Archive for June, 2010

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All About Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Comments: 0June 12th, 2010 by admin



Hodgkin’s lymphoma or Hodgkin’s disease is a rare for of cancer which is characterized by orderly growth of malignant cells of the lymphatic system. Described for the first time by Thomas Hodgkin in 1832, this disease primarily affects the lymph nodes and later spreads to other parts of the lymphatic system.

The most significant characteristic of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is presence of malignant B-cells with unique characteristics. These cells are called as Reed-Sternberg cells. Hodgkin’s lymphoma mainly occurs in individuals with depleted immune system and persons infected with viruses including HIV, Epstein-Barr virus and HTLV-I. Epidemiology of this disease is unique. The frequency of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is predominant in two separate age groups. These include individuals between 15-35 years of age and individuals above 55 years of age.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is primarily classified into classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (CHL), nodular sclerosis (NS), lymphocyte predominance (LP), mixed cellularity (MC), Lymphocyte depleted (LD) and nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NLPHL) depending on the Reed-Sternberg cell morphology. The most common symptom of Hodgkin’s disease is swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck and chest. Other noticeable symptoms include enlarged spleen, swollen liver, fever, excessive sweating, fatigue, abnormal weight loss and itchy skin. The disease could be medically diagnosed through microscopical examination of Reed-Sternberg cells during biopsy. Other diagnostic methods include physical examination, chest X-rays, blood cell counts, and CT scan and MRI scan of the lymphatic system, PET scanning, gallium scanning and bone marrow aspiration.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the first cancers to have been cured using radiation therapy. Other therapeutic approaches include chemotherapy, bone marrow and peripheral blood transplantation and immunotherapy. The common chemotherapeutic regimens followed for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma include ABVD (Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarabzine), BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone), COPP/ABVD, MOPP (mechlorethamine, oncovin, procarbazine, prednisone) and Stanford V.

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Posted in leukimia

5 Answers to the Most Common Questions About Smoke Cessation

Comments: 0June 11th, 2010 by admin



What happens to your weight when you quit smoking?

Answer:
Nicotine in cigarette smoke means that your metabolism is a bit inflated. Most will gain up to 4-5 pounds when they quit smoking. About 20% is not gaining weight at all, and a few loses weight during the smoke cessation. About 10% experience to gain more than 10 pounds. Weight increase is usually because you miss having something in your mouth and thus eat more and you are perhaps less physically active. To avoid gaining weight when you quit smoking, try to avoid too many delights.

Remember: Not all non-smokers are thick, and not all smokers are thin!

What happens to fitness when stopping smoking?

Answer:

Sport can not compensate for the damage incurred by smoking. Smoking on health can not be removed by exercise, diet, medication, etc. It is only a cessation, which can eliminate the risks of smoking.

Smoking affects your conditioning, since the carbon monoxide in the blood binds to the red blood cells. This means that the amount of oxygen that can be transported around the body, will be reduced, and it is equal to a worse condition. Although you can be in good shape, even if you smoke, you will never be in as good shape as you if you do not smoke. Many will feel an improvement of conditioning the first days after a smoking cessation – even if they have always grown sport.

What happens to taste and smell?

Answer:

Nerve cells, which ensures that you can smell and taste, are burdened by substances in the smoke. It dampens their signals and thus your ability to taste and smell.

You experience a whole new world after a cessation. The food tastes better, and you detect new odors, including the irritating smell of others smoking and the smell of smoke that hangs in clothes and furniture.

This happens because your normal senses are come back. THis happens already the first days after a cessation.

How soon after a cessation does the risk of disease disappear?

Answer:
20 min after quitting: Blood pressure and pulse normalized, and blood circulation increases.
8 hours after: the content of carbon monoxide in the blood are halved, and your conditioning improves.

24 hours following: the risk of heart attack decreases.

48 hours: Carbon monoxide in the blood is gone. Smell and taste perception starts to become normal. 4 weeks after: cough and shortness of breath disappears. Lungs is better to fight infections.

1 year after: the risk of getting heart disease is halved.

5 years after: the risk of getting a cardiovascular disease is almost the same as for someone who never smoked.

10 years after: the risk of lung cancer has declined by 50%.

15 years after: the risk of getting lung cancer is almost the same as for those who have never smoked.

Will tobacco cough ever disappear?

Answer:
Your cough is caused by the damage caused to your lung tissue. You will probably see significant improvements within the first month, then you no longer have to cough up the tar that would otherwise end up in your lungs when you smoke. But it may take time for the body to repair the damage, even if you are totally smoke-free. Cigarette cough will disappear, but how soon depends on how much damage has been done on lung tissue, and how good your body has to repair itself.

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Posted in anemia

Rehabilitation Center For Drugs – A Place For Restoration of Normal Life

Comments: 0June 10th, 2010 by admin



A drug is a chemical substance which is prescribed by the Doctor to treat the illness and also the level of dosage is decided by the Doctor. But some drugs are used illegally, which affects the central nervous system and make the person to become addicted to that particular drug on usage. The drugs which come under this category are heroin, cocaine etc. The level of dosage is highly important, because heavy doses are harmful.

Many youngsters become addicted to drugs, due to bad companion. Once the person becomes dependent on drugs, it takes some time to recover them completely. So to treat and to bring them back to their normal life, there exists a special care and treatment centers called drug rehabilitation center. This type of center conducts necessary programs and treatments to help these people to overcome their drug addiction. It is necessary to consult a experienced healthcare professional in Okanagan regarding drug rehabilitation (recovery from drugs).

Programs carried out in Okanagan drug rehabilitation centers

Short-term, long-term, inpatient, outpatient and residential are some of the programs offered in the Okanagan centers. The programs for the patients are selected depending upon their stage and severity. Each and every program helps in recovery as well as educates (counsels) them to a certain extent. Let us view these programs in detail.

Short-term programs – The duration of this program is very short (from 3 to 6 weeks). The patient’s physical, mental and behavioral factors are taken into consideration. Here the patients are asked to follow a twelve step plan which helps them to restore their health completely.

Long-term programs – This program takes some months to 1 year to cure the patient. Here the patients realize the psychological effects caused as a result of addiction. As this program takes some long duration, the patients are able to remobilize themselves and reduce the return of the disease.

Outpatient treatment – Here the patient involves in activities such as counseling, which helps them to identify and recognize their goals especially their behaviors. It is designed in such a way, based on the needs and conveniences of the patient.

Inpatient treatment – The facilities in inpatient department provides certain wellness programs, counseling and detoxification, a variety of lessons on drug abuse and programs to kick out the drug addiction habit from you.

On the whole, it is your option to choose the program that suits you.

How to choose a drug rehabilitation center in Okanagan and Kelowna?
1. The family and friends shall select the right rehab center for the patient. Many issues are to be considered while selecting a rehab center such as the type of the programs offered and their cost factors.

2. Most of the rehab centers are non profit organizations, so you have to gather all their information in detail, before choosing a particular center.

3. Collect information on the costs of treatments and the programs offered in various centers and then choose the one, which suits you.

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Posted in Alcohol

Do You Know About Sickle Cell Anemia?

Comments: 0June 9th, 2010 by admin



Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disorder or hemoglobinopathy in which normal adult hemoglobin (HbA) is partly or completely replaced by an abnormal hemoglobin (HbS) causing distortion and rigidity of red blood cells under conditions of reduced oxygen tension.

Sickle cell anemia, the homozygous form of the dishemoglobin variant, including fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Sickle disease (HbSS). Sickle cell-hemoglobin C disease, a variant of sickle cell anemia including both HbS and HbC/ Sickle cell thalassemia disease, a combination of sickle cell trait and thalassemia trait

Sickle cell anemia is found primarily in the black race, although infrequently it affect whites, especially those of Mediterranean descent.

Mode of Transmission
Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal-recessive disorder. The inheritance is describer as intermediate because the gene is partially expressed in the heterozygous state and completely expresses in the homozygous start. In the United states, it is estimated that 1:12 black persons carries the trait; therefore, the risk of two black parents having a child with the disease is 0.7%. The occurrence of other forms of sickle cell disease is the result of Union between two individuals who carry the heterozygous form of variants of sickle cell trait.

Basic defect
The basic defect responsible for the sickling effect of erythrocytes is in the globin fraction of hemoglobin. Which is composed of 574 amino acids. Hemoglobin S differs from hemoglobin A in the substitution of only one amino acid for another. Valine instead of glutamine resides in the sixth position of the (3-polypeptide chain, under conditions of decreased oxygen tension and lowered pH, the relatively insoluble hemoglobin S changes its molecular structure to form long, slender crystals. The rapid growth of these filamentous crystals causes tenting of the cell membrane and the formation of crescent or sickle-shaped red blood cells. The filamentous forms are associated with much greater viscosity than the normal holly- leaf structure of hemoglobin A.

The tendency to sickle is also related to the concentration of hemoglobin within the cell. Since hypertonicity of the blood plasma increases the intracellular concentration of hemoglobin, dehydration promotes sickling. In most instances, the sickling response is reversible under conditions of adequate oxygenation and hydration. During this time, the red blood cells are indistinguishable from normal erythrocytes on peripheral examination.

Although the defects are inherited at the time of conception, the sickling phenomenon is usually not apparent until later in infancy. The high levels of fetal hemoglobin prevent excessive sickling of the red blood cells. The newborn has from 60% to 80% fetal hemoglobin, but this rapidly decreases during the first year, so that sickling becomes apparent after 4 months of age.

Persons with sickle cell trait have the same basic defect, but only about 24% to 45% of the total hemoglobin is hemoglobin S. The remainder is hemoglobin A. Normally these individuals are asymptomatic. However, under conditions of extreme or prolonged deoxygenation, such as strenuous physical exercise, anesthesia, infection, pulmonary disease, anemia, high-altitude environments, underwater swimming, or pregnancy, sickling crises may occur. The higher the percentage of hemoglobin S, the more likely is the occurrence of symptomatic responses.

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Cocaine – Death On The Loose

Comments: 0June 9th, 2010 by admin



When it comes to addictive drugs that are often abused, cocaine leads the way as one of the most powerful illegal substances on the street. Many who have dabbled in the use of cocaine (even if only for one time), the chances of becoming hooked are quite high. One can never truly control their body’s need for the drug once it has undergone an experience. Numerous individuals will continue to use cocaine, eventually developing an addiction that wreaks havoc on their social and personal lives, as well as job performance, emotions, and health.

Cocaine is often sniffed, snorted, injected, or smoked (which involves the use of crack cocaine or free-base). Snorting cocaine powder through the nose allows the drug to enter the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. The use of a needle releases the drug straight into the bloodstream, while smoking sends cocaine vapors into the bloodstream through the lungs. Injecting and smoking quickly intensifies the effects of cocaine because it makes contact with the bloodstream faster than other methods of use.

Effects of Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine users often suffer from the effects of the drug throughout their central nervous system. Peripheral blood vessels become constricted, pupils dilate, and an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature may arise. Some users may succumb to periods of anxiety, irritability, and restlessness. In the worst cases, cocaine users may experience sudden death at first use, but at any time, the threat of unexpected death may occur. High doses of cocaine or constant use may also lead to paranoia, aggressive tendencies, nasal damage (when snorting), seizures, or cardiac arrest.

Getting Help for Cocaine Addiction

Since cocaine use is a dire problem in today’s society, there are many different resources that help people overcome their addiction. A wide range of treatment programs and opportunities are available for cocaine addicts, including both inpatient and outpatient techniques. Self-help groups are a popular way that cocaine addicts cope with leaving their drug of choice behind.

Many of these associations work from a 10- or 12-step model that aims to prevent a relapse, as well as help individuals stay on track. Medication, counseling, and additional meetings also help break the cycle of drug addiction. To find a self-help group, a wealth of outlets can guide one in the right direction, such as doctors, counselors, the phone book, library, and across the Internet.

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Posted in Alcohol

Dynamism of Drug Addiction Among Loved Ones

Comments: 0June 9th, 2010 by admin



An increase of drug addiction always affects the realism of addiction in a family. The occurrence of these transformations is aptly predictable. There are many changes in the family as the members begin reorganizing their lives without the addicted person. The addicted individual might be around physically but overtly emotionally withdrawn and absent from their family. As the other significant people quit trying to help the individuals, they begin living without them.

As the drug addiction ravages on, the behavioral adjustments do have a change on the function and organization of the family setup or system, which is the same as the way addiction changes a certain system. In case the addicted individuals in a system begin to sober up, it signals certain changes to start occurring in a system. For the affected family members, they might not have an idea on what to do with this kind of change.

As the drug addiction subsides and the addicted try to regain their status within a system, those family members who had changed their lives to cater for the family after the addiction might resist the changes in the relationship that recovery requires. There is a direct resistance of allowing the recovering individual from taking up his or her responsibilities that were abandoned during the addiction while some view the addict as untrustworthy or incompetent.

Trust in drug addiction is a value in a relationship that will definitely take some time to return to normal. There is a direct resistance among the families, mostly if the addiction had been adversely intense in their lives, from the spouses to the children. However, there are times the addict is appreciated the way he or she is, with the exception being the unpredictable spasms of adverse behavior or the negative addiction consequences. To most members in the family set up, they wield the thought that what is needed is losing the addiction and life can return to normal.

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Posted in Alcohol

Ovarian Problems – Five Issues That Deserve Your Attention

Comments: 0June 8th, 2010 by admin



Ovarian cancer is the most critical of all ovarian problems because this disease can cause death. It is a cancer that grows within or at the surface of the ovaries and then spreads to other organs of the body if not treated early.

There is at least 45% chance of survival when ovarian cancer is discovered at Stage 3. The possibility is higher if uncovered during the first two stages. This type of ovarian problem has 4 Stages:

Stage 1 – The cancer is inside the ovary or both the ovaries.
Stage 2 – The cancer is on the surface of the ovary or the ovaries and has spread into the pelvic area.
Stage 3 – The cancer has enveloped up to the abdominal cavity into the surface of the liver.
Stage 4- the cancer has spread into all the other parts of the body such as insides of the liver and lungs.

Ovarian cysts occur during ovulation. At best, it is not cancerous and may shrink or dissolve anytime after menstruation, which is approximately 60-90 days. They form when cysts don’t “pop” and continue to grow inside the ovaries causing great discomfort on the abdomen or worst, torsion (twisting) and bleeding.

At times surgery is needed to take out the cysts. There are modern studies that show these can be treated naturally. Drinking rehmannia and cinnamon bark, in tea or a capsule, aids in the shrinking of the cysts.

Ovarian hypofunction or premature ovarian failure is the failure of the ovary to produce hormones. This is one of the things attributed to infertility. This causes genetic abnormalities and autoimmune problems that disturb normal ovarian functions. Estrogen therapy is one of the procedures used in the treatment of this condition.

Ovarian overproduction of male hormones is another type of ovarian problem which causes a woman to develop physical characteristics of a man such as hyperandrogenism and virilization.

Hyperandrogenism occurs when a woman suddenly loses her menstrual period, even if she is not yet menopausal. There is an increase in body hair, like that of a man’s, and femininity diminishes since there is a reduction in breast size and her body shape.

Virilization causes clitoral enlargement. A woman can also experience her voice getting deeper and the formation of extra muscle, as well as, excessive hair growth. Treatment varies depending on what symptoms the person is experiencing.

PCOS arises when there are numerous small cysts inside the ovary and causes a woman to be infertile. These cysts are not hazardous to a woman’s health, however, it creates hormonal disparity. This can be treated without the need for surgery most of the time, because these types of cysts are caused by an imbalance of hormones.

This happens to 1 out of 15 women. Common treatments include regular exercise, proper diet and a weight loss regimen.

Most women will have to deal with one or more of these issues at one point in their lives. Be responsible and schedule regular check-ups with your physician and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Also, be sure to study all options before deciding on a course of treatment.

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Posted in cancer

Child Leukemia – Generalities, Symptoms and Treatment

Comments: 0June 7th, 2010 by admin



Leukemia interferes with the body’s production of white blood cells. These cells are supposed to fight infections with viruses or bacteria, and when someone has leukemia, they are defective and their number is largely increased, but because they are not fulfilling their role any more, although their number can increase ten times the body’s defense system is seriously weakened and any infection can be very dangerous.

Unfortunately leukemia can affect young children too, and the number of child leukemia cases keeps increasing.
There are two types of leukemia – acute leukemia – a cancer that develops and evolves very fast and it affects all the white blood cells, and chronic leukemia – it develops slower and healthy white blood cells can still be found.

More than 95% of the child leukemia cases are acute leukemia. Acute leukemia can also be divided into acute acute myelogenous leukemia and lymphocytic leukemia acute myelogenous leukemia because there are two types of blood cells, and each type of leukemia affects a different kind of blood cells. More than half of the children with leukemia have acute lymphocytic leukemia.

The symptoms of acute leukemia start with fever, and continue with many infections, because the child is weak against any damaging foreign microorganisms.
When the disease advances the child becomes anemic and begins to have a pale color. He will always feel a sensation of weakness and fatigue which will prevent him from playing outdoors.
All leukemia patients, including children can be bruised very easy, and the often bleed for no reason. When bleeding occurs it cannot be stopped for a long time because leukemia affects the cells responsible for healing wounds.

If the illness is not discovered and it is left untreated it starts spreading through the body and it can reach the brain, affecting some of the senses and causing headaches.

In order to diagnose child leukemia the child must go through a series of special tests. If the result is positive then therapy must begin as soon as possible. First some new tests must be performed to determine what kind of therapy works best. In most cases chemotherapy is used because it has the highest survival rate. Chemotherapy is also accompanied by drugs.
The purpose of the therapy is to heal the bone marrow, the organ that produces the defective blood cells and to kill all the malfunctioning cells from the body. If the therapy is successful it must still be continued because the cancer can re-appear.
In some more severe cases a bone marrow transplant is needed.

The good news is that therapy is getting better and better and most of the children survive this illness, but the survival rate depends on how far the cancer has advanced and on what form of it the child has.

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Posted in leukimia

Flu Shot Side Effects – Painful Flu Jab?

Comments: 0June 6th, 2010 by admin



Have you had a flu shot this year yet?

Tom Smith did and he quickly regretted it. He had a flu shot in his right arm eleven days ago and now his upper arm and shoulder area is killing him! He thinks the flu jab must have hit a nerve. He’s in a panic and asking “What should I do about this? The pain radiates down my arm and into my neck. It also keeps me up for several hours a night. Will the pain from this flu shot go away soon?”

Ron Evans’ mother had the same problem and now he worries what might happen to him. Countless people around the world are worried about an influenza outbreak but don’t protect themselves because they are even more worried about how the vaccination might affect them! What should you do? Will you get side effects too?

Abbie said:

“I had a very bad reaction to a jab recently too. My doctor gave me the shot high up on the shoulder and to be honest I have never seen a flu shot given that way. I asked her about it but she said that it needed to be given deep into the muscle. I could actually feel the pain as she gave the injection – yuk – it really was horrible and within an hour my shoulder was achy and it was the worst I have ever felt after any kind of vaccination. It’s now gone over a week and my shoulder is still aching and I can still hardly lift my arm or shoulder.”

Would all of this put you off having a jab? Don’t make your mind up yet – read below before you decide!

Flu shots or flu vaccinations can cause pain for a number of reasons.

The commonest reason is that some people develop a minor allergic type reaction to the flu virus contained in the vaccine – or more rarely to the stuff that is in the liquid used to make up the vaccine.

The arm becomes warm, swollen and tender and this can persist for up to two weeks. If it is very severe then you should see a doctor for some treatment.

Some experts think that a reaction like this indicates an aggressive response by your immune system to the flu virus in the vaccine – indicating that your immune system will thereafter be very efficient at fighting off flu should you be exposed to it.

Simple remedies to take if your arm reacts like this to a flu jag include over the counter painkillers like Tylenol or paracetamol. You can also apply an ice pack or take an antihistamine tablet.

It is also important to let the doctor or nurse know that you reacted like this so a note can be put on your records. You should also mention a reaction like this before you have another flu shot next year

A vaccination against influenza could literally save your life this year. Don’t rush into a decision not to have one before you really think it through properly.

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Drug Addiction – Being Thankful For People Critical of Our Habit

Comments: 0June 5th, 2010 by admin



When you have a drug addiction sometimes you need someone to shock you awake mentally to analyze yourself. Many of us are thankful for those criticisms when we look back on life and realize that even though they hurt at the time, they helped us overcome our habit.

Sometimes when we are caught up in an addiction we have tunnel vision, wrapped and enthralled around our addiction. We focus on nothing other than our craving the next high. Even though we function daily, we are not efficient and productive as we could or should be. We are hindered by the focus on our addiction.

Self analyzation is hard when you are addicted, you often feel like no one understands your situation or your excuse for using. Sometimes those who are critical, whether they do it in a hurtful way or in a loving way, cause us to begin to self analyze. The self analyzation is the beginning of the recovery process.

When we begin to face our habit and realize what it is doing to us and our loved ones it should trigger the desire to overcome our addiction. We then can begin the emotional and mental recovery process to overcome our addiction. We can begin to analyze the issues which caused our addiction and also the issues which kept us in the addiction.

If you can not do this self analyzation on your own, you will need to seek professional help to determine these issues. At this point it takes a realistic and honest analyzation of ones weaknesses and strengths to determine the approach needed to overcome the addiction. This is when we realize that those criticisms that hurt us so much were probably right, even though they hurt us at the time.

Those criticisms as we look back often trigger a response, it can be a response of denial or one of being strong enough to make the change for the better. The steps it takes to overcome the addiction may and probably will be drastic. An addiction is a drastic impact on your life, and drastic problems usually take drastic measures to overcome.

It will take a major lifestyle change to overcome an addiction. In this change we will learn that we are stronger then we thought. The strength gained by overcoming an addiction can and will make us better people.

Whatever causes us to wake up and turn our life around is worth it, even if it was a critical word spoken. We who have overcame an addiction look back and realize that those criticisms made us better people.

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Posted in Alcohol

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