Month: March 2008

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Ailmemts & Remedies

Hematuria (Blood in the Urine)

Definition:
Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. In microscopic hematuria, the urine appears normal to the naked eye, but examination with a microscope shows a high number of RBCs. Gross hematuria can be seen with the naked eye ,  the urine is red or the color of cola.

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Seeing blood in your urine can cause more than a little anxiety. Yet blood in urine ” known medically as hematuria ” isn’t always a matter for concern. Strenuous exercise can cause blood in urine, for instance. So can a number of common drugs, including aspirin. But urinary bleeding can also indicate a serious disorder.

There are two types of blood in urine. Blood that you can see is called gross hematuria. Urinary blood that’s visible only under a microscope is known as microscopic hematuria and is found when your doctor tests your urine for another condition. Either way, it’s important to determine the reason for the bleeding.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Blood in urine caused by exercise usually goes away on its own in a day or two, but other problems often require medical care.

Symptoms:
The only visible sign of hematuria is pink, red or cola-colored urine — the result of the presence of red blood cells. It takes very little blood to produce red urine, and the bleeding usually isn’t painful. Bloody urine often occurs without other signs or symptoms.

In many cases, you can have blood in your urine that’s only visible under a microscope (microscopic hematuria).

Causes:
Several conditions can cause hematuria, most of them not serious. For example, exercise may cause hematuria that goes away in 24 hours. Many people have hematuria without any other related problems. Often no specific cause can be found. But because hematuria may be the result of a tumor or other serious problem, a doctor should be consulted.

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The urinary tract is made up of your bladder, your two kidneys and ureters, and the urethra. The kidneys remove waste and excess fluid from your blood and convert it to urine. The urine then flows through two hollow tubes (ureters)    one from each kidney    to your bladder, where urine is stored until it passes out of your body through the urethra.

In hematuria, your kidneys  or other parts of your urinary tract    allow blood cells to leak into urine.

Mail & femail urinary system->click to see the pictures.

A number of problems can cause this leakage, including:

*Urinary tract infections. Urinary tract infections are particularly common in women, though men also get them. They occur when bacteria enter your body through the urethra and begin to multiply in your bladder. The infections sometimes, though not always, develop after sexual activity. Symptoms can include a persistent urge to urinate, pain and burning with urination, and extremely strong-smelling urine. For some people, especially older adults, the only sign of illness may be microscopic blood. About 30 percent of people with a urinary tract infection have visible bleeding. click & see
*Other urinary tract infections. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) can occur when bacteria enter your kidneys from your bloodstream or move from up from your ureters to your kidney(s). Signs and symptoms are often similar to bladder infections, though kidney infections are more likely to cause fever and flank pain.
*A bladder or kidney stone. The minerals in concentrated urine sometimes precipitate out, forming crystals on the walls of your kidneys or bladder. Over time, the crystals can turn into small, hard stones. The stones are generally painless, and you probably won’t know you have them unless they cause a blockage or are being passed. Then, there’s no mistaking the symptoms — kidney stones can cause excruciating pain. They can also cause both gross and microscopic bleeding.click & see
*Enlarged prostate. This is one of the leading causes of visible urinary blood in men older than 50. The prostate gland   located just below the bladder and surrounding the top part of the urethra — often begins growing as men approach middle age. When the gland enlarges, it compresses the urethra, partially blocking urine flow. Symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH) include difficulty urinating, an urgent or persistent need to urinate, and either gross or microscopic bleeding. Infection of the prostate (prostatitis) can cause the same signs and symptoms..click & see
*Kidney disease. Microscopic urinary bleeding is a common symptom of glomerulonephritis, which causes inflammation of the kidneys’ filtering system. Glomerulonephritis may be part of a systemic disease such as diabetes, or it can occur on its own. It can be triggered by viral or strep infections, blood vessel diseases (vasculitis), and immune problems such as IgA nephropathy, which affects the small capillaries that filter blood in the kidneys (glomeruli).click  & see
*Cancer. Visible urinary bleeding is often the first sign of advanced kidney, bladder or prostate cancer. Unfortunately, you may not have signs or symptoms in the early stages, when these cancers are more treatable.
*Inherited disorders. Sickle cell anemia — a chronic shortage of red blood cells — can be the cause of blood in urine, both gross and microscopic hematuria. So can Alport syndrome, which affects the filtering membranes in the glomeruli of the kidneys.
Kidney injury. A blow or other injury to your kidneys from an accident or contact sports can cause blood in your urine that you can see.
*Medications. Common drugs that can cause visible urinary blood include aspirin, penicillin, the blood thinners warfarin and heparin, and the anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).
*Strenuous exercise. It’s not quite clear why exercise causes gross hematuria. It may be trauma to the bladder, dehydration or the breakdown of red blood cells that occurs with sustained aerobic exercise. Runners are most often affected, although almost any athlete can develop visible urinary bleeding after an intense workout.

Diagnosis:
To find the cause of hematuria, or to rule out certain causes, the doctor may order a series of tests, including urinalysis, blood tests, kidney imaging studies, and cystoscopic examination.

A medical history and physical exam play a key role in finding the cause of urinary bleeding. So do urine tests. Even if your bleeding was first discovered through urinalysis, you’re likely to have another test to see if your urine still contains red blood cells. Hematuria that occurs just once usually doesn’t need further evaluation. Urinalysis can also help determine if you have a urinary tract infection or are excreting minerals that cause kidney stones.
Sometimes your doctor may recommend additional tests, including:

*Urinalysis is the examination of urine for various cells and chemicals. In addition to finding RBCs, the doctor may find white blood cells that signal a urinary tract infection or casts, which are groups of cells molded together in the shape of the kidneys’ tiny filtering tubes, that signal kidney disease. Excessive protein in the urine also signals kidney disease.

*Blood tests may reveal kidney disease if the blood contains high levels of wastes that the kidneys are supposed to remove.

*Kidney imaging studies include ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or intravenous pyelogram (IVP). An IVP is an x ray of the urinary tract. Imaging studies may reveal a tumor, a kidney or bladder stone, an enlarged prostate, or other blockage to the normal flow of urine.

*A cystoscope can be used to take pictures of the inside of the bladder. It has a tiny camera at the end of a thin tube, which is inserted through the urethra. A cystoscope may provide a better view of a tumor or bladder stone than can be seen in an IVP.

In spite of testing, the cause of urinary bleeding may never be found. In that case, your doctor is likely to recommend regular follow-up tests, especially if you have risk factors for bladder cancer such as smoking, exposure to environmental toxins and a history of radiation therapy.

 Treatment:

Hematuria has no specific treatment. Treatment for hematuria depends on the cause. If no serious condition is causing the hematuria, no treatment is necessary. Instead, your doctor will focus on the underlying condition:

  • Urinary tract infection. Antibiotics are the standard treatment for urinary tract infections. Symptoms usually subside a few days after you start taking medication, but recurring infections may need multiple or longer therapies.
  • Kidney stones. You may be able to pass a kidney stone by drinking large amounts of water and staying active. Talk to your doctor about an appropriate amount of fluids for you. If this doesn’t work, your doctor is likely to try more invasive measures. These include a procedure that uses shock waves to break the stone into small pieces (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy) and, in some cases, surgery to remove the stone.
  • Enlarged prostate. Treatments for an enlarged prostate seek to reduce symptoms and restore normal functioning of the urinary tract. All are effective to varying degrees, and all have some drawbacks. Medications are usually tried first, and they provide long-term relief for many men. When medications don’t help, minimally invasive treatments using heat, lasers or sound waves to destroy excess prostate tissue may be tried.
  • Kidney disease. Most kidney problems often require treatment. No matter what the underlying cause, the goal is to relieve inflammation and limit further damage to your kidneys.
  • Cancer. Though there are a number of treatment options for kidney and bladder cancer, surgery to remove cancerous tissue is often the first choice because the cells are relatively resistant to radiation and most types of chemotherapy. The primary treatment for bladder cancer is surgical resection or complete removal of the bladder. In some cases, surgery may be combined with chemotherapy. In others, the immune system in the bladder is boosted with medications.
  • Inherited disorders. Treatments for inherited disorders that affect the kidneys vary greatly. Benign familial hematuria usually doesn’t require treatment, for instance, whereas people with severe Alport syndrome may eventually need dialysis — an artificial means of removing waste products from the blood when the kidneys are no longer able to do so. Sickle cell anemia is treated with medications, blood transfusions or, in the best-case scenario, a bone marrow transplant.

Click to see:->

Herbal Remedies for Hematuria..………………………….(1)…(2).....(3).…...(4)

Hematuria (Blood in Urine) – Natural Cures, Home Remedies

Risk factors:

Almost anyone — including children and teens — can have red blood cells in their urine. Factors that make this more likely include:

  • Age. Many men older than 50 have occasional urinary blood due to an enlarged prostate gland.
  • Your sex. More than half of all women will have a urinary tract infection at least once in their lives, often with some urinary bleeding. Men are more likely to have kidney stones or Alport syndrome, a form of hereditary nephritis that can cause blood in the urine.
  • A recent infection. Kidney inflammation after a viral or bacterial infection (postinfectious glomerulonephritis) is one of the leading causes of visible urinary blood in children.
  • Family history. You may be more prone to urinary bleeding if you have a family history of kidney disease or kidney stones.
  • Certain medications. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers and antibiotics such as penicillin are known to increase the risk of urinary bleeding.
  • Strenuous exercise. Long-distance runners are especially prone to exercise-induced urinary bleeding. In fact, the condition is sometimes called jogger’s hematuria. But anyone who works out strenuously can develop symptoms.

Prevention:

It’s generally not possible to prevent hematuria, though there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of some of the diseases that cause it. For instance, drinking plenty of water, urinating when you feel the urge and as soon as possible after intercourse, and avoiding irritating feminine hygiene products may reduce your risk of urinary tract infections. Other prevention strategies include:

  • Kidney stones. To help lower the likelihood of kidney stones, drink lots of water and limit salt, protein, and oxalate-containing foods such as spinach and rhubarb.
  • Bladder cancer. Stopping smoking, avoiding exposure to chemicals, drinking plenty of water, and eating more cabbage and broccoli can cut your risk of bladder cancer.
  • Kidney cancer. To help prevent kidney cancer stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight, up your intake of fruits and vegetables, stay active, and avoid exposure to toxic chemicals.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

.Resources:
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/hematuria/index.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-in-urine/

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In The Throes Of Despair

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A combination of nature and nurture leads to post-traumatic stress disorder, say scientist .Both genetic and environmental factors affect people’s risk of developing post-traumatic stress, says new research that illustrates how nature and nurture combine to shape health and behaviour.

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A particular genetic variant makes people much more susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after harrowing experiences, but only if they have also had an abusive childhood, US scientists have discovered. The findings add to a growing consensus that the debate about whether mental health, personality and behaviour are driven by nature or nurture is founded on a misconception. They indicate strongly that genes and the environment are not mutually exclusive forces, but rather work together to influence human development.

PTSD is a serious anxiety disorder that develops among people who experience unpleasant events, such as war, murders, terrorist attacks or natural disasters. It leads to nightmares, insomnia, flashbacks, mood swings and depression, and can severely impair the ability to live a normal life.

Not everybody who experiences severe trauma develops PTSD, and the risk is known to be influenced by genetics. Studies of twins who served in Vietnam showed that identical pairs, who share all their genes, are more likely both to suffer than are fraternal sets.

Genes, however, do not explain all the variability in people’s risk, and the precise genes and environmental factors that are involved have remained obscure.

A study led by Kerry Ressler, of Emory University in Atlanta, examined the effects of a gene called FKBP5, which is involved in the way the body responds to stress. The DNA code of this gene varies at four points, which allowed the scientists to investigate whether any particular genetic profiles would either raise the risk of PTSD or protect against it.

As PTSD develops only when people have lived through traumatic events, Dr Ressler studied a group of 900 adults who lived in deprived urban communities and were likely to have had violent experiences of the sort that can provoke the disorder.

The participants were also asked to complete a questionnaire that recorded whether they had suffered physical or sexual abuse at a young age. When variations in the FKBP5 gene were examined on their own, the researchers found no effect on PTSD risk. A history of child abuse also made no difference in isolation.

When the two factors were considered together, however, they were found to interact to raise or reduce risk. People with certain variants of FKBP5 were much more likely to develop PTSD after trauma if they had also been abused as children.

“These results are early and will need to be replicated, but they support the hypothesis that combinations of genes and environmental factors affect the risk for stress-related disorders like PTSD,” Dr Ressler said.

“Understanding how gene-environment interactions affect mental health can help us to understand the neuro- biology of these illnesses.”

The results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, follow other studies that have shown how genetic variants interact with environmental factors to affect behaviour or mental health.

A team led by Avshalom Caspi and Terrie Moffitt, of the Institute of Psychiatry, London, has found that a variant of a gene called MAOA predisposes to antisocial behaviour when accompanied by child abuse. Dr Caspi said: “It is part of an emerging body of research that documents not so much that genes cause disease, but rather that genetic differences shape how people respond differently to the same events.”

Sources:THE TIMES, LONDON

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Bell’s Palsy

Other Name: Facial Palsy

Definition:
Bell’s palsy is a paralysis of the facial nerve resulting in inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. Several conditions can cause a facial paralysis, e.g., brain tumor, stroke, and Lyme disease. However, if no specific cause can be identified, the condition is known as Bell’s Palsy. Named after Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who first described it, Bell’s palsy is the most common acute mononeuropathy (disease involving only one nerve), and is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paralysis.

Bell’s palsy is defined as an idiopathic unilateral facial nerve paralysis, usually self-limiting. The trademark is rapid onset of partial or complete palsy, usually in a single day.

It is thought that an inflammatory condition leads to swelling of the facial nerve (nervus facialis). The nerve travels through the skull in a narrow bone canal beneath the ear. Nerve swelling and compression in the narrow bone canal are thought to lead to nerve inhibition, damage or death. No readily identifiable cause for Bell’s palsy has been found, but clinical and experimental evidence suggests herpes simplex type 1 infection may play a role.

Doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory and anti-viral drugs. Early treatment is necessary for the drug therapy to have effect. The effect of treatment is still controversial. Most people recover spontaneously and achieve near-normal functions. Many show signs of improvement as early as 10 days after the onset, even without treatment.

Often the eye in the affected side cannot be closed. The eye must be protected from drying up, or the cornea may be permanently damaged resulting in impaired vision.

For many people, the first guess would be a stroke. But if your muscle weakness or paralysis affects only your face, a more likely cause is Bell’s palsy.

Each year, about 40,000 Americans develop Bell’s palsy, a condition that occurs when the nerve that controls the facial muscles becomes swollen or compressed. The problem can occur at any age, but rarely affects people under the age of 15 or over the age of 60.

For most people, Bell’s palsy symptoms begin to improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery within three to six months. Between 8 percent and 10 percent will experience a recurrence of the signs and symptoms, sometimes on the opposite side of the face. And a small number of people never recover and continue to have some signs and symptoms for life.

Investigation:
Bell’s palsy (or facial palsy) is characterized by facial drooping on the affected half, due to malfunction of the facial nerve (VII cranial nerve), which controls the muscles of the face. Facial palsy is typified by inability to control movement in the facial muscles. The paralysis is of the infranuclear/lower motor neuron type.

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Click to learn more about Bell’s Polsy ( Facial nerve & how it works etc.)

The facial nerves control a number of functions, such as blinking and closing the eyes, smiling, frowning, lacrimation, and salivation. They also innervate the stapedial (stapes) muscles of the middle ear and carry taste sensations from the anterior two thirds of the tongue.

Clinicians should determine whether all branches of the facial nerve are involved, or whether the forehead muscles are spared. Since forehead muscles receive innervation from both sides of the brain, the forehead can still be wrinkled by a patient whose facial palsy is caused by a problem in the brain (central facial palsy) but not if the problems resides in the facial nerve itself (peripheral palsy).

One disease that may be difficult to exclude in the differential diagnosis is involvement of the facial nerve in infections with the herpes zoster virus. The major differences in this condition are the presence of small blisters, or vesicles, of the external ear and hearing disturbances, but these findings may occasionally be lacking (zoster sine herpete).

Lyme disease may produce the typical palsy, and may be easily diagnosed by looking for Lyme-specific antibodies in the blood. In endemic areas Lyme disease may be the most common cause of facial palsy.
Signs and symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of Bell’s palsy may include:

*Sudden onset of paralysis or weakness on one side of your face, making it difficult to smile or close your eye on the affected side

*Facial droop and difficulty with facial expressions

*Pain behind or in front of your ear on the affected side

*Sounds that seem louder on the affected side

*Pain, usually in the ear on the affected side

*Headache

*Loss of taste

*Changes in the amount of tears and saliva your body produces

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Other symptoms are:
Although defined as a mononeuritis (involving only one nerve), patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy may have “myriad neurological symptoms” including “facial tingling, moderate or severe headache/neck pain, memory problems, balance problems, ipsilateral limb paresthesias, ipsilateral limb weakness, and a sense of clumsiness” that are “unexplained by facial nerve dysfunction”. This is yet an enigmatic facet of this condition.

Causes:
It is thought that as a result of inflammation of the facial nerve, pressure is produced on the nerve where it exits the skull within its bony canal, blocking the transmission of neural signals or damaging the nerve. Patients with facial palsy for which an underlying cause can be found are not considered to have Bell’s palsy per se. Possible causes include tumor, meningitis, stroke, diabetes mellitus, head trauma and inflammatory diseases of the cranial nerves (sarcoidosis, brucellosis, etc.). In these conditions, the neurologic findings are rarely restricted to the facial nerve. Babies can be born with facial palsy, and they exhibit many of the same symptoms as people with Bell’s palsy; this is often due to a traumatic birth which causes irreparable damage to the facial nerve, i.e. acute facial nerve paralysis.

In some research the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was identified in a majority of cases diagnosed as Bell’s palsy. This has given hope for anti-inflammatory and anti-viral drug therapy (prednisone and acyclovir). Other research[3] however, identifies HSV-1 in only 31 cases (18 percent), herpes zoster (zoster sine herpete) in 45 cases (26 percent) in a total of 176 cases clinically diagnosed as Bell’s Palsy,. That infection with herpes simplex virus should play a major role in cases diagnosed as Bell’s palsy therefore remains a hypothesis that requires further research.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is associated with demyelination of nerves. This nerve damage mechanism is different from the above mentioned – that oedema, swelling and compression of the nerve in the narrow bone canal is responsible for nerve damage. Demyelination may not even be directly caused by the virus, but by an unknown immune system response. The quote below captures this hypothesis and the implication for other types of treatment:

It is also possible that HSV-1 replication itself is not responsible for the damage to the facial nerves and that inhibition of HSV-1 replication by acyclovir does not prevent the progression of nerve dysfunction. Because the demyelination of facial nerves caused by HSV-1 reactivation, via an unknown immune response, is implicated in the pathogenesis of HSV-1-induced facial palsy, a new strategy of treatment to inhibit such an immune reaction may be effective.

Virus reactivation
Some viruses are thought to establish a persistent (or latent) infection without symptoms, e.g. Epstein-Barr virus of the herpes family. Reactivation of an existing (dormant) viral infection has been suggested as cause behind the acute Bell’s palsy. Studies suggest that this new activation could be preceded by trauma, environmental factors, and metabolic or emotional disorders, thus suggesting that stress – emotional stress, environmental stress (e.g. cold), physical stress (e.g. trauma) – in short, a host of different conditions, may trigger reactivation.

Smile with Bell’s palsy..

The most common cause of Bell’s palsy appears to be the herpes simplex virus, which also causes cold sores and genital herpes. Other viruses that have been linked to Bell’s palsy include the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster), the virus that causes mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr), and another virus in the same family (cytomegalovirus).

Diagnosis:
There is no specific laboratory test to confirm a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy. Your doctor may be able to make a preliminary diagnosis of Bell’s palsy by looking at your face and asking you to try to move your facial muscles.

Other conditions — such as a stroke, infections and tumors — also may cause facial muscle weakness, mimicking Bell’s palsy. If after a few days there’s still doubt about the diagnosis, your doctor may recommend other tests:

Electromyography (EMG). This test can confirm the presence of nerve damage and determine its severity. An EMG measures the electrical activity of a muscle in response to stimulation and the nature and speed of the conduction of electrical impulses along a nerve.
Imaging scans. An X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) may be needed on occasion to eliminate other possible sources of pressure on the facial nerve, such as an infection, tumor or skull fracture.

Bell’s palsy is a diagnosis of exclusion; by elimination of other reasonable possibilities. Therefore, by definition, no specific cause can be ascertained. Bell’s palsy is commonly referred to as idiopathic or cryptogenic, meaning that it is due to unknown causes. Being a residual diagnostic category, the Bell’s Palsy diagnosis likely spans different conditions which our current level of medical knowledge cannot distinguish. This may inject fundamental uncertainty into the discussion below of etiology, treatment options, recovery patterns etc. See also the section below on Other symptoms. Studies[1] show that a large number of patients (45%) are not referred to a specialist, which suggests that Bell’s palsy is considered by physicians to be a straightforward diagnosis that is easy to manage. A significant number of cases are misdiagnosed (ibid.). This is unsurprising from a diagnosis of exclusion, which depends on a thorough investigation.

Treatment:
Most people with Bell’s palsy recover fully — with or without treatment. But your doctor may suggest medications or physical therapy to help speed your recovery. Surgery is rarely an option for Bell’s palsy.

Treatment is a matter of controversy. In patients presenting with incomplete facial palsy, where the prognosis for recovery is very good, treatment may be unnecessary. However, patients presenting with complete paralysis, marked by an inability to close the eyes and mouth on the involved side, are usually treated with anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. Prednisolone, a corticosteroid, if used early in treatment of Bell’s palsy, significantly improves the chances of complete recovery at 3 and 9 months when compared to treatment with acyclovir, an anti-viral drug, or no treatment at all. The likely association of Bell’s palsy with the herpes virus has led most American neurologists to prescribe a course of anti-viral medication (such as acyclovir) to all patients with unexplained facial palsy, although a large study showed no additional benefit from acyclovir beyond that from prednisolone alone. Surgical procedures to decompress the facial nerve have been attempted, but have not been proven beneficial. Acupuncture has also been studied, with inconclusive results.

A practice parameter from the American Academy of Neurology states that “corticosteroids are safe and probably effective, and that acyclovir is safe and possibly effective”. Early treatment (ie, within 3 days after the onset) is necessary for acyclovir-prednisone therapy to be effective. If the patient presents 10 days after the onset of symptoms, no drug treatment is necessary. (ibid.)

Medications:
Study results have been mixed regarding the effectiveness of two types of drugs commonly used to treat Bell’s palsy — corticosteroids and antiviral medications.

Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. If they can reduce the swelling of the facial nerve, it will fit more comfortably within the bony corridor that surrounds it. If Bell’s palsy is triggered by a virus, then an antiviral drug — such as acyclovir or valacyclovir — may stop the progression of the viral infection.

Some clinical studies show benefit from early treatment with corticosteroids, antivirals or a combination of both types of drugs. Other studies do not. Evidence of the effectiveness of corticosteroids appears to be stronger than that for antiviral drugs.

Physical therapy :
Paralyzed muscles can shrink and shorten, causing permanent contractures. Massaging and exercising your facial muscles may help prevent this from occurring. Moist heat may help relieve pain.

Alternative medication:

Some people with Bell’s palsy may benefit from:

*Relaxation techniques
*Acupuncture
*Biofeedback training
*Vitamin therapy — specifically B-12, B-6 and zinc
*In traditional Chinese medicine, Bell’s palsy is attributed to a “wind cold” attack brought about by exposure to wind.

Recovery:
Even without any treatment, Bell’s palsy tends to carry a good prognosis. In a study of 1,011 patients, 85% showed first signs of recovery within 3 weeks after onset. For the other 15%, recovery occurred 3–6 months later. After a follow-up of at least 1 year or until restoration, complete recovery had occurred in more than two thirds (71%) of all patients. Recovery was judged moderate in 12% and poor in only 4% of patients. Another study finds that incomplete palsies disappear entirely, nearly always in the course of one month. The patients who regain movement within the first two weeks nearly always remit entirely. When remission does not occur until the third week or later, a significantly greater part of the patients develop sequelae. A third study found a better prognosis for young patients, aged below 10 years old, while the patients over 61 years old presented a worse prognosis.

Self-care:
If you can’t close your eye, you’ll need to keep the eye moist with hourly eyedrops during the day and an eye ointment at night. If the clear protective covering of the eye — called the cornea — becomes too dry, it can cause permanent vision loss. Your doctor may want you to wear glasses or goggles during the day and an eye patch at night to protect your eye from getting poked or scratched.

Complications:
Major complications of the condition are chronic loss of taste (ageusia), chronic facial spasm and corneal infections. To prevent the latter, the eyes may be protected by covers, or taped shut during sleep and for rest periods, and tear-like eye drops or eye ointments may be recommended, especially for cases with complete paralysis. Where the eye does not close completely, the reflex is also affected; great care should be taken to protect the eye from injury.

Another complication can occur in case of incomplete or erroneous regeneration of the damaged facial nerve. The nerve can be thought of as a bundle of smaller individual nerve connections which branch out to their proper destinations. During regrowth, nerves are generally able to track the original path to the right destination – but some nerves may sidetrack leading to a condition known as synkinesis. For instance, regrowth of nerves controlling muscles attached to the eye may sidetrack and also regrow connections reaching the muscles of the mouth. In this way, movement of one also affects the other. For example, when the person closes the eye, the corner of the mouth lifts involuntarily.

In addition, around 6% of patients exhibit crocodile tear syndrome on recovery, where they will shed tears while eating. This is thought to be due to faulty regeneration of the facial nerve, a branch of which controls the lacrimal and salivary glands.

Click to learn how to do facial exercise

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell’s_palsy
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bells-palsy/

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Wheeze ‘Link’ to Baby Milk Powder

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Prolonged exposure to baby milk powder increases the risk of breathing problems, including wheezing and breathlessness, a study has found.

Only people who deal with large quantities of powder are at risk

It looked at 170 Thai factory workers who made the powder, but the team from University of Birmingham says the risk could also apply to nannies.

Mothers and babies are safe, because they have relatively little exposure.

But the study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, says at-risk workers should be monitored.

It is already known that consuming milk powder can lead to the development of an allergy if a child has an intolerance to cow’s milk but the potential risks of inhaling milk powder have never before been studied.

In this research, a team from the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the University of Birmingham and Thailand’s Mahidol University looked at just under 170 workers in a Thai baby milk factory.

The factory had high hygiene standards, and concentrations of milk powder dust were relatively low.

The majority – 130 – were directly involved in manufacturing and packaging baby milk. Another 22 were responsible for adding vitamins to the milk and 15 were quality controllers.

The researchers compared these workers’ health with that of 76 office workers using a questionnaire and lung function tests.

Baking link

Twice as many people who worked with milk powder had symptoms, with 24% experiencing wheezing and 33% having breathlessness compared to 12% and 16% of the office workers.

The difference remained even when the researchers took other factors, such as smoking, into account.

Lung function tests also showed a significant reduction in how strongly milk powder workers were able to breath out.

Those working with the powder were also found to be twice as likely to have had asthma.

The researchers, led by Dr Maritta Jaakkola, say the results suggest the workers are hyper-sensitive to the powder, rather than simply irritated by it.

Dr Jaakkola said: “The effects of inhaled milk powder are relevant for occupational settings, so workers with such exposure should be protected as much as possible using exposure control measures, such as wearing latex gloves.

“They should also have regular check-ups of their respiratory health.

“Nannies, and bakers, both groups who are exposed to milk powder during their working life, may also benefit from respiratory tests.”

But Leanne Male, assistant director of research at Asthma UK said the levels of powder a person would need to be exposed to in order to suffer breathing problems would have to be high, and reassured mothers they would not be affected.

Ms Male said the risk was highest for people who manufactured the powder.

She added: “This research highlights the dangers of occupational asthma and the need for employers to recognise potential triggers in the workplace.”

“Nannies, and bakers, both groups who are exposed to milk powder during their working life, may also benefit from respiratory tests”. says Dr Maritta Jaakkola, University of Birmingham

“This research highlights the dangers of occupational asthma and the need for employers to recognise potential triggers in the workplace” says Leanne Male, Asthma UK

Click to see also:->
Milk allergy in babies ‘missed’
Fat-fighting baby milk criticised
Cleaning products ‘wheezing link’

Sources: BBC NEWS:25Th. March.’08

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Health Quaries

Some Health Questions And Answers

 

Q: I have been losing hair at an alarming rate. I do not want to become bald, as girls don’t seem to like bald men. Please help.

BALD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf

A: Two out of three men become bald by the time they are 50. People normally lose 50-100 strands of hair a day. The loss become obvious when the hair lost is not replaced and 25 per cent of the hair is gone. This may be due to a medical disorder, fungal infection or mineral or vitamin deficiency. A physician will be able to diagnose the problem. These causes are potentially reversible and need to be ruled out and tackled first.

Otherwise, changing your hairstyle, cutting your hair short or wearing a well-fitted hairpiece may help. If you are looking for a more permanent long-term solution, medications like minoxidil or finasteride can be used. Medications take months to act and have to be taken long term. They also have potential side effects. Hair transplant surgery or scalp flap surgery is also popular. Perhaps you could try the Yul Brynner or Andre Agassi look; many women find them attractive.

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TB on fingertip :-

Q: I have stiffening of a fingertip. After removing a piece of it, the doctor says it is tuberculosis. Can this be true?

A: TB can occur anywhere and is a great imitator of other diseases. If the doctor has removed a piece of it, it probably means he has done a biopsy. The diagnosis is, therefore, reliable. TB is curable, provided you strictly follow the guidelines for treatment. Also, since the disease is confined to your finger, you are not potentially infectious to others.

Night cough :-

Q: My daughter coughs all the time at night. Her nose is also blocked and she is unable to breathe freely. She cannot sleep and neither can we. We have taken her to many doctors and all her tests are normal.

A: Since your daughter does not seem to cough at all during the day even when she is active, it probably means there is something in the room triggering the paroxysms of cough.

Perhaps you could:

Stop using allergens like room fresheners and vapourising mosquito repellents

Not allow anyone to smoke in the house

Vacuum the house regularly

Avoid cotton mattresses.

Also try giving a steam inhalation the last thing at night in addition to her present medications.

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Hepatitis B :-

Q: I developed jaundice six months ago. Now I am Hepatitis B positive. My liver functions are normal. I am 32.

A: Hepatitis B is caused by a virus against which immunisation is available. Unfortunately, you seemed to have missed it.

Hepatitis B can be transmitted by sexual intercourse. If you are sexually active, and your partner is negative, it is important that she or he be immunised immediately. Please use a condom to prevent transmission of the infection. If you have children please check their immunisation status. It would be advisable for you to check your liver functions regularly once a year to ensure there is no deterioration.

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Hysterectomy :-

Q: I have been advised a hysterectomy. Will it have any side effects? I am 32.

A: As you are a younger woman, with many years left before you attain natural menopause, your doctor must have considered all options before advising you to have the surgery. A hysterectomy alone without an oopherectomy means that the ovaries will be left behind to produce the necessary protective hormones. They will work for some years.

You definitely need to take calcium supplements. In case of side effects like hot flushes or dyspareunia (painful intercourse), they can be tackled if and when they occur.

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Burning sensation :-

Q: I have a burning sensation while passing urine. Please help.

A: This may be a symptom of lower urinary tract infection (in the bladder). You could check your urine and see if there is an infection. Sometimes this occurs because of not drinking enough water, especially in summer. Also, girls sometimes restrain themselves from passing urine as the circumstances are not conducive.

You should always:

Drink at least three litres of water a day

Pass urine before travelling and after reaching the destination

Pass urine during your lunch break. Do not try to wait till you reach home

Pass urine before and after intercourse.

Sources: The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)

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