Diabetes is a chronic illness that is characterized by abnormally high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The clinical name is diabetes illness and it is categorized as a metabolic disease.
Here is an overview of diabetes—causes, diagnosis, and symptoms.
The blood glucose levels are controlled by insulin, which is released by the pancreas. Diabetes is caused by insufficient levels of insulin, defective insulin, or when the body is not able to use it properly. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
The inability of the body to use the insulin efficiently affects cells of fat and muscle tissues mostly. This condition is known as the insulin resistance and is one of the main health issues associated with Type 2 diabetes.
In cases where there is no insulin being produced in the body is the problem that characterizes Type 1 diabetes.
The symptoms of diabetes occur when there are abnormal sugar levels in the blood. However, it is to be noted that the symptoms may vary from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms of diabetes are as follows-
Some of the risk factors that increase the risk of a person getting diabetes include obesity, high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides or bad cholesterol, low levels of good cholesterol or HDL, history of diabetes in the family, lifestyle choices, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose tolerance.
Doctors may ask individuals showing symptoms of diabetes to undergo a fasting blood sugar test. It is an easy and convenient test. The test requires the person to fast for eight hours prior to it. The normal sugar levels in the blood are supposed to be lower than 100 milligrams per deciliter. If the levels are higher than 126 milligrams per deciliter at more than two occasions, it is an indication of diabetes.
Apart from the fasting blood sugar test, there is also a random blood sugar test used by the doctor that may help to diagnose diabetes. When the blood glucose level is 200 milligrams per deciliter, it is an indication of diabetes.
If you feel that your body is showing signs of diabetes, then you may want to get an appointment with a doctor to diagnose your condition. Your doctor may ask you to undergo some tests. Make sure you ask your doctor what preparations you need to make before these tests. This information may be important for you when the doctor has asked to take a fasting blood test. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight management can help you in controlling blood sugar levels and keeping diabetes at bay. It is important to take care of yourself at all times and prevent such diseases. Make healthy choices when it comes to food and start exercising to avoid the causes of diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness that is characterized by abnormal blood glucose or sugar levels. The abnormal levels occur due to the insufficient, defective, or no production of insulin in the body. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and help in regulating the blood sugar levels.
There are two types of diabetes. The first one is diabetes type 1, which is characterized by defective or insufficient insulin in the body and the second one is diabetes type 2, in which the body develops an insulin resistance. Insulin therapy, which involves injecting insulin into the body, is mostly recommended for people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes patients may also opt for the treatment when all other methods to regulate blood glucose levels do not help.
The insulin used as a part of the insulin therapy is of different types. It varies in terms of how immediate the effect is and for how long the effect stays. There are also different ways of injecting the insulin. Here is a diabetes guide on how to inject and use insulin.
The needle and injection have come a long way and now injecting insulin into one’s body is not as painful as it used to be. However, it may not be so pleasant for patients who are absolutely terrified of needles. The insulin can be injected using injections, insulin pens, or insulin pumps for those who need insulin continuously pumped into their body.
If you have diabetes and have been advised by the doctor to undergo insulin therapy, then there are certain lifestyle changes you may need to make. Even if you do not need insulin therapy, there is still a need for such changes for patients with diabetes. Some of these changes are:
Apart from these changes, patients should ensure that a strict insulin regimen is followed to avoid any complications arising from diabetes. Ensure that you always have an insulin kit ready. This kit should include an insulin pen/syringe, ample insulin doses, a new pen/syringe and cotton or tissue. It is also a good idea to let the people you work with or live with know where the kit is kept in the home or office.
The insulin is supposed to be injected into the fat layer beneath the skin. The abdomen is the most commonly injected site in insulin therapies. However, if the abdomen is not suitable, patients may inject the insulin in other parts like upper arms, upper buttocks, and on the outer thigh as well. All these areas have ample fat to absorb the insulin. Not just that, it is less painful to inject in these areas as there are not many nerve endings present.
Before you start injecting yourself with the insulin, make sure you understand all the dos and don’ts of the regime. It is beneficial to consult a doctor as they may advise you about which area would be more suitable for the injection.
An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to certain substances (allergens). There are different kinds of allergies and some of the common allergies include allergic rhinitis, atopic eczema, asthma, and food allergies, among the others. The symptoms for every allergy are different and the degree of it, too, varies from being very mild to sometimes being life threatening.
Thanks to the advancement in technology, there are several treatment options that help in tackling allergies and their adverse reactions. The treatment options for common allergies are determined to keep in mind the medical history and the severity of the allergies in the person over the years.
These treatment options for common allergies are of three types: avoiding the allergens all together, oral and injectable medicines, and/or immunotherapy.
To avoid the allergens, the allergic person may need to cut off all sources of allergens at home and even at their workplaces, if possible. Washing out one’s nose daily can also help curb the effects of any airborne allergies. This can be done with saline or distilled water using a neti pot. This initially may seem like a hard task and may need supervision.
Some of the medicinal treatment options for common allergies include-
These are ideal for controlling the production of histamines. Histamine is what causes runny noses, runny eyes, or itching eyes as allergic reactions. These are available as nasal and eye drops.
These are nasal sprays that are effective in taking care of allergic reactions that cause swelling in the nasal airways. It reduces the swelling and helps relieve reactions like an itchy nose or nasal congestion.
Oral corticosteroids are used to control severe allergic reactions. These corticosteroids are available on prescriptions and need to be taken only as per the doctor’s advice. The intake of oral corticosteroids should be carefully monitored as they are known to have serious side effects.
Antihistamines help in taking care of histamine-related allergic reactions. These reactions can cause a runny and itchy nose, sneezing, and hives. These allergic reactions are mostly caused by indoor or seasonal allergens. These are available in various forms like pills, sprays, liquids or as melting pills.
Decongestants are easily available over-the-counter anti-allergic solutions that help relieve an allergy-related nasal congestion. However, these need to be used carefully as using them for a continued period, for a long time can cause more nasal swelling and congestion.
This is one of the fast treatments available for keeping life-threatening allergy reactions from alleviating. These are available in injection pens, which the person with an allergy can use it by himself. The epinephrine needs to be administered as soon as the first signs of an allergic reaction are noticed.
The above mentioned treatments are only some of the remedies and may not help all kinds of allergic reaction. One can always get one of the allergy tests available in hospitals done to find out any substance he/she may be allergic to.
An allergy is the reaction of the human immune system to a foreign substance (allergens). This substance may be harmless to most people. These allergic reactions vary from person to person and according to the allergen as well. These symptoms may be anything from mild to life-threatening. If you are suffering from any allergy, then you should be aware of the signs and symptoms of common allergies. With the advancement of technology, there are several prevention and treatment options available to tackle allergies.
The allergies are of different categories like a food allergy, pollen allergy, or a drug allergy. Here are some of the common allergies and the signs and symptoms of common allergies.
This is one of the very common allergies. Asthma is characterized by swollen and inflamed airways interiorly in the lungs. This inflammation is always present in some degree in the lungs and may be aggravated when the person comes in contact with the allergen in some way or the other. Some of the symptoms of asthma include coughing, shortness of breath, feeling of tightness in the chest, and wheezing. People with asthma may not be able to enjoy all sorts of physical activities to the fullest as these may be limited by the symptoms mentioned above.
Eczema is a condition characterized by itchy skin rash, which may form patches made up of small pink blisters or bumps. There are different types of eczema and the cause for only some of this is known. When there is an allergic reaction due to any external allergen, it is called dermatitis. Atopic eczema is very common in children, hence it is also known as infantile eczema. This allergy may also be affected by any other allergies like hay fever in the body. Some other symptoms apart from the rashes and pink bumps include dryness, flaky skin at the affected areas, skin peeling, fissures, and redness among the common ones.
This condition is characterized by the inflamed lining of the nose. Some of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy nose, and runny nose, among the others. Some of the allergens include dust mites, cats, dogs, and molds. Apart from these allergens that can affect any time of the year, there are also seasonal allergens like hay fever that can aggravate allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis may also lead to other problems like sinus and earaches.
The allergens for this category of allergy may differ from person to person and may include things like milk and nuts, among the others. Food allergy is a food hypersensitivity reaction. However, all food hypersensitivity reactions are not food allergies. Only those that affect the immune system are categorized as food allergy, the rest fall into the category of food intolerances.
While a person may develop allergies at any time in his life, most of the allergies start in the childhood itself. Staying away from the allergen as much as possible is the best way to avoid allergies. Keeping an anti-allergen handy is also important to avoid any adverse allergic reaction. Once you are aware of the signs and symptoms of common allergies, make sure you consult the doctor so that the effects of the allergies do not worsen the situation.
Nasal and chest congestion can be caused by cold, allergies, and a number of other factors. Nasal congestion is the blocking of the nasal passages when the interior membrane lining of the nose develop swelling from inflamed blood vessels. In chest congestion, the mucosa or the mucous membranes lining the airways is accumulated with fluids and mucus. It is a common symptom of many respiratory infections.
Here are some of the common causes of congestion-
When it comes to nasal congestion, some of the common causes of congestion are cold, flu, and rhinitis. Rhinitis may be of two kinds: the allergic one and the non-allergic one and both can cause nasal congestion. Allergic rhinitis can be caused due to the change of seasons and the most common allergen that can cause this is pollen. Other allergens responsible for allergic rhinitis include dust mites, animal dander, and cat saliva. In the common symptoms of cold vs. allergies, nasal congestion tops the list.
Colds are also a very common health issue that can cause nasal congestion. Unlike rhinitis, cold is a communicable health issue and may also present flu-like symptoms. Flu and colds are often confused as one as they both present similar signs and symptoms. They are both respiratory health problems but are caused by two different viruses. The common symptoms of the two include nasal congestion, sneezing, body aches, and fatigue. Colds are less severe and do not cause other health problems whereas the flu can cause other illnesses like pneumonia, sinus, ear infections, and sepsis. You can effectively treat these only when you know the common causes of congestion.
Here are some remedies that you may use for getting relief from nasal congestion:
If the nasal congestion continues to bother you for a long time, it is advisable to see a doctor and understand what is causing it. When opting for anti-allergens or over-the-counter sprays or pills for relieving nasal congestion, make sure you use them in limited quantities to avoid any further allergic reactions from these medicines. It is best to seek advice from a doctor and then only opt for the best-suited treatment. Understand the common causes of congestion before getting a treatment.
When cells in the chest grow and multiply abnormally and spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body, it is identified as breast cancer. These cancerous cells, by multiplying, form a malignant tumor within the breast. Breast cancer goes unnoticed in the initial stage and is discovered at a later stage when a big lump or continuous tenderness is noticed.
People with breast cancer have more chances of survival if the disease is detected at an earlier stage. The first step for curing this condition, or preventing further damage, is to diagnose it as soon as possible. Before you take any treatment, it is necessary to understand how diagnosing and breast cancer staging works. Here is the complete process of diagnosing breast cancer.
The first step is undergoing a complete checkup. The doctor checks for any lumps in both breasts and lymph nodes present the armpits.
A mammogram is an X-ray procedure to screen the problematic area in the breast. This is most commonly used to detect any abnormality, which can help doctors decide upon the treatment after diagnosing breast cancer.
During the mammogram, if any abnormality is found, an ultrasound can help the doctor understand whether this abnormality is solid or fluid-filled.
An MRI gives a detailed image of the affected body part through strong magnetic rays. An MRI does not use X-rays or any other radiation, but requires an injection of a contrast agent inserted into the veins.
Biopsy is a way to sample or check the abnormal area for diagnosis. Based on reports from the X-ray, mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, the doctor uses a specialized needle to sample the affected area. This is often referred to as core needle biopsy.
Staging of breast cancer helps doctors determine the required treatment and understand the stage to which the cancer has progressed. The stages of breast cancer are determined on three factors, namely the size of the tumor, the number and location of lymph nodes affected, and whether cancer has spread to any other part of the body (also called metastases). Here are the four stages of breast cancer.
At this stage, the cancer cells are confined to a small or limited area. This is the earliest stage when breast cancer develops.
The second stage of cancer is still at an early stage with the difference being that the cancer cells have begun to grow and spread. Breast cancer treatment can be effective even at this stage.
At this advanced stage, one cannot ignore the fact that the cancer cells have advanced and spread to surrounding tissues near the breast.
This is the last stage, where cancer has moved to other organs, including skin, bones, lungs, liver, distant lymph nodes, and even the brain. This stage is also called as metastatic breast cancer.
After proper diagnosing and breast cancer staging, the doctor determines further treatment such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation to treat the disease.
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Normally, one does not know when abnormal breast cancer cells spread and multiply, until one notices a lump near the breast or the armpits. Breast cancer needs accurate diagnosing depending on which stage this disease has progressed; thereafter, the treatment options can be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Breast cancer passes through different stages to spread in the body. Stages 1 and 2 are the earliest and can be easily diagnosed with any surgical intervention. Stages 3 and 4 are the later and advanced stages of breast cancer that need treatment as advised by the doctor. There are several breast cancer treatment options available that can be determined by the biology of the tumor, the stage at which cancer has progressed, patient’s overall health and medical issues, and lastly, the patient’s personal preference. Common breast cancer treatment options are as follows.
Under this treatment, the doctors treat the tumor locally meaning without affecting any other part of the body other than the breast. The methods used for local treatments are surgery and radiation therapy. Surgery involves removal of tumor and also examines the axillary lymph nodes location. There are two types of surgery:
This surgical procedure involves removal of tumor and a small part of healthy tissue that is free from cancer.
This procedure involves the surgical removal of entire affected breast.
This treatment is basically used to eliminate cancer cells that have spread to other parts of body. Systemic therapy is a drug therapy induced either by orally through pill or by vein. Depending on the stage of the breast cancer, the therapies suggested are as follows.
This therapy involves treating cancer with medication. The oncologist uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, hair loss, and loss of appetite.
Oncologists suggest this hormone or endocrine therapy for tumors that test positive for estrogen or progesterone receptors. Hormonal therapy is given before the surgery for shrinking tumor.
In this therapy, cancer-specific genes, proteins or tissues are targeted, which are responsible for cancer growth and survival. Without damaging the healthy cells, targeted therapy blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Breast cancer treatment options vary from patient to patient. Surgery is needed at any point to remove the tumor. Whether one goes for local or systematic treatment, the specialist has to determine tumor stage, grade, hormone receptor status, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. Along with that, medical condition history and age of the patient are considered before starting the treatment.
Cancer cells are notorious for recurrence. After one has evaluated all breast cancer treatment options, one needs to take care after procedures and have regular follow-ups with the doctor. Checkups include neck, armpit, chest, and breast area examination. To prevent any new cancer cells from recurring, regular mammograms are necessary. Eating healthy diet before and after treatment is of utmost necessity for proper response to the treatment.
People suffering from asthma face severe difficulty breathing or experience chronic coughs when they have asthma attacks. Our breathing tubes make us easier to breathe, but when these breathing tubes inflame, it causes coughing and excess mucus in the airways cause a severe condition called asthma.
Each case is different in asthma. For some, allergen trigger, whereas for some, pollutants and pets trigger asthma.
Regular medications such as corticosteroid inhalers and anti-inflammatory pills are the constant companion of an asthma patient. Allergies are the worst enemy of asthma. Whether you have mild or severe asthma, proper diagnosis and treatment are necessary to curb and prevent the worsening of the condition. When you notice symptoms like shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, wheezing or constant coughing that’s when one needs to be treated for asthma.
Treatment options for chronic and severe asthma vary from the assessment of each case. Asthma is classified into a mild, moderate, or severe category. The severity of the case is determined by:
After conducting tests and understanding your medical history and your breathing patterns, the doctor decides on the treatment that works as per your blood tests and X-ray reports. Treatment options for chronic and severe asthma include devices for measurement of breathing patterns.
This device is used to assess how much amount of air, an asthma patient can exhale and breathe out forcefully. A spirometer is an effective tool to gauge the functioning of lungs, breathing forcefully, especially during an attack, can worsen the condition.
Using peak flow meter, doctors monitor how forcefully one can breathe out in an event of an asthma attack. Peak flow meter is most commonly used for asthma patients. It gives an accurate idea to the doctors to find the right cause of asthma.
This device is used to measure the oxygen in your bloodstream by placing it on the fingertip.
After asthma and its cause have been detected, medication and treatment options start under the monitoring of your healthcare provider.
This is a long-term medication, which has to be taken irrespective of whether symptoms exists or not. This medication helps to control any inflammation in the lungs that can cause airway blockage.
Rescue medication is a backup medication, in case of a severe asthma attack. Normally, administered as a short-term medication, this treatment is taken only in case of emergency.
Inhalers work best in case of any symptoms of asthma flare-up and can provide immediate relief. There is one more alternative treatment option for chronic and severe asthma called bronchial thermoplasty.
Bronchial thermoplasty is not recommended for everyone. It happens in rare cases, where asthma is very severe and when inhaled corticosteroids and other long-term medications fail. This treatment makes breathing easy with the help of electrode by heating the insides of airways, thereby making a smooth passage for breathing.
`Breast Cancer’ the term itself invokes anxiety, stress, and panic among people, to the extent that people even shudder just at the thought of it. Cancer in any way is life-threatening, if not diagnosed early with timely intervention. Breast cancers, in general, may also be hereditary or genetic. This occurs due to some abnormal genes that are present in parents and are passed down from parent to the child.
There is a lot of awareness surrounding breast cancer thanks to pink ribbon campaigns. More and more people are getting better treatment and hence the chances of survival are higher. Though people with family history of breast cancer are more susceptible, research has shown that even with a non-family medical history, anyone can develop breast cancer.
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the second most common disease in the country. Here is a breast cancer overview, with types, statistics, prevention and symptoms relating to this disease.
When the genetic framework of cells changes and they begin to multiply uncontrollably, one develops breast cancer. It begins as a small lump or as a calcium deposit in the breast tissue.
There are many forms of breast cancer, of which the common types are invasive ductal carcinoma, non-invasive (ductal carcinoma in situ), and invasive lobular carcinoma.
Carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. The affected breast cells determine the type of cancer a person carries. Though ductal carcinoma is non-invasive, the abnormal cells in the milk duct develop into invasive as the cancer spreads. Invasive breast cancer spreads from either the milk duct or the lobules.
As per recent studies, approximately 2,66,120 more people are victims of invasive breast cancer, and 63,960 more cases are found of non-invasive breast cancer. In around 85 percent of the cases, most patients develop cancer due to genetic mutation and aging factors.
If you want to keep breast cancer at bay, your first step should be making some basic lifestyle changes. Practicing healthy habits can lower the risk of breast cancer. Here are some changes that go a long way in preventing breast cancer.
Smoking affects the overall health of a person. Excessive smoking can have adverse effects on breast cancer development and treatment.
Obesity or excess weight is directly linked to breast cancer. Being physically active and exercising daily can help you to control your weight.
The healthy diet includes legumes, nuts, and leafy vegetables which can significantly lower the risk associated with breast cancer.
The early symptoms of breast cancer may be unclear, or even absent in some cases. There may be a noticeable lump in the breast or underarm that appears as cancer spreads. These lumps can be easily ignored or go unnoticed, but one cannot ignore tenderness or swelling in the breast area, which can be easily identified as the first symptom of breast cancer.
