent dangerous complications such as rheumatic fever. Now, though, doctors are much less likely to prescribe medication because the overuse of antibiotics has led to an alarming increase in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. What's more, antibiotics such as penicillin do little to hasten recovery from strep throat or to reduce signs and symptoms, and they don't prevent infections from recurring. Be sure your doctor performs a rapid strep test before prescribing any antibiotic for a sore throat.
If your doctor does recommend antibiotics for you or your child, take the entire course of medication, even if you feel better. This helps prevent the infection from coming back. It also prevents bacteria from becoming resistant to the medication. If children on antibiotic therapy feel well and don't have a fever, they often can return to school or child care when they're no longer contagious — usually 24 hours after beginning treatment.

Headache

A headache is the pain that occurs in the head above the eyes or the ears, behind the head or in the back of the upper neck. Headaches need to be taken seriously. If they persist, seek medical advice in order to rule out any physical cause. Modern medical studies conclude that headaches have many different causes and that their intensity and frequency is based on the sufferer's individual make-up, gender, age and even heredity. There are two types of headaches namely primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches are not caused by other diseases and include such headaches as migraines, tension headaches and cluster headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by other diseases and as such they can be minor or they can be very serious and even life threatening. Here are some basic causes: - Heredity - if you have a close relative with a history of headaches, you may be more likely to develop headaches either in adolescence or early adulthood. Females are more prone to headaches and a pattern can develop so that the headaches continue throughout a person's lifetime. Serious medical conditions such as a stroke, hypertension, meningitis or even a brain tumor can cause head pain. If you ever experience a sudden headache in which the pain is the most painful and intense you have ever felt, you may need immediate medical attention. Such severe pain is not normal even for those who have a tendency to suffer headaches. - Stress related muscle tension. - Poor body posture. - Poor vision. - Loud noise. - Sinus infection. - Too much sun- Extreme cold- Pre-menstrual or menopause. - Hunger. - Too much alcohol. - Certain types of food. - Side effects of medication. - Insomnia. - De-hydration. As you will see from the list above, there are many reasons for headaches to occur and in lots of instances, we are able to control or change these causes so that the headaches are no longer a dilemma. In other cases, we need to investigate further, find out whether they are primary or secondary headaches and if necessary, seek medical advice to get to the root of the problem.

Medical help: Obesity and loosing weight

Medical help: Obesity and loosing weight

Obesity and loosing weight

Mike eats all day and still is lean and thin while John is on perpetual dieting but remains obese. So what causes overweight?
Here is an incomplete list:
-Imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure
Hormonal causes
–Associated with poor linear growth
–Hypercortisolism: Cushing syndrome is any type of glucocorticoid excess (endogenous or exogenous); Cushing disease describes pituitary ACTH overproduction
–Hypothyroidism
–Growth hormone deficiency
Insulinoma
Hypothalamic obesity
–Tumors (e.g., craniopharyngiomas)
–Following neurosurgery or irradiation
–Head trauma
–Infiltrative/inflammatory
Genetic syndromes
Drugs
–Chronic glucocorticoids
–Neuropsychotropic medications
Adiposogenital dystrophy syndrome

Overweight persons generally try many options: from herbal things to sitting on vibrator machines.Anything which does not follow the following principle will be useless:
THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT GAIN (OR LOSS)IS EQUIVALENT TO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CALORIES INTAKE AND CALORIES SPENT

Readers requiring medical help can post their queries as comments.